Rustic camping and touring Ludington to Porcupine Mtn
May 3rd, 2004, 05:05 PM
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Rustic camping and touring Ludington to Porcupine Mtn
We are taking a trip the last 2 weeks in June crossing over from Wi to Ludington driving north to Sault St. Marie and then across the UP. Would love some campground suggestions..we like privacy and woods and are willing to give up showers and Big monster state parks! Will we need reservations at that time of year. Also what wonders of nature should we see?? We love hiking, swimming (will it be warm enough), waterfalls, etc. We have been to Macinac Island and will go for a day (for the fudge of course) but what other places are a must to see. We like to shop little unique towns that are not overun with t-shirt shops. Please help us out.
May 4th, 2004, 09:35 AM
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There is a nice national forest service campground at the north side of Tippy Dam. You can only get to it from the north, as there is no road across the dam. It is located northeast of Manistee about 4 miles east of the little town of Brethren. You go east out of Brethren on Coates Hwy. for 3 1/2 miles and turn south on Dilling Rd. This road dead-ends into the hydro-electric "Tippy Dam".
The campground does not have a ranger on duty. They usually stop in once a day or two to collect fees of around $8 per night. The campground is set on a bluff overlooking the back-waters of the Manistee River. There are pit toiletes and hand pump well water. Getting a site is usually no problem except near July 4th and when the fish run the river up to the dam in spring and fall.
If you don't mind driving some two-track roads, take the dirt road east down the power line along the north side of the campground (National Forest property), and explore the two-tracks that turn off to the south toward the back-waters. This area is very large and rustic. The two tracks lead out to the backwaters. There are places to swim or swing off a rope-swing into the lake. There is a good chance you will see bald eagles. You can even camp just about anyplace along these two tracks or out on the lake bluffs.
This may make for a good night or two stay after you arrive over to Ludington. It should take jsut over an hour to get there from Ludington.
After Tippy Dam head north and back to the coastline and stop off in Frankfort just south of the Sleeping Bear Dunes. This town will fit your unique requirements. Then drive north to Empire and on to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and hike the dunes! Do you know the old Indian story about how the dunes were created?
You may want to drive up to the Leelanau Peninsula or turn east to Traverse City. Traverse is growing too fast but still has its charm, especially downtown. You may want to drive up M-37 north or Traverse to Old Mission Point on the end of the Peninsula in Traverse Bay. There is a light house there.
As you travel north toward the Bridge I would suggest following the coast line on US-31 to Charlevoix and on to Petoskey. You can't miss the gas-light district in Petoskey (unique). From there follow Little Traverse Bay along M-119 to Harbor Springs (very rich area). From there head north on 119 to Good Hart.
In the very little town of Good Hart along 119 is a small church on the west side of the road. Park there and walk down to one of the best beaches and swimming anywhere. Many days the waves are spectacular, like swimming in the ocean without the saltwater and sharks. It will be cold in June but you've got to try it!
From here head up to Cross Village and on up to The Bridge. If you want rustic camping I would suggest getting a Michigan County map book when you hit Ludington. There are rural state and forest service campgrounds all over the state, and they are usually marked on the county maps. If you do want a break from the rustic stuff, the state park campground about 15 miles west of the Mackinaw bridge is one of the better parks in the state.
As far as the U.P. goes, there is a rural U.S. forest service campground "Bayview" on the shores of Lake Superior west of Sault St. Marie on Lake Shore Dr. Just before this is the Point Iroquois light house. It is one of the few light houses you can walk the spiral staircase to the top. In Sault St. Marie check out the locks. There is a unique museum inside the "Valley Camp". It is a great lakes ship turned into a museum.
Don't miss Tahquamenon Falls just west of the town of Paradise. In June there will be alot of Mosquitos as this is a very swampy part of the state. Take bug spray! Also, drive up to Whitefish point and check out the light house and museam. The bell from the sunken Edmund Fitzgerald iron ore ship is there with some other neat stuff.
