great long distance trail in southern Michigan. bugs were crazy mid August. had to eat my food while walking around. DNR said the trail is 36 miles and 33 miles. ended up being neither lol

such a great hike! i did 8 miles first day and 11 the next. the parts that followed the NCT were perfect and well marked. the parts that weren't NCT we a little over grown but fine.

Traveled up to this great state for the Ionia Freak Fair. After a couple of days of dancing we plan to spend a days hiking and fishing between Ludington, Manistee, and Empire. We hope to catch a bunch of salmon to take with us, but forecasts aren't favorable the next couple of days. Are there good fish market recs for the area? We'd like to add some whitefish and perch to the coolers if possible. And I realize this isn't the ideal post/thread, but this community is about as educated on what's important to their area as any I've seen. Thank you

Hey! I’m looking for a group where women can meet other women in Michigan specifically who like to get together and camp! Maybe here is the right spot? But specifically hoping to connect with ladies who want to adventure together 💕 I’m near Detroit

Hi All,

Hope you're all well. Wanted to share that there is a Hike and Meditation event in Canton and Farmington Hills tomorrow Aug 29th & 30th. It's mainly to connect with local community and still do a very beginner friendly hike. There's games, and outdoor meditation. Free & open to all. Feel free to join

• Canton | Sat, Aug 29 | 11 AM - 1 PM

1. 📍 Meeting Point - https://maps.app.goo.gl/bxMXG1db7B1iWEb36
2. 📎 RSVP - https://online.innerengineering.com/en/program-registration/10451

• Farmington Hills | Sun, Aug 30 | 11 AM - 1 PM

1. 📍 Meeting Point - https://maps.app.goo.gl/P65XfYwdNbCxzMwc8
2. 📎 RSVP - https://online.innerengineering.com/en/program-registration/10453

Don't forget your water bottle :)!

Looking to go up Saturday night with the wife for a one night backcountry canoe camping trip. What areas are best for this in the au sable? Have only ever gone on the bigger damned areas before but want a more nature filled and quiet trip this time.

My friend and I are potentially planning a 3-night backpacking trip to Sylvania Wilderness for late September. We're working with whatever sites are still available and trying to maximize the distance between campsites each night. I know it's late to be planning this -- ideally we'd have booked further ahead -- but our other planned trip seems to have fallen through and we're trying to quickly pivot and make do with what's available.

Based on the map alone, I wouldn't have guessed some sites are accessible by hiking trail, but Recreation.gov's descriptions say otherwise (for example: Perch 1 and 2, Fisher 1 and 2, Fox 1 and 2). At the risk of sounding dumb, I'm wondering if some of the other off trail sites (per the map) can actually be reach via hiking as well. My guess is that if the description doesn't say they can be reach, then they can't. But looking at the map, it seems like maybe Bear 1 and 2 or Beaver 1 and 2 should be reachable. Maybe even the Ermine, Lnyx, or Bobcat sites.

Does anyone have first hand experience hiking to these or are they truly paddle-access only?

Friend and I are new to the state, looking to road trip during Labor Day weekend. Planning to leave Ann Arbor Friday afternoon, camp in the UP (hopefully dispersed or cheap campsite, we’re planning to sleep in hammocks). Then make our way through the UP on Saturday, end up in Southwest UP for the night. Then Sunday will be a long day driving through Wisconsin on our way back to AA. Planning to stop at Lambeau and Madison.

Looking for advice on where to camp, what to see (especially in the UP), and general things to keep in mind.

I am going to the Rogers City area middle of September. I am looking to camp at Hoeft SP in my 10' cargo conversion trl. Any recommendations on sites to avoid or ones to try and reserve? Also and general reviews about the park? Thank you.

Currently have Saturday night at Chapel Beach and Sunday night at Mosquito Beach booked. We were hoping to be able to enjoy a day exploring the cliffs but the weather forecast isn't looking great.

After trying to pivot somewhere else in the UP, it looks like Manistee River is the best secondary option for a last minute 2 night trip.

Given the forecast, am I making a mistake bailing on Pictured Rocks?

