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Au Train Lake Campground

Au Train Lake, near Munising · Hiawatha National Forest

Reserve on recreation.gov

Hiawatha National Forest campground on the south end of Au Train Lake, the biggest inland lake around here at 830 acres. Big wooded sites under pine and aspen, lots of shade, room between you and the next pad. Rustic: vault toilets, drinking water, no hookups. Boat ramp and a swim beach right there, no lifeguard. Tent, RV, or van. 34 sites you can book.

Aerial view of Au Train Lake CampgroundFrom above. USDA NAIP, public domain.

The vibe

Steps from Paulson LakeDark skies (Bortle ~3)Real sceneryWooded

Works for hammock, tent, RV, van / car. Measured dark skies, a real one for stargazing.

Hanging a hammock?

Hammocks are fine in Michigan state parks. There's no rule against them. The rule is about the tree: use wide, tree-friendly straps, no nails or wire, and don't tear the bark. The state sets no strap or tree-size requirement, so when in doubt, ask the park. We'll point you at sites that likely have trees worth hanging from, but we can't see the trunks, so eyeball it on arrival.

The facts

  • 34 reservable sites.
  • Has accessible sites.
  • Reserved through recreation.gov, not us. We don't track openings here yet.

About 10 minutes southwest of Munising, in the central UP.

Reserve at recreation.gov →

Thicket is not the Forest Service and not affiliated with it. The facts come from the federal RIDB (public domain); the vibe read is our estimate from open data (OpenStreetMap, USGS elevation, NASA Black Marble nighttime light). Sites, fees, and access can change. Confirm and book at recreation.gov, and leave no trace.