State forest campgrounds

Rustic sites right on Lake Michigan. 42 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

42 sites · $20/night · 8 miles east of Naubinway

Rustic sites right on Lake Superior. 36 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

36 sites · $20/night · 31

Rustic sites right on Milakokia Lake. 35 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

35 sites · $20/night · 20 miles west of Naubinway

Rustic sites right on Perch Lake. 32 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

32 sites · $20/night · 23 miles northwest of Newberry

Rustic sites right on Brucker Lake. 31 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

31 sites · $20/night · 33 miles northwest of Newberry

Rustic sites right on Shoepac Lake. 30 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

30 sites · $20/night · 5

Rustic sites right on the water. 26 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

26 sites · $20/night · 9

Rustic sites right on Camp Eight Lake. 26 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

26 sites · $20/night · 25 miles northwest of Newberry

Rustic sites right on Andrus Lake. 25 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

25 sites · $20/night · 5

Rustic sites right on St. Marys River. 25 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

25 sites · $20/night · 15

Rustic sites right on Lake Michigan. 23 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

23 sites · $20/night · 13

Rustic sites right on Lake Mary. 23 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

23 sites · $20/night · 5

Rustic sites right on Bog Lake. 23 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

23 sites · $20/night · 10 miles south of Garden

Rustic sites right on Bass Lake. 22 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

22 sites · $20/night · 10 miles west of Gwinn

A rustic loop back in the woods. 21 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

21 sites · $20/night · 6

Rustic sites right on Cranberry Lake. 21 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water.

21 sites · $20/night · just 5 miles west of DeTour

Rustic sites right on Little Brevoort Lake. 20 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

20 sites · $20/night · 2

Rustic sites right on Clear Creek Trout Pond. 19 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Real dark sky.

19 sites · $20/night · 8 miles north of Seney

Rustic sites right on Goose Lake. 18 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

18 sites · $20/night · 15

Rustic sites right on Keopfgen Lake. 18 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

18 sites · $20/night · 34 miles northwest of Newberry

Rustic sites right on Brucker Lake. 17 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

17 sites · $20/night · 34 miles northwest of Newberry

Rustic sites right on Fawn Lake. 17 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

17 sites · $20/night · 20 miles northeast of Shingleton

Rustic sites right on Rock Lake. 16 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

16 sites · $20/night · 14 miles northeast of Iron Mountain

Rustic sites right on Dollar Lake. 16 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

16 sites · $20/night · 5 miles east of Gwinn

Rustic sites right on Robillard Lake. 15 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

15 sites · $20/night · 9

Rustic sites right on Little Lake. 15 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

15 sites · $20/night · 29 miles northeast of Newberry

Rustic sites right on Camp Eight Lake. 15 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

15 sites · $20/night · 25 miles northwest of Newberry

Rustic sites right on Bed Spring Lake. 15 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

15 sites · $20/night · 15 miles southwest of Republic

Rustic sites right on Norway Lake. 14 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

14 sites · $20/night · 6

Rustic sites right on Bilsky Lake. 13 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

13 sites · $20/night · 5 miles southwest of Gwinn

A rustic loop a short walk from Brennan Lake. 12 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Real dark sky.

12 sites · $20/night · 8 miles northeast of Naubinway, this rustic campground offers great fishing opportunities

Rustic sites right on Little Lake. 12 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

12 sites · $20/night · 31 miles northeast of Newberry

Rustic sites right on Deer Lake. 12 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

12 sites · $20/night · 11 miles northeast of Amasa

Rustic sites right on the water. 12 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

12 sites · $20/night · 4 miles west of Newberry

Rustic sites right on Salter Lake. 10 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

10 sites · $20/night · Schoolcraft County

Rustic sites right on Fork Lake. 10 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

10 sites · $20/night · 22 miles northeast of Shingleton

Rustic sites right on Clear Lake. 9 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

9 sites · $20/night · 3

Rustic sites right on the water. 9 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

9 sites · $20/night · 6 miles southwest of Germfask

Rustic sites right on Pike Lake. 8 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

8 sites · $20/night · 28 miles northeast of Newberry

Rustic sites right on Fawn Lake. 8 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

8 sites · $20/night · 16

Rustic sites right on Coon Lake. 7 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

7 sites · $20/night · 1

A rustic loop back in the woods. 7 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Real dark sky.

