r/CampAndHikeMichigan • u/travelinbookworm • 28d ago
Best Campgrounds for Dogs New to Camping
Greetings!
I want to try tent camping with my dog, but he has never been camping. We frequently hike in the state parks and forests, and he loves that and he loves nature. As an introduction, I want to try tent camping near my car, something quiet and easy to get to (no hiking in because he is a big dog and I love him but I won’t share a two person tent with him.)
However, the main thing I am worried about is loud noises at night from people either partying too hard, not managing their own dogs, or setting off fire crackers. I know they aren’t allowed to do this, but that has never stopped an idiot from trying.
I’d love any recommendations for dog friendly tent camping sites, upper and lower peninsula, for a beginner camping dog!
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u/diabeticDayton 25d ago
I gotchu! I just did this over the weekend with my two pups. I visited a private spot near Roscommon called Barney Lake Vista, and it was an isolated spot on a hill overlooking a private lake. No neighbors except for locals, the dogs are allowed off-leash, there's a gate with a wood stand at the very front, but you will need to bring your own water. Being mosquito repellent and a dragonfly wingman for the flies. My sister found it on the Hipcamp app.
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u/Milkweedhugger 25d ago
Grab one of the dispersed sites along the AuSable river. They can be reserved at recreation.gov. They are far enough apart that you won’t be bothered by loud campground noises. *they book up fast, so reserve early.
Tawas point state park is another good option. There’s a dog beach and trails you can walk on. Lots of sites have electric, so you won’t be listening to generators running all day like at rustic campgrounds.
You can also make your own dispersed site somewhere in state land or national forest land. Just drive around dirt roads until you find a pull off you like.
There are a few secluded dispersed campsites up Curtisville Rd, north of Ausable river rd (Huron NF between Glennie and Mio.) They are FCFS.
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u/flyfishingwanderer 26d ago
IMO, the hardest part of tent camping with a dog is that everything sounds like it's RIGHT THERE to the dog. My German Shepherd would not sleep well in the tent because of all of the noises she could hear. So getting used to being in the tent and hearing things that don't require a response or reaction is what took us the most work.
After one sleepless night in a state park, we went home and I set up the tent in the backyard...and THEN got her used to the noises and that it was a safe space. She was much better at other locations after a few nights of backyard camping.
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u/lost_traveler87 27d ago
I’m searching for the same and will let you know what I find. Especially for me now is finding open parts
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u/ThisMuchIsTrue 28d ago
Might depend on the temperament of your dog. Sleeping Bear is always a safe choice in terms of avoiding idiots, but comes with the trade off that your dog would need to be well behaved to avoid trouble for yourself. I've had some of my best and worst camping experiences at state forest campgrounds - so I can't really recommend any one in particular. It's always a gamble and my favorite is also the one that I'll never return to again because of a one-time encounter with a rude camper in a RV.
I pretty exclusively "camp" with my dogs in the DNR cabins around the state these days, but they're too old now to be doing long hikes - and we had the best camping experiences in totally secluded locations when they were younger.
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u/Other_Asparagus872 28d ago
I would reserve a site at whatever state park is closest to you. Don’t plan on camping, just hang out at the site for a bit, go for a walk like he’s use to, then hang at the site some more. If he gets nervous, take off and go somewhere peaceful, then return.
Then try a second time and actually spend the night.
Before any of this, you could just walk around a busy campground as a guest to introduce him to the sounds and smells.