Long Lake State Forest Campground
Northern Lower Peninsula · Wexford County
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.
From above. USDA NAIP, public domain.The vibe
Works for tent, hammock, van, and a smaller rig. 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
- 12 rustic sites.
- Vault toilets and hand-pump water. No hookups, no showers.
- No reservation exists. Drive in, take an open post, self-register ($20 a night). Summer Fridays fill early; have a second pick down the road.
- Boat launch on site.
8 miles north of Cadillac.
Thicket is not affiliated with the Michigan DNR. The facts come from the DNR's open GIS data (a public record); the vibe read and the words are ours, estimated from open data (OpenStreetMap, USGS elevation, NASA Black Marble nighttime light). Sites, fees, and access can change, and first come, first served means no promises. Confirm on the DNR page, and pack out what you pack in.