From here zig and zag your way over to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore at Munising. There is a great boat cruise you can take out into Lake Superior where it is the only way to really view the shoreline. Also there is a very popular hiking trail from Munising to Grand Marais along the coastline. I dare you to try to swim in Lake Superior in June! Cold!
I'm not super knowledgeable about the U.P. There are dozens of waterfalls around up there. You may want to get all the way over to the west of the U.P. and the Porcupine Mountains, where there is great hiking around "Lake of the Clouds".
Have a blast! Hope I helped.
The campground does not have a ranger on duty. They usually stop in once a day or two to collect fees of around $8 per night. The campground is set on a bluff overlooking the back-waters of the Manistee River. There are pit toiletes and hand pump well water. Getting a site is usually no problem except near July 4th and when the fish run the river up to the dam in spring and fall.
If you don't mind driving some two-track roads, take the dirt road east down the power line along the north side of the campground (National Forest property), and explore the two-tracks that turn off to the south toward the back-waters. This area is very large and rustic. The two tracks lead out to the backwaters. There are places to swim or swing off a rope-swing into the lake. There is a good chance you will see bald eagles. You can even camp just about anyplace along these two tracks or out on the lake bluffs.
This may make for a good night or two stay after you arrive over to Ludington. It should take jsut over an hour to get there from Ludington.
After Tippy Dam head north and back to the coastline and stop off in Frankfort just south of the Sleeping Bear Dunes. This town will fit your unique requirements. Then drive north to Empire and on to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and hike the dunes! Do you know the old Indian story about how the dunes were created?
You may want to drive up to the Leelanau Peninsula or turn east to Traverse City. Traverse is growing too fast but still has its charm, especially downtown. You may want to drive up M-37 north or Traverse to Old Mission Point on the end of the Peninsula in Traverse Bay. There is a light house there.
As you travel north toward the Bridge I would suggest following the coast line on US-31 to Charlevoix and on to Petoskey. You can't miss the gas-light district in Petoskey (unique). From there follow Little Traverse Bay along M-119 to Harbor Springs (very rich area). From there head north on 119 to Good Hart.
In the very little town of Good Hart along 119 is a small church on the west side of the road. Park there and walk down to one of the best beaches and swimming anywhere. Many days the waves are spectacular, like swimming in the ocean without the saltwater and sharks. It will be cold in June but you've got to try it!
From here head up to Cross Village and on up to The Bridge. If you want rustic camping I would suggest getting a Michigan County map book when you hit Ludington. There are rural state and forest service campgrounds all over the state, and they are usually marked on the county maps. If you do want a break from the rustic stuff, the state park campground about 15 miles west of the Mackinaw bridge is one of the better parks in the state.
As far as the U.P. goes, there is a rural U.S. forest service campground "Bayview" on the shores of Lake Superior west of Sault St. Marie on Lake Shore Dr. Just before this is the Point Iroquois light house. It is one of the few light houses you can walk the spiral staircase to the top. In Sault St. Marie check out the locks. There is a unique museum inside the "Valley Camp". It is a great lakes ship turned into a museum.
Don't miss Tahquamenon Falls just west of the town of Paradise. In June there will be alot of Mosquitos as this is a very swampy part of the state. Take bug spray! Also, drive up to Whitefish point and check out the light house and museam. The bell from the sunken Edmund Fitzgerald iron ore ship is there with some other neat stuff.
From here zig and zag your way over to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore at Munising. There is a great boat cruise you can take out into Lake Superior where it is the only way to really view the shoreline. Also there is a very popular hiking trail from Munising to Grand Marais along the coastline. I dare you to try to swim in Lake Superior in June! Cold!
I'm not super knowledgeable about the U.P. There are dozens of waterfalls around up there. You may want to get all the way over to the west of the U.P. and the Porcupine Mountains, where there is great hiking around "Lake of the Clouds".
