Detour State Forest Campground

Star4.57
89 reviews
Detour State Forest Campground
StargazingSummer Destination
Featured in:Pet-Friendly Campgrounds Michigan

Quick Facts

620 ft

Price

$20/night

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

21 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV Friendly

Opens Michigan DNR site

Official Website
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Detour State Forest Campground
$20.00 - $20.00 / night
Campsite Fees
A Google review lists the nightly fee as $20; official DNR fee not provided in source materials. Sites are rustic (no hookups).
Standard Site Fee$0.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

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Michigan
Provider
(906) 248-3422
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What Campers Say

4.57

Top-Rated

Based on 89 reviews

78 Google reviews

Most mentioned

viewsquietlocationlake

Some mention

mosquitoessmall

"Reviewers consistently praise the campground's peaceful, wooded setting and direct Lake Huron access; vault toilets and a hand-pump well are noted as clean and functional. Many reviewers emphasize the rustic, first-come-first-served nature and limited suitability for large RVs."

Read all reviews

Campground Map

Detour State Forest Campground

Detour State Forest Campground

45.9583, -84.0006

Driving directionsLocated about 5 miles west of DeTour Village via M-134. Turn onto Campground Road; signage from M-134 is minimal so watch for a small trailer/campground sign.
Accessible from M-134; approach drive passes through thick mixed forest. Minimal highway signage may make the entrance easy to miss.
Nearby places
DeTour Village (≈5 miles east)
Caribou Lake area (≈3 miles north)
St. Mary's River area (≈5 miles east). Nearby towns with services include DeTour Village, Cedarville, and Hessel.
Nearby supplies
Supplies and services available in DeTour Village (≈5 mi). Additional dining/amenities in Cedarville and Hessel.

Best Time to Camp at Detour State Forest Campground

Spring and shoulder seasons bring a peaceful, almost meditative quality to this remote shoreline retreat, with refreshingly cold lake water perfect for a bracing swim or wade. The beach landscape shifts subtly with Lake Huron's changing water levels, offering a slightly different experience each visit. Night owls and stargazers will find the area's famously dark skies a constant draw, revealing celestial displays that make the remote location feel all the more special.

Best
Summer(Jun-Aug)
4.5 / 5

Beach swimming, paddling and warm-season camping make summer a top season here.

Fall(Sep-Nov)
4.0 / 5

Shoulder-season peace and scenic shoreline hikes make fall appealing and quiet.

Spring(Mar-May)
4.0 / 5
Top 14% in MI

Spring brings a peaceful, meditative feel; cold but bracing swims and fewer crowds.

Winter(Dec-Feb)
Not recommended

No winter facilities or activities mentioned; cold lake conditions and rustic site imply low winter use.

Planning Tips

    About Detour State Forest Campground

    Escape to DeTour State Forest Campground, where rustic charm meets Lake Huron's pristine shoreline just five miles west of DeTour Village. This intimate, first-come-first-served retreat offers wooded, well-spaced sites that open onto a beautiful sandy-pebble beach—perfect for campers seeking a genuine back-to-basics experience with vault toilets, hand-pump well water, and the soothing soundtrack of Great Lakes waves.
    Rustic Lake Huron state forest campground with about 21 first-come, first-served sites; primarily used by tent campers and small trailers, with a few larger sites able to handle bigger rigs.
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    Amenities available

    Potable water
    Picnic tables
    Vault toilets

    Activities you can enjoy

    Lakeshore camping on Lake Huron with beach access for swimming, beachcombing, and ship watching; carry-in paddlesports and shoreline fishing are common. Trails and nearby public land provide hiking, wildlife viewing, biking and hunting access on adjacent state land.
    HikingTrails include shoreline walks through cedar and mixed forest; nearby Bush Bay/Narnia Trail (about a 3.8-mile out-and-back shoreline hike) is noted by reviewers.
    FishingShore and nearshore Lake Huron fishing; sources note species such as walleye, bass, pike and musky in the area and additional nearby fishing opportunities.
    SwimmingSandy/pebble beach on Lake Huron with areas suitable for wading and swimming; water is described as cold and clear.
    Biking
    Boating
    Wildlife viewing
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    Policies & Safety

    Hazards & AlertsHand-pump well water has been reported as brown from iron by at least one camper. Minimal signage off M-134 can cause missed turns. Variable shoreline due to water levels can affect beach size. Many sites are small or have tight access for large RVs; only a few sites can accommodate very large vehicles. Cell/data coverage is not documented and should not be relied upon.

    Weather at Detour State Forest Campground

    Reviews

    4.6
    89 reviews
    Top-Rated
    Top-Rated
    Detour State Forest Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews
    Reviewers consistently praise the campground's peaceful, wooded setting and direct Lake Huron access; vault toilets and a hand-pump well are noted as clean and functional. Many reviewers emphasize the rustic, first-come-first-served nature and limited suitability for large RVs.
    Review Summaries
    Based on 89 reviews

    What Campers Love

    Quiet, uncrowded lakeshore location with wooded, semi-private sites, easy access to a sandy/pebble beach, good swimming and paddling, dark night skies and frequent close-up views of freighters.
    Based on 89 reviews

    Pro Tips & Recommendations

    Arrive early (all sites are first-come, first-served); bring your own drinking water or filtration due to iron-stained well water; buy firewood before arrival (no on-site sales); target mid-loop...
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    Based on 89 reviews

    Camper Quotes

    “The sites were spacious, and our site (#19) had a path to Lake Huron.”; “No electricity or showers. Vault toilets.”
    Based on 89 reviews
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    Last updated February 2, 2026
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