Where to Camp on Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a wilderness paradise with multiple camping areas where you can indulge all your desires for an outdoor adventure. Whether you enjoy primitive backcountry camping or prefer a family-friendly campground with showers and full electric and water hookups, you’ll find what you need nestled among the beautiful hardwoods prominently displayed throughout the landscape.
While you can camp during any season, you might prefer to pitch your tent during the spring and summer when the snow makes way for beautifully warm beaches and easier hiking trails. In fact, people tend to flock to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan during camping season to find the ideal place to gaze in wonderment at the local waterfalls or even dive into an exciting kayaking tour.
Whether you’re a white water paddler or the type to prefer to lounge along the shoreline with a fishing rod in hand, your first big task towards making it happen is to figure out where to visit in the Upper Peninsula to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities. Taking a look at these major camping areas will help you get started on finding the ideal place to rest up and enjoy a meal around the campfire before your daily adventures begin.
Little Girls Point
Figuring out where to camp on Lake Superior is as simple as checking out this popular campground at Little Girls Point. The campground has 31 campsites, and 29 of them offer electric service. Although you won’t find showers here, you’ll likely enjoy the convenience of having access to bathrooms with running water. Families with children also love the playground and picnic area, where it’s easy to make beautiful memories after a fun day rock hunting along the shore.
Little Girls Point also comes with the benefit of being close to one of the most historic towns in the Upper Peninsula, where campers can learn a lot more about the rich history behind the area when they’re finished hiking the trails. Ironwood is also one of the best towns in the Upper Peninsula for campers to head to when they need a break from cooking over the campfire. Lined with local restaurants and breweries, you’ll be able to enjoy the comforts of city life to help round out your camping trip.
When Little Girls Point is your destination, you can start making reservations in January through the park’s website. Around mid-May, the Park Manager’s office opens, which allows you to reach out to check on campsite availability. While the campgrounds fill up fast, you might have good luck finding a spot mid-week. But, you’ll typically want to reserve in advance for weekends, especially if you plan to travel from a long distance to the Upper Peninsula.
Tahquamenon Falls
When you’ve been searching for where to visit in the Upper Peninsula, you’ve likely come across more than a few recommendations to see the Tahquamenon Falls. This famous waterfall is the largest one you’ll find east of the Mississippi River. The waterfall is located in the Tahquamenon Falls State Park, which also has two campgrounds available that allow you to sleep close to your favorite landmark.
The Rivermouth campground is on the east side of the park, and it is divided into the Rivermouth Pines and Rivermouth Modern Area. The Pines camping section has 36 rustic campsites available, although you’ll still find vault toilets and water pumps throughout the entire campground. If you prefer to have a few more amenities, then you’ll want to stay in the modern section where you’ll find bathhouses and electric hookups.
Your other option at the state park is the Lower Falls Campground. As the name suggests, this campsite brings you closer to the falls within walking distance of where you’ll be sleeping. Similar to the Rivermouth Modern campground, you’ll have access to electric hookups and bathrooms with running water. The Lower Falls Campground also stays open through the winter, with snowplowing done before your arrival when you reserve the space in advance.
Brimley State Park Campground
When you are looking for where to camp on Lake Superior, you might prefer to be as close to the shore as possible. The Brimley State Park Campground will get you right by the lake, with access from the campsites taking only a few minutes or less by foot. With 237 campsites available, you typically won’t run into many problems with finding a place to set up your tent. A vegetated windbreak separates the open sites from the shoreline, and each site has 20/30 amp service along with access to one of several restrooms that are located throughout the campground.
If you are looking for a different type of experience, then you might enjoy reserving the mini cabin here. The cabin has electricity, along with the convenience of a refrigerator, microwave, and box fan. You can fit a group of four comfortably in the cabin, which has two sets of bunk beds. Although the cabin doesn’t have running water, you’ll also be able to access the nearby restrooms and enjoy using the fire pit located just outside the door.
Lake Superior State Forest Campground
This campground puts you about as close to Lake Superior as you can get, although you may find that the 18 campsites fill up fast. Tents and small trailers are allowed on the sites, which sit above the Lake Superior shoreline. The campground currently doesn’t take reservations, so it is first-come, first-serve. Here, you’ll find vault toilets along with potable water in the hand pumps for sanitation and hydration. You can also enjoy easy access to the Blind Sucker Pathway for hiking and excellent fishing and paddleboarding areas.
Things to Know About Camping in the Upper Peninsula
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a popular place for camping throughout every season, and you’ll notice that the area around Lake Superior roars to life during the spring and summer months. If you plan to camp, then check ahead to see if you need to make reservations. If you opt for a first-come, first-serve campground, then be prepared with an alternative camping location in case it’s already filled when you arrive.
Michigan also has what is called a Recreation Passport that allows you to enter the state parks and recreation areas, including the state forest campgrounds. If you are a nonresident, you can pick up your Recreation Passport at the state park you visit. Annual passes are available through DNR customer service centers, or you can use a self-registration envelope when you visit certain parks. Once you have your passport, keep it prominently displayed on your vehicle, and enjoy knowing that the fees help fund all of the amenities you enjoy during your stay.
Camping in the Upper Peninsula is one of the best ways to get up close to nature, and there’s something amazing about waking up and enjoying Lake Superior’s beauty right by your campsite. During your stay, make sure to leave some room in your schedule to also visit the neighboring towns where you can clean up, enjoy a hot meal, and prep for heading back out for your favorite lakeside activities.
Contact Travel Ironwood today for more information about planning your trip to Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula.