Horseshoe Bay Wilderness
Upper Peninsula, east · Hiawatha National Forest (USFS)
The Hiawatha's least-developed wilderness, no marked sites, just a wet trail out to an empty Lake Huron beach.
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
Dispersed wilderness camping allowed, no permit or fee. Camp 200+ ft from any shoreline or campsite and 100+ ft from any trail; group max 10. Reach it on foot via the 2.5-mile Horseshoe Bay Trail from Foley Creek Campground.
~5 miles north of St. Ignace; ~1 hr from the Mackinac Bridge.
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.