Two primitive group sites sit on the sandy shore of Union Bay, where Lake Superior meets the Porcupine Mountains. Each accommodates up to 24 campers and includes vault toilets, fire rings, and trash receptacles. These sites are designed for youth and civic groups. Cell service is unreliable to nonexistent in this backcountry zone.
Rustic group camp with two adjacent group sites near Lake Superior; each site is designed for organized groups and holds up to 24 people.
Weather and SeasonsFall delivers the best conditions. Late September through mid-October brings peak color in the hardwoods, daytime temperatures between 35 and 55°F, and solid fishing from shore or small boats. Trails are dry and crisp. Crowds thin after the busiest color weekends, leaving the group sites quieter for scheduled trips. Spring and fall shoulder seasons mean mud on trails and fast-changing weather off the lake. Winter is snowy and harsh.
Natural Features and SceneryThe camp occupies Union Bay's shoreline at the edge of old-growth forest. Hardwoods and hemlocks tower overhead, some centuries old, forming dense canopy that blocks much of the sky. Lake Superior stretches north. The forest here is thick and dark, one of the few remaining old-growth stands in the Great Lakes region. The beach is sand. At 600 feet elevation, the terrain is relatively flat near the water but rises into ridges farther inland.
Scenic ViewsImmediate views/access to the sandy beach of Union Bay and Lake Superior shoreline.