7 sites · $20/night · 5 miles northwest of Seney

Rustic sites right on Connor Lakes. 7 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

7 sites · $20/night · 29 miles north of Newberry

Rustic sites right on Silver Lake. 6 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

6 sites · $20/night · 24 miles northeast of Shingleton

Rustic sites right on Perch Lake. 6 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

6 sites · $20/night · 22 miles north of Newberry

A rustic loop back in the woods. 6 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

6 sites · $20/night · 14

Rustic sites right on Canoe Lake. 4 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

4 sites · $20/night · 18

Rustic sites right on Garnet Lake. A small set of sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $10 a night, self-register at the post. Real dark sky.

Rustic sites · $10/night · one mile southeast of Garnet

Rustic sites right on Kingston Pond. A small set of sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

Rustic sites · $20/night · 18

The north shore of Michigan's biggest inland lake, twenty thousand acres of walleye, pike and perch water. Semi-modern by rustic standards: a real restroom building, still no showers and no electric. The launch is off-site and the lake is busy resort water; this is a fishing basecamp, not a solitude play. Register on arrival, online or phone, no advance booking.

50 sites · $25/night · 8 miles north of Houghton Lake

Rustic sites right on Christmas Tree Lake. 50 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

50 sites · $20/night · 4

Rustic sites right on Van Etten Lake. 49 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site.

49 sites · $20/night · 4

Forty-seven sites, the big one in this stretch, along the Muskegon River backwater at Reedsburg Dam. Launch and carry-in access in camp, panfish and bass in the river, Houghton Lake five miles east. It is engineered water and a busy access point; solitude lives elsewhere. Registration is online-or-phone on arrival now, still no reservations.

47 sites · $20/night · 5 miles northwest of Houghton Lake

Rustic sites right on Francis Lake. 47 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

47 sites · $20/night · 12

Rustic sites right on River Lake. 42 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

42 sites · $20/night · 9 miles east of Federic

Rustic sites right on Lake Huron. 42 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

42 sites · $20/night · one mile east of Ossineke

A rustic loop back in the woods. 41 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

41 sites · $20/night · 14 miles southeast of Grayling

Forty-one sites in two loops beside the Gladwin Field Trial Area, and 35 of them take a 40-foot rig, rare in the rustic system. Water on two lakes, though the launch sits on Hoister, electric motors and paddles only. The 2.8-mile Trout Lake Pathway leaves from camp; the DNR calls it beautiful and it is.

41 sites · $20/night · 2

Rustic sites right on Pickerel Lake. 39 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

39 sites · $20/night · 10 miles northeast of Vanderbilt

Rustic sites right on Lake Margrethe. 37 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

37 sites · $20/night · 6

Rustic sites right on Guernsey Lake. 35 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

35 sites · $20/night · 8 miles west of Kalkaska

Rustic sites right on Burt Lake. 35 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

35 sites · $20/night · 4 miles east of Brutus

Thirty-five sites in three small loops on the Trout Lake Pathway. Straight talk: the DNR drew the lake down in April 2025 to save the dam, and the water has receded, no launch, no lake fishing for now. Come for the woods and the trail, and get your water time on House and Hoister lakes next door.

35 sites · $20/night · 3 miles northeast of Meredith

Thirty-two sites on a heavily wooded hill above Spring Lake, so you camp over the water rather than on it. The North Country Trail and the 21-mile Fife Lake Loop run right through, the DNR's own pick for an easy overnight, and the launch below serves pike and panfish water.

32 sites · $20/night · 2 miles southwest of Fife Lake

Rustic sites right on Swede Lake. 31 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

31 sites · $20/night · 1

Thirty-one big sites by the Little Manistee, a real trout and steelhead river, some deep in the woods and some in an open field. The honest part: the Little Manistee ORV trail starts at the campground and the DNR itself says riders love it here. Come for the river, expect engines.

31 sites · $20/night · 2

Rustic sites right on the water. 31 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

31 sites · $20/night · just 22

Thirty sites on the Goose Lake shore in mixed evergreen and hardwood. Launch in the campground, pike and bass in the lake, and no ORV routes listed, a genuinely tranquil one for this part of the state.