Have a blast! Hope I helped.
May 4th, 2004, 10:36 AM
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overtheroad gave lots of good info.
Everyone's tastes are different, but I think that Marshall's Fudge on Central Avenue in Mackinaw City has the best fudge. And if you want to send some to family, they are much better at handling shipping than others I have tried.
If you don't need any failities, French Farm Lake on Mackinac State Forest land is just 3 miles from downtown Mackinaw City and undeveloped.
Warm enough in the UP? Late June could see highs anywhere from 50-75. Be sure and take some warm clothes. Don't be surprised to see flowers in bloom that you think of as "spring" flowers.
Late June is a great time, After the big Memorial Day weekend, things are quite a bit slower until July.
Keith
Everyone's tastes are different, but I think that Marshall's Fudge on Central Avenue in Mackinaw City has the best fudge. And if you want to send some to family, they are much better at handling shipping than others I have tried.
If you don't need any failities, French Farm Lake on Mackinac State Forest land is just 3 miles from downtown Mackinaw City and undeveloped.
Warm enough in the UP? Late June could see highs anywhere from 50-75. Be sure and take some warm clothes. Don't be surprised to see flowers in bloom that you think of as "spring" flowers.
Late June is a great time, After the big Memorial Day weekend, things are quite a bit slower until July.
Keith
May 4th, 2004, 01:55 PM
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There's a nice state park about midway across the UP--Bewabic or similar spelling. We stopped there about 6-7 yrs ago, and were surprised by how nice, uncrowded, and non-adjacent the plots were.
Check out Fayette S P on Bay de Noc, top of lake michigan. It's structured around a restored iron ore mining camp.
Check out Fayette S P on Bay de Noc, top of lake michigan. It's structured around a restored iron ore mining camp.
May 4th, 2004, 02:57 PM
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Another nice area to camp in is along US 2 just west of St. Ignace. It is the National Forst campground at Brevort Lake. A really out of the way campground is Little Beaver Lake in the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore. It only has 8 sites and steep hill just before the campground that keeps out RV's. You are also close to the shoreline trail of Pictures Rocks. Another great area to explore is the Keweenaw Peninsula, just northeast of the Porkies. Our favorite campground in the Porkies is the west unit of the state park. Choose a site on the outside of the ring and you will have plenty of space.
A warning about black flies. June is peak season for them in the UP. If you have a screen tent, bring it!
Swimming will be iffy in the Great Lakes in June, especially Superior. Inland lakes are a better bet especially if they are shallow.
Waterfalls can be found throughout the UP. A great series of falls is on the Black River west of the Porkies. These can make a great day hike.
A warning about black flies. June is peak season for them in the UP. If you have a screen tent, bring it!
Swimming will be iffy in the Great Lakes in June, especially Superior. Inland lakes are a better bet especially if they are shallow.
Waterfalls can be found throughout the UP. A great series of falls is on the Black River west of the Porkies. These can make a great day hike.
May 14th, 2004, 10:33 AM
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I'd also recommend either of the campgrounds at Brevort. And repeat the warning about black flies - they could be bad but might not be. The neat thing is, you'll definitely see some gorgeous wildflowers at that time of year.
Other places I recommend for camping:
Sleeping Bear Dunes - absolutely! Do not miss! The dune climb is fun for the kids and a good test of Mom & Dad's fitness! In Leland, you can catch a ferry to South Manitou Island (part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore) and they have rustic camping on South Manitou Island. You backpack in from the boat dock to one of 3 campgrounds - one is very close to the dock, one is 1-2 miles away and another is further (maybe 5 miles?) You can find more info on the ferry, the island and the entire park on the National Park website.
McLain State Park (in the Keweenaw peninsula) - one of my favorites. I love it when I can get a campsite on the bluff overlooking Lake Superior. you can watch the sunset and the sunrise. Also, there are lots of waterfalls to explore in the Keweenaw.
