Lake Superior State Forest (dispersed)
Upper Peninsula, east · Michigan DNR (state forest)
Flat sandy jack-pine and flooding country near the Blind Sucker where the NCT runs through, post your card and stay a mile off the campgrounds.
From above. USDA NAIP, public domain.The vibe
Works for hammock, tent, 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 rules
Free dispersed camping under Michigan's state-forest rule: fill out and post a (free) Dispersed Camping Registration Card at your site, stay 1+ mile from any state forest campground, 15 consecutive nights max. Coordinate is the Blind Sucker Pathway trailhead, where the NCT runs through (approximate).
~45 min to 1 hr northwest of Newberry via M-123 and CR-407.
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.