30 sites · $20/night · 2

Rustic sites right on Bryan Lake. 30 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

30 sites · $20/night · 2 miles southwest of Lake Ann

Rustic sites right on Bass Lake. 30 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

30 sites · $20/night · just 12 miles southwest of Williamsburg

Rustic sites right on Little Shupac Lake. 30 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

30 sites · $20/night · 3 miles north of Lovells

A rustic loop back in the woods. 30 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

30 sites · $20/night · 7

Rustic sites right on Dollar Lake. 27 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

27 sites · $20/night · 16 miles northeast of Atlanta

Rustic sites right on the water. 26 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water. Real tree cover overhead.

26 sites · $20/night · 2

Shaded sites on the Pine River, brown and rainbow trout water, with seven walk-in sites on a little peninsula the river wraps on both sides. Canoe campers land at sites 10 through 26. It fills fast in summer, the DNR says so itself, and the Lincoln Hills ORV area sits next door. Quiet it is not; good it is.

26 sites · $20/night · five and a half miles north of Luther

Rustic sites right on Horseshoe Lake. 25 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

25 sites · $20/night · 11 miles north of West Branch

Rustic sites right on George Lake. 25 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

25 sites · $20/night · only 10

Old red pines over 25 sites at a Manistee River bridge. The kayak landing sits next to site 25, so that end of camp sees paddler and tuber traffic all summer. Trout, bass and walleye in the river, and the North Country Trail passes a mile out.

25 sites · $20/night · 12 miles northwest of Manton

Twenty-five sites in pine on the Manistee, six of them in an open riverside field kept for paddlers and North Country Trail hikers. Kayak landing in camp, trout and walleye in the river, and the 21-mile Fife Lake Loop ties it to Spring Lake camp. ORVs can ride in from the north, so some machine noise comes with.

25 sites · $20/night · 7 miles north of Manton

Rustic sites right on Loon Lake. 25 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

25 sites · $20/night · 12 miles southeast of Onaway

Rustic sites right on Loon Lake. 25 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

25 sites · $20/night · 13 miles southeast of Onaway

Twenty-four sites on Healy Lake with a ramp on site. Bluegill, perch and bass here, more of the same at Glovers Lake six miles on. Run day to day by Springdale Township rather than the DNR, and the state's page is bare-bones; expect a plain, functional lake camp.

24 sites · $20/night · 7

Rustic sites right on Little Wolf Lake. 24 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

24 sites · $20/night · 3 miles southeast of Lewiston

Rustic sites right on Mio Dam Pond. 24 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

24 sites · $20/night · 2 miles northwest of Mio

Rustic sites right on the water. 24 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water.

24 sites · $20/night · 3

A rustic loop back in the woods. 23 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

23 sites · $20/night · 7

Rustic sites right on Cranberry Lake. 20 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

20 sites · $20/night · eight and a half miles northwest of Curran via M-65 and McCollum Lake Road

A rustic loop back in the woods. 18 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

18 sites · $20/night · 2 miles north of Wolverine

Rustic sites right on Valentine Lake. 18 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

18 sites · $20/night · 6 miles north of Atlanta

Rustic sites right on the water. 18 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

18 sites · $20/night · 4 miles east of Grayling

Rustic sites right on Weber Lake. 18 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

18 sites · $20/night · 7 miles northwest of Wolverine

Rustic sites right on Black Lake. 17 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

17 sites · $20/night · 11 miles north of Onaway

Seventeen wooded sites on a bluff over Sunrise Lake, a fishery the DNR rates excellent: bass, perch, pike, even trout. The launch is across the road, and the Evart motorcycle loop runs half a mile out, so summer weekends carry some two-stroke hum. Tents and small trailers only.

17 sites · $20/night · 6 miles east of LeRoy

Rustic sites right on Avery Lake. 16 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

16 sites · $20/night · 9 miles southwest of Atlanta

Rustic sites right on Grass Lake. 15 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

15 sites · $20/night · 10 miles northeast of Thompsonville via County Road 669 and Wallin Road

A rustic loop a short walk from the water. 15 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Real dark sky.

