Gabions Campground
AuSable River, near Curran · Huron-Manistee National Forests
Eight rustic sites on the National Scenic stretch of the AuSable River, in the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Seven standard plus one tent-only, all nonelectric, in mixed hardwood and pine so you get real shade. Vault toilet, no water, no hookups. The river is a short walk for fishing and wading. One thing to know going in: an ORV trail runs along the entrance road and connects to the Alcona ATV and Mack Lake systems, so the campground is quiet but you can get engine noise from riders coming and going.
From above. USDA NAIP, public domain.The vibe
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
- 8 reservable sites.
- No accessible sites listed.
- Reserved through recreation.gov, not us. We don't track openings here yet.
On the AuSable River near Curran, roughly between Mio and Alcona Pond in the northern Lower Peninsula.
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.