Hoist Lakes Foot Travel Area
Lower Peninsula, NE · Huron National Forest (USFS)
Nearly 10,000 acres of pine and hardwood with 19 miles of looped trail and no reservation system to fight.
From above. USDA NAIP, public domain.The vibe
Works for hammock, tent. 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 rules
No fee or permit to camp; a daily vehicle pass applies at the trailhead lot. Non-motorized foot-travel area; no camping within 200 ft of any lake, stream, or river. Nine-plus first-come backcountry spots, no toilets or water.
~3.5 hr from Grand Rapids; near Oscoda.
Thicket is not the managing agency and not affiliated with it. The vibe read is our estimate from open data (OpenStreetMap, USGS elevation, NASA Black Marble nighttime light); the rules, permits, and access can change. Confirm with the agency before you go, and leave no trace.