This Secluded Campground Near Pictured Rocks Is One of Michigan’s Best Kept Secrets

A trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is always exciting—it's easily one of my favorite places in Michigan—but trying to book a campsite in the park can be a struggle. Because it's one of the most popular destinations in the Upper Peninsula, the main campgrounds on the water fill up months in advance. If you don't book as soon as reservations open, you're left only with tiny sites on crowded loops. There is a way, however, to spend your days exploring the picturesque sandstone cliffs and your nights in peace without settling for a less-than-stellar campsite. Pitch your tent (or camper) at Au Train Lake Campground, a secluded campground in Michigan that's close to the Pictured Rocks action without the Pictured Rocks crowds.

Where This Campground Is and How Close It Is to Pictured Rocks

This Hiawatha National Forest campground is located in Alger County, right on the south shore of Au Train Lake. Location-wise, it's a sweet spot. You're only about 10 miles southwest of Munising, the gateway town where you'll find one of the Pictured Rocks visitor centers, catch boat tours, rent kayaks, and access some of the main trailheads.

Getting here involves a short drive off Highway M-28 down Forest Road 2276, a transition from highway asphalt to gravel road lined with thick woods, offering a sense that you've already escaped the park crowds. The campground is close enough that you can spend your morning exploring the shoreline or splashing in the cold water of Lake Superior, grab a pasty for lunch in town, and be back at your quiet campsite in less than 20 minutes—that's why I think it's a perfect basecamp for exploring this part of Michigan.

What Makes This Campground So Secluded

As with many U.S. Forest Service facilities, Au Train Lake is relatively rustic. Set on the water, the campground features just 37 individual campsites carved out of a thick forest of pine, oak, and birch trees. This means there are natural visual barriers between sites, which offer plenty of privacy and breathing room.

The other big factor keeping the crowds thin is the lack of modern amenities. You won't find electrical hookups, water connections, or shower buildings here. Instead, you'll find clean vault toilets and fresh drinking water from a hand-pump well. Because it can't accommodate large RVs, the loops are open for tent campers, camper vans, and truck beds. The nightly fee is an affordable $24 to $26 (booked through Recreation.gov). Without the constant hum of RV air conditioners or loud generators, your evening soundtrack is just wind through the trees, the gentle lap of lake water, and the occasional haunting loon call. It's easily one of the best hidden campgrounds in Michigan if you're looking for a genuine escape.

Things To Do Nearby

You definitely won't run out of things to do in Michigan while staying here. You can launch onto Au Train Lake, the largest inland lake in the area, right from the campground's boat ramp. It's a legendary local fishery, so if you bring a rod, you'll have an opportunity to hook into walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. If you have a kayak or a canoe, you can float the Au Train River to its mouth. It’s a gentle paddle that takes four to six hours and meanders through quiet forest to Au Train Beach on Lake Superior.

If you prefer land-based adventures, the trailhead for the 2-mile Songbird Interpretive Trail is adjacent to the campground. The hike loops through nearby marshes and forests, and past a raised observation deck overlooking a marsh. It’s a vital stopover for migratory birds, so it's a perfect spot for a morning walk—especially in the late spring and late summer.

For more things to do at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, including information on authorized boat tours, visit the park's official webpage. Entrance fees are enforced at Pictured Rocks, so, as always with federal public lands, I recommend you purchase an annual America the Beautiful Pass before you visit—you'll more than make up for the $80 cost with visits to just a couple of spots. Reserve a site, and you'll understand why I think Au Train Lake in the Hiawatha National Forest is one of the best campgrounds in Michigan.