4.5695 reviewsPrice
$15/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
65 campsites
Season
During the remainder...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$15/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
65 campsites
Season
During the remainder...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Learn more about alerts →Porcupine Mountains Backcountry Camping
46.7433, -89.8025
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 backpackers chasing peak color will find September through early October close to ideal here: cold nights, thinning crowds after Labor Day, and sharp light over the maple-and-birch ridges. Reserve on MiDNRReservations well ahead; sites along the Lake Superior shoreline and L
No potable water at interior sites means you're filtering everything you drink, composting privies are the only toilets, there's no cell signal in most of the backcountry, and bear hangs are required. Car campers expecting hookups, showers, or a host on-site should book one of th
Camper Report Card
Rated higher than 73% of graded campgrounds
Graded on what 76 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.
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Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.
Official information for Porcupine Mountains Backcountry Camping from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
There are 65 backcountry (or primitive) campsites in the park. The campsites are numbered, site-specific (meaning you camp at the site you are registered for) and outfitted with a metal fire ring.
Campers are required to dig a 6-inch hole and bury waste at least a quarter of a mile from any campsite, trail or body of water. Composting privies are located near some of the sites. Bear bags must be suspended at least 12 feet above the ground and far enough from the tree to prevent an animal from reaching or jumping on them.
Reservations May 15 through Oct. 14 are strongly recommended (available six months in advance and up to 72 hours before arrival) at MiDNRReservations or 1-800-44PARKS.
Check-in process
Backcountry campers must check in to obtain their backcountry camping permit (online reservations receipts are not the same as a permit). Check-in hours (Eastern Time Zone) and locations include:
Dispersed winter camping
Dispersed winter camping is available in the backcountry once the ground is snow-covered. To take advantage of this option, you must register at park headquarters Dec. 1 through May 15 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Please use appropriate Leave No Trace techniques.
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Fall delivers the most striking experience. September through early October brings crisp days in the 40s to 60s°F and nights near or below freezing, with vivid maple and birch color lighting up the forest and shoreline. Crowds thin after Labor Day. Trout and salmon fishing picks up in streams, light turns sharp for photography, and trails stay busy but manageable. The reservation window runs May 15 to October 14. Winter dispersed camping is allowed December 1 through May 15 if you register at park headquarters between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. before heading out.
Fall described as the most striking experience; vivid maple and birch color; strong review signal.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
Primitive backcountry sites: 65 numbered, site-specific campsites outfitted with metal fire rings. Composting privies are located near some sites; no modern campground services (no electricity, no showers, no flush toilets).
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