The Porkies are fantastic. Another must-visit for a nature lover and hiker. Lake of the Clouds is gorgeous, but be sure to check out the rest of the park too. Lots of great hikes. Definitely bear country.
If you drive north out of Newberry (in the U.P.) and take the road that goes toward Muskalonge State Park and toward Grand Marais, the road will turn to dirt but it goes right along the coast of Lake Superior. There are several small, beautiful, rustic State Forest campgrounds.
North of Tacquamenon Falls, there are some neat state forest lands. If you take the road out to Crisp Point Lighthouse, you'll pass right by a gorgeous, quiet State Forest Campground. I think it is called Culhane Lake State Forest Campground. It is right on a lake and quiet. Crisp Point lighthouse is really neat to see too - the website is: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/7568/ There is also a very small harbor, can't remember the name, but it is on the way out to Crisp Point. This harbor is a harbor of refuge, on Lake Superior. It has a boat ramp and a dock. We picked wild blueberries out there on summer.
We have stayed at the Platte River State Forest campground, which is in the Lower Peninsula, ouside of Empire. It is fun to do a canoe trip down the Platte River. After the canoe trip, our kids had a great time playing in the river where it empties into Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan may or may not be comfortable to swim in at the end of June - mostly it depends on which way the wind is blowing. Sometimes the wind blows the warm surface water to Wisconsin, but more often it is on the Michigan side.
If you go to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr
you can get info on the state parks and state forest campgrounds. Also you can make reservations online. I usually prefer the state forest campgrounds - we're rustic tent camper people - except in the U.P. where the state parks are not booked to capacity as often.
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Have fun!
Other places I recommend for camping:
Sleeping Bear Dunes - absolutely! Do not miss! The dune climb is fun for the kids and a good test of Mom & Dad's fitness! In Leland, you can catch a ferry to South Manitou Island (part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore) and they have rustic camping on South Manitou Island. You backpack in from the boat dock to one of 3 campgrounds - one is very close to the dock, one is 1-2 miles away and another is further (maybe 5 miles?) You can find more info on the ferry, the island and the entire park on the National Park website.
McLain State Park (in the Keweenaw peninsula) - one of my favorites. I love it when I can get a campsite on the bluff overlooking Lake Superior. you can watch the sunset and the sunrise. Also, there are lots of waterfalls to explore in the Keweenaw.
The Porkies are fantastic. Another must-visit for a nature lover and hiker. Lake of the Clouds is gorgeous, but be sure to check out the rest of the park too. Lots of great hikes. Definitely bear country.
If you drive north out of Newberry (in the U.P.) and take the road that goes toward Muskalonge State Park and toward Grand Marais, the road will turn to dirt but it goes right along the coast of Lake Superior. There are several small, beautiful, rustic State Forest campgrounds.
North of Tacquamenon Falls, there are some neat state forest lands. If you take the road out to Crisp Point Lighthouse, you'll pass right by a gorgeous, quiet State Forest Campground. I think it is called Culhane Lake State Forest Campground. It is right on a lake and quiet. Crisp Point lighthouse is really neat to see too - the website is: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/7568/ There is also a very small harbor, can't remember the name, but it is on the way out to Crisp Point. This harbor is a harbor of refuge, on Lake Superior. It has a boat ramp and a dock. We picked wild blueberries out there on summer.
We have stayed at the Platte River State Forest campground, which is in the Lower Peninsula, ouside of Empire. It is fun to do a canoe trip down the Platte River. After the canoe trip, our kids had a great time playing in the river where it empties into Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan may or may not be comfortable to swim in at the end of June - mostly it depends on which way the wind is blowing. Sometimes the wind blows the warm surface water to Wisconsin, but more often it is on the Michigan side.
If you go to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr
you can get info on the state parks and state forest campgrounds. Also you can make reservations online. I usually prefer the state forest campgrounds - we're rustic tent camper people - except in the U.P. where the state parks are not booked to capacity as often.
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Have fun!
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