15 sites · $20/night · 5

Rustic sites right on Little Bear Lake. 14 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

14 sites · $20/night · 1

A rustic loop a short walk from Devils Bowl Lake. 14 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

14 sites · $20/night · 13

Rustic sites right on Muskrat Lake. 13 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

13 sites · $20/night · 12 miles northwest of Mio

A rustic loop a short walk from the water. 13 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

13 sites · $20/night · 12 miles west of Rogers City

Rustic sites right on Pickerel Lake. 13 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

13 sites · $20/night · 4

Rustic sites right on the water. 12 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

12 sites · $20/night · 3

Rustic sites right on Brooks Lake. 12 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

12 sites · $20/night · just eight miles southeast of Empire via M-72, Plowman Road and Pettengill Road

A dozen sites in hilly woods on Long Lake, ramp in the campground for small boats. Pike and panfish; paddle early in the season, the lake runs low by August. This is an ORV campground, ride-from-your-site legal, so pick it for the trails or skip it for the quiet.

12 sites · $20/night · 8 miles north of Cadillac

Rustic sites right on Walled Lake. 12 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky.

12 sites · $20/night · 18 miles east of Vanderbilt

Eleven sites on a hill over Long Lake with the kind of view the rustic system rarely hands you. Boat ramp inside the campground, pike and bass below. Small, and the launch brings traffic; worth it for the overlook.

11 sites · $20/night · 3

Rustic sites right on Twin Lakes. 11 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

11 sites · $20/night · 6 miles southeast of Alverno

A rustic loop a short walk from the water. 10 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

10 sites · $20/night · 10 miles north of Mancelona

Rustic sites right on Big Bradford Lake. 10 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Real dark sky.

10 sites · $20/night · 11

A rustic loop back in the woods. 10 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Real dark sky.

10 sites · $20/night · 10

Rustic sites right on Round Lake. 10 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Real dark sky.

10 sites · $20/night · 14 miles east of Vanderbilt

A rustic loop back in the woods. 10 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Boat launch on site, real dark sky. Real tree cover overhead.

10 sites · $20/night · 9 miles southwest of Alpena

Rustic sites right on Dollar Lake. 9 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

9 sites · $20/night · 7 miles south of Williamsburg

A rustic loop a short walk from the water. 9 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

9 sites · $20/night · 5

Nine walk-in, tent-only sites in tall evergreens where Silver Creek meets the Pine River. Walk-in means 20 to 50 yards, so bring the wagon, not the mule. Trout in both waters, a canoe landing by the parking lot, and the ORV trails stay far enough off that the trees keep most of it out.

9 sites · $20/night · seven miles north of Luther

A rustic loop a short walk from Lake Shellenbarger. 8 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

8 sites · $20/night · 7 miles east of Grayling

Seven sites on a trout creek in dense evergreen, one held back for backpackers, and a stop on the 420-mile Shore-to-Shore Trail. Horses and ORVs are barred from the campground itself; the equestrian camp shares the access road, so you will see trailers, not hear hooves. The DNR calls it a peaceful retreat, and for once the brochure is not overselling.

7 sites · $20/night · 5

A rustic loop back in the woods. 7 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

7 sites · $20/night · 10 miles west of Mio

A rustic loop a short walk from the water. 7 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. Self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

7 sites · 15 miles east of Grayling

A rustic loop a short walk from the water. 6 sites, vault toilets, hand-pump water, no hookups and no showers. $20 a night, self-register at the post. Good paddling water, real dark sky.

6 sites · $20/night · 12 miles east of Wolverine

Twenty-three shaded sites along Black Creek, eleven reachable by water, the best canoe-camping this close to a city. Bass, walleye, pike and trout in the creek, Sanford Lake a mile's paddle east. No ORV routes listed, and Midland is fifteen minutes away. Water from a spigot; the rest is rustic.

23 sites · $20/night · 3

Two lakes, one campground: sites 1 to 11 sit on Big Leverentz, 12 to 18 on Little. Bass, bluegill, pike and crappie in both, a plank launch on the big lake, and the Pere Marquette five miles south when the trout itch hits. Fair warning: this is ORV country and machines ride from camp to the Little O trails. Some sites take a 30-foot rig.

18 sites · $20/night · Lake County

Nine sites where Bray Creek meets the Baldwin River, trout water down a set of stairs. Small and it feels it: tents and small trailers only. Registration went online-or-phone on arrival day, still no reservations. ORV trails run nearby, so it is not silent country.

9 sites · $20/night · Lake County

Eight big, flat sites on a quiet panfish lake, most fitting a 30-foot trailer, site 7 a pull-through. Carry the kayak 25 yards and you are floating. No ORV routes listed here, which in this county counts as peace. The Green Pine Lake Pathway leaves from the east side.

8 sites · $20/night · 11 miles east of Evart