Lime Island
Upper Peninsula, E (St. Marys River) · Michigan DNR (state recreation area)
A 932-acre island in the freighter channel of the St. Marys, with tent platforms above the water and lake boats sliding past close enough to read their names. Old limestone-quarry town history, resident deer, no cars. Bring your own boat or arrange the ride; the crossing from Raber is short but real water.
From above. USDA NAIP, public domain.The vibe
Works for hammock, tent. Measured dark skies, a real one for stargazing.
Hanging a hammock?
Depends whose trees they are. The DNR makes the rules, and wilderness areas can have their own take on hammocks, so check before you count on a hang. Wherever you hang: wide tree-friendly straps, no nails or wire, and don't tear the bark. We can't see the trunks from here, so eyeball it on arrival.
The rules
Boat-in only: ten tent platforms (six near the docks, four on the southeast shore by boat or a 2.25-mile walk) plus rustic cabins, all reservation-only on MiDNRReservations. No vehicles on the island.
Launch at Raber, southeast of Sault Ste. Marie; the crossing is ~3 miles.
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.