Seaton Creek Campground
Manistee River, near Mesick · Huron-Manistee National Forests
Nineteen rustic sites in red pine on Seaton Creek, where it meets the Hodenpyl Dam backwater of the Manistee River. A Huron-Manistee National Forest campground, wooded and shaded, sites spread out. Vault toilets and a hand-pump well, no hookups and no showers. The Manistee River Trail trailhead is right in the campground, and a suspension bridge across the river puts you on the North Country Trail.
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
- 19 reservable sites.
- Has accessible sites.
- Reserved through recreation.gov, not us. We don't track openings here yet.
Near Mesick, about 50 min southwest of Traverse City.
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.