Peterson Bridge
Pine River, near Wellston · Huron-Manistee National Forests
A Huron-Manistee National Forest campground on the Pine River, the only Forest Service campground on it. About 31 sites take tents and RVs, many shaded and set apart, and ten are paddle-in or walk-in riverside sites you can reach from the water. The Pine is fast and a Blue Ribbon trout stream, so this is a canoeing and fishing base more than a sit-still spot. Flush toilets and drinking water, no showers and no hookups.
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
- 31 reservable sites.
- Has accessible sites.
- Reserved through recreation.gov, not us. We don't track openings here yet.
On M-37 at the Pine River, about 1.5 mi south of M-55 and 20 min south of Cadillac.
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.