4.0026 reviewsPrice
$68/night
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
23 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$68/night
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
23 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Manistee River Bridge State Forest Campground
42.9471, -84.4104
Paddlers and trout anglers who can snag a site early on a fall weekend: site #3 has a small deck right on the water, and the two launch points make getting a canoe in the river easy. Brown, brook, and rainbow trout all run here, with Lake Margrethe just two miles east as a backup
Privacy matters to you or you're hauling heavy gear to the water. Vegetation between sites is thin, so you'll hear your neighbors. The river access involves stairs down a bluff, meaning every piece of gear gets carried up and down. No showers or electric hookups either.
Official information for Manistee River Bridge State Forest Campground from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
This one-bedroom cabin sleeps 5 people and is accessible. Lighting is solar powered and a propane wall heater provides warmth during cold months. Drinking water and a vault toilet is located near the cabin. The bedroom includes a full-size bed with a single bunk above. A full size futon is located in the adjoining room. Visitors must bring their own bedding and cooking supplies. A private outdoor grill, fire ring and picnic table overlooks the 410-acre Lake Ovid. In addition to swimming, boating and fishing opportunities within walking distance, there is also easy access to more than 28 miles of hiking, bicycling and horseback riding trails.
There are four equine picket poles and a manure bunker for equestrian campers. Trailer parking is nearby.
Check prices here. Check availability or make a reservation online or call 800-447-2757.
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Fall offers the best combination of comfortable weather and spectacular scenery. Expect crisp daytime highs around 45–60°F in September–October with chilly nights dropping into the 30s. Leaf color peaks late September through October, making riverside paddling and shoreline fishing especially scenic, and trout activity stays strong. Crowds thin compared with summer, so you'll get quieter sites and easier river access. The campground stays open year-round, but roads and sites remain unplowed in winter.
Fall noted as best season: comfortable temps and spectacular leaf color paired with river views.
Rustic state forest campground with vault toilets and potable water from a hand-pump well. No electricity or modern showers are provided; a rustic cabin is mentioned in the source material.
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