4 minute read
Happy Camping – Stay a While
Camping offers a perfect blend of being shoulder-to-shoulder with nature and that of affordability. And what can beat being seated around a blazing campfire, swapping tales of the day’s adventures, watching the stars and later, lying in a tent listening to the loons serenading you to sleep?
Baraga County offers a mixture of campgrounds to fit your style from primitive to those with electrical service, showers and even Wi-Fi! In addition to campgrounds and parks-with-campgrounds, there are parks where you can bring the family for a picnic or serious tanning time on the beach.
L’Anse Township Park & Campground: Located 2 miles north of L’Anse on the Skanee Road. 30 modern sites. Situated on a hillside, which offers a beautiful view of Keweenaw Bay. Historically, it is the site of the first trading post and the original townsite of L’Anse.
• Owned and operated by L’Anse Township.
• Open mid-May to mid-October. Hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pets allowed, but must be on a leash at all times.
• Electricity (20, 30 & 50 amp), free Wi-Fi, showers, water (not at sites), playground, swimming, pavilions, flush toilets, RV dump station, firewood, hiking trail.
• For rates and other info, call (906) 524-6985
• Online reservations at www.lansetownshippark.org.
Baraga State Park: Situated a quarter mile south of Baraga along US-41. There are 95 electric grassy campsites and a mini-cabin that overlook scenic Keweenaw Bay of Lake Superior. Popular for hiking, kayaking, camping and ORV-friendly recreation. One of the oldest state parks in Michigan, it’s also a great base camp for those touring western Upper Peninsula destinations. The park allows ORV operation between the campground and nearby ORV trails. There is a mix of back-in, pull-through, full hook-up and accessible campsites, some with gravel or paved pads. Most sites are flat, generous in size and shaded by oaks, maples and pines. There is also free Wi-Fi.
• A Recreation Passport is required for all Michigan state parks.
• Many pull-through campsites and 20/30, 20/30/50 amp electrical service, 13 sites also have water and sewer.
• Pets must be under the owner’s control (on a leash, not left unattended in a vehicle or camper) and pet waste must be picked up and disposed of properly (i.e. not in fire pits, vault toilets, restrooms).
• Playground, pavilion, water spigot, vault toilet, modern restrooms & showers, sanitation station, picnic area, and hiking trail.
• For rates and reservations, call: 800-447-2757 or visit midnrreservations.com.
• For park information, call: 906-353-6558 or visit michigan. gov/baraga.
Aura Community Campground: Located at 13726 Townline Rd., L’Anse. 4 seasonal campsites. Short drive to beaches and several waterfalls.
• Firepit, electrical service at campsites. Porta toilet, potable water and emergency phone at nearby Aura Community Hall.
• Pets on leash at all times and attended.
• For rates and other info, call 906-370-2289.
Ojibwa Campground and Recreation: 16429 Beartown Rd., Baraga. The Ojibwa Campground offers a serene setting among pine trees to enjoy the outdoors with your family. The campground hosts the annual Keweenaw Bay Maawanji’iding Pow Wow every summer in July. Public is welcome. It’s the largest pow wow in Michigan. There is a full-time caretaker on the premises.
• Restrooms with showers, fire pits, RV dump station, electrical outlets, playground, and pavilions to host a family get-together.
• For rates and other info, call 906-201-4174.
Big Eric’s Bridge State Forest Campground: Skanee. Rustic campground with 21 sites for tent and small trailer use located on the Huron River.
• A Recreation Passport is required for all Michigan state park sites.
• Weather dependent - generally open from April through November.
• Non-reservable. Sites available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Vault toilets, hand pump well.
• For more information, call Baraga State Park 906-353-6558.
Big Lake State Forest Campground: Big Lake Road, 5 miles north of Watton. Rustic campground with 12 sites for tent and small trailer use located on the east shore of Big Lake.
• A Recreation Passport is required for all Michigan state park sites.
• Non-reservable. Sites available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Vault toilets, hand pump well.
• Weather dependent - generally open mid-May through mid-October.
• Big lake is a 127-acre shallow, sand bottom lake. A carry-down launching area suitable for cartop boats, kayaks and canoes only. Parking available within 150 feet of the launch area; the site is signed.
• For more information, call Baraga State Park 906-353-6558.
Craig Lake State Park & Trails: 851 County Road Ake, Champion. Craig Lake State Park is the most remote state park in the system. It spans more than 6,900 acres in Baraga County. Craig Lake offers a touch of wilderness and access into the park is somewhat of an adventure. Vehicles with high ground clearance are recommended due to the rocky conditions of the road. The park contains six lakes and numerous small ponds along with a variety of wildlife including a portion of the Upper Peninsula moose herd. Craig Lake is 374 acres and features six islands and high granite bluffs along its northern shoreline.
• Craig Lake Main Trail: 8 miles, loops around Craig Lake and is open to cross-country skiing, hiking.
• Craig Lake North Country Trail: 7.5 miles. The trail covers some rough terrain, but is well worth the effort. Open to cross-country skiing, hiking.
• 6 parking spaces available at the access.
• For more information, call 906-339-4461.
King Lake State Forest Campground: King Lake Road, Covington. Rustic campground with six sites for tent and small trailer use located on the north end of King Lake.
• A Recreation Passport is required for all Michigan state park sites.
• Non-reservable. Sites available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Vault toilets, and hand pump well.
• Weather dependent - generally open mid-May through mid-October.
• Boat Launch - A hard-surfaced ramp with sufficient water depth and lake size to accommodate most trailered boats. Four parking places available at the access site.
• For more information, call Baraga State Park 906-353-6558. Witz Marina: 21790 Nelson Rd., Skanee. 50 campsites.
• Located on Huron Bay.
• Accommodates 50-60 boats; gas pumps, and convenience store.
• Summertime hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• For more information, call 906-524-6920.
Additional Parks
Arvon Township Park: Park Road, 1 mile north of Skanee. A hard-surface ramp with sufficient water depth and lake or impoundment size to accommodate all trailered watercraft (minimum of 2.5 - 3 feet deep at a distance of 20 feet from shore). The site is signed.
• Operated by Arvon Township.
• Courtesy pier, toilets, 58 parking spaces available at the access site.
• For more information, call 906-524-6776
L’Anse Waterfront Park: Located on the waterfront in downtown L’Anse, this scenic day use park has concerts and Farmers Market during the summer. Magnificent view of Keweenaw Bay.
• Sandy swimming beach, children’s playground, picnic area, barbeque grills. and benches, shaded pavilion, amphitheater, showers, walking path on beach, flush toilets, splash pad, boat launch, marina.
• For more information, call 906-524-6116.
Second Sand Beach Park: Pequaming. Beautiful sandy beach. For more information, call 906-524-7444.