3.1817 reviewsPrice
$13/night
Booking
Check Site
Sites
6 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$13/night
Booking
Check Site
Sites
6 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
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Learn more about alerts →White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits
44.7379, -86.0857
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Fall weekenders who hike in on foot, pack their own water, and want a genuinely quiet beach without summer crowds. The 25-mile Platte Plains trail system starts right here, mosquitoes die off after Labor Day, and sites were still open on 4th of July weekend.
Driving to the trailhead on the sandy two-track has stranded SUVs and trucks with $300 tow bills. Summer bugs are brutal enough that reviewers mention head nets. No potable water on site means every drop comes on your back.
Context for the broader area surrounding White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacular views across the lake. An island lighthouse, US Life-Saving Service stations, coastal villages, and picturesque farmsteads reflect the park’s rich maritime, agricultural, and recreational history.
From the south (Detroit or Chicago areas) :Take US-31, US-131, US-27 to M-115 & M-37, I-75 and M-72 North to Traverse City, then west on M-72 to the Village of Empire. You will see the visitor center as you enter Empire on your right. You may also get to Empire from the south via US-31 to Ludington and then north to Manistee. You can follow either US-31 or M-22 from north of Manistee. From the north (Michigan's Upper Peninsula), take I-75 to Grayling and follow M-72 to Traverse City or take US-31 south
Availability, what to pack, similar spots — ask anything and get an instant answer.
Best season: fall. Fall offers the clearest advantages at White Pine: cooler, stable weather and spectacular foliage make the two-mile hike into the backcountry especially rewarding. Expect daytime highs in the 40s–60s°F with crisp nights dipping into the 20s–40s, ideal for long hikes, wildlife viewing and quiet beach walks without summer crowds. Trails are less buggy and permit demand drops after Labor Day, so you'll get the lakeshore vistas and solitude that define this primitive campsite. Peak months: September, October, November
Officially listed best season: fall offers stable weather and spectacular foliage — top recommendation.
This year-round campground has six campsites, two shared fire rings, pit toilet, and two shared animal resistant food storage lockers. Plan to pack your water into the campsite, as there is no well in the campground.
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