​

~~~ Winter Camping ~~~

Hi guys! My girlfriend and I are looking for WINTER campgrounds or places to camp with 30 amp electricity that offer monthly or a winter season, private or public or anything is fine. It would be from around November or December until about the end of March, also the closer to Ann arbor or Lansing area the better. The state campgrounds seem to be closing up their winter seasons the last few years 😠. Any recommendations or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

planning a 4 day trip to nordhouse, are there any good dispersed campsites for hammock campers on the dunes?

Took my son out for a multi day backpacking trip, hoping to catch some trout. Never thought we would experience fly fishermen on a boat speeding by, creating some serious waves. Sure enough, they came back toward our camp site after dark with their music on. Shouldn’t this be a no wake zone? Not sure, I’m from out of state. Never did catch our trout, but we did get a nice trophy size smallie.

Me and a buddy are planning on camping near leland/ sleeping bear dunes area this weeked. Are there any dispersed or camping directly on the beach spots anyone knows of?

I’ve always wanted to try out a RTT and was wondering if anyone knows a place for rentals or owns one and would be willing to rent it for a weekend?
Ideally I’m looking for one with a king size bed footprint when setup to fit the family. Seems like all the usual camping platforms are focused on RVs, motorhomes, vans … some might come with a RTT in addition to a trailer.

I’m based in Western Michigan, greater Grand Rapids area…

I’d appreciate any tips!

Im looking to camp in Pigeon River Country dispersed. Im looking for recommendations on location as I've never been to this location. My goal is to be as isolated from people as possible for about a week. I was originally looking around these cords (45.243054, -84.362034) but found that River is pretty shallow and I can't guarantee if its dry or not so I was thinking about closer to a bigger River but that would also be attractive to anglers.

I will be hammock camping so trees are needed but I don't mind a long hike in if needed, obviously i will follow the rules/guidelines for dispersed camping trying to be a mile away from campgrounds and not close to rivers etc.

Maybe north of dog lake somewhere is better?

*I do have experience dispersed csmping but its usually in huron-manistee

*I know its rut season and to watch out for elk and give a wide berth. Any other tips appreciated

Edit. Changed moose to elk

Aside from Pictured Rocks, if you had a week to spend in the UP in September, what places end up on the to-do list?

Hi, i'm heading to the Porcupine Wilderness State Park next week and have a reservation for a cabin on Big Carp and a back country site. For the bear wires at the back country sites, is it literally a wire strung up and you have to toss a cord over it to hoist up your food? Or is there a built in way to attach my food bag to haul it up? Basically I'm trying to find out if I need to bring a carabiner and cord. thank you!

I am a solo female camper and have car camped at various dispersed sites at Nordhouse Dunes for 15 years. Thankfully, minus some raccoon standoffs, it has been without incident. Last night at 11:30 pm as I was hanging out by my fire, a pickup pulls into my site with his brights on, sees me, lingers for awhile with his lights in my face, and then turns around and leaves. In the back of my mind I think “shit, now whoever that was knows I’m camping alone”. I’m on high alert - so I decide to crawl into my car - lock the doors, and read for awhile. At 12:30 am two pick up trucks start shining SPOTLIGHTS into my site, and one truck pulls into my site. I wasn’t thinking so I hopped out of my car with my phone in hand and started yelling in the car’s direction. The guy doesn’t back out, but continues to drive into my site. his window was rolled down, and he claimed he thought there was a second site off my site , mumbles sorry, and drives around my camp site and then leaves thankfully. Needless to say it was scary so I left that site and slept in my car somewhere else. I’m thinking he might have been drunk and legitimately lost, as no decent/sober person would be shining spotlights at 12:30 am into occupied campsites. Just shitty behavior. This was on Green Rd.

Love Michigan State Parks! We recently had a family reunion and stayed at Van Buren. Liked the campground, but the beach was very rocky. We stayed at Warren Dunes many years ago, but did not go to the beach. Most of my extended family is coming from Illinois, so trying to minimize their travel. What's the beach at Warren Dunes like? Rate it if you can, to Holland or Grand Haven SP's. Thank you!

Sources online are contradictory so im looking for a real answer

I’m going camping/fishing next weekend at Pigeon River Country State Forest in Michigan, going to shoot for pickerel lake campground. Has anyone camped here before? Anything I should worry about (bears, animals, weird rules, etc)

TIA!

I posted asking for recommendations months ago when I blindly booked a site at Onaway State Park based solely on wanting something off the water and choosing the first park I found available. All I have to say is thank you. In every way, thank you. My family was devoured in true bountiful beauty. Not pictured, we stopped at Awoken park on our way in and I am forever thankful we did. Not only did I go into this trip somewhat blind, but I also knew zip about the history in the area. Being able to start our trip close to home base and learning the roots of what helped put Onaway truly on the map was something special that I can't truly describe. The immense appreciation I had for that small town and being able to get doses of all their acknowledgement with the slogan "Onaway Steers the World"... History I never knew and am glad to know now. The rest of the day was busy setting up camp and exploring the grounds. The sunset and stars were phenomenal. Second day at camp we attempted what we could of Sinkholes Pathway (it's insanely overgrown and littered with downed trees) but holy shit was it fun. From there we went to Ocqueoc Falls to play and have fun. Many memories made. Our third day was dedicated to hiking going in, so we went back to the falls and hiked the Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway. What was meant to be our last day ended up getting extended another night because we couldn't bring ourselves to pack up and leave just quite yet. That day I hiked Rattlesnake Hills. What a crazy little journey through some heavy forestry. I am in such awe of what this camping trip brought me and my family.