Manistique Campgrounds

See also: Indian Lake.

PRIMITIVE DISPERSED CAMPSITES/ HIAWATHA NATIONAL FOREST
Manistique: (906) 341-5666; Munising (906) 387-3700; Rapid River (906) 474-6442
These 45 undeveloped campsites on good fishing lakes are so popular that a lottery drawing for them is held in March. Contact the Manistique office (above) by Feb. 1 to get a lottery info packet. For unreserved sites, contact the office after April 1 to make a reservation and get a permit. Most requested is the 8-person cabin on Tom's Lake near Steuben ($45/night, sleeps 8).
The wooded surroundings are remote and generally too small for large RVs or campers. Some camping areas only have one campsite. Sites are designed for 8, 16, or 24 campers. Toilet facilities vary from improved to primitive to none. A booklet, "Dispersed Camping in the Hiawatha National Forest," describes and maps each campsite, with its fishing, boating, and swimming possibilities. Get it from the Manistique District Ranger Office. Or go online to the Hiawatha National Forest web site, fs.usda.gov/hiawatha Click "recreation" on the left, then "camping." Scroll down to "Primitive camping" and click on "primitive campsites" for the complete list of locations and brief descriptions.

499 East Lake Shore, Manistique 49854. (906-341-5666). $8/night. The Rapid River Ranger District office on U.S. 2 just east of Rapid River also has the handout.

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MANISTIQUE
POINTS OF INTEREST

Central Park. From an old quarry has emerged a nice swimming lake surrounded by a city park with beach, picnic area, playground ... more

Mackinaw Trail Tasting Room/Winery. The wines at this little Trader's Point winery has quickly gained widespread praise ... more

Downtown Manistique. Downtown is friendly, functional, and architecturally quite simple, despite Manistique's lumber town heritage. There's a most unusual Latin American import shop, a used paperback bookstore, and a large antique shop with vintage clothing ... more

Manistique Boardwalk & East Breakwater Light. A scenic, hardened two-mile walkway with picnic areas goes along the Lake Michigan shore. The beach alternates between sandy and rocky, in places backed by birches and cedars ... more

Water Tower and "Siphon Bridge". Manistique's 200-foot 1920s neoclassical brick water tower is the town's defining landmark. It's next to the river and what was the famous "siphon bridge," below water level. ... more

Imogen Herbert Historical Museum. Lots of curious stuff in this little museum — a quilt made of neckties, a lampshade — and good photos of the many facets of Chicago Lumber, the company that once owned much of the town. In back there's a cabin once part of an 1890s agricultural commune. ... more

Traders' Point. Two pleasant shops: a café/bookstore and antiques. The outdoor eating area looks across the Manistique River to the marina. ... more

Rogers Park. This is the best Lake Michigan beach in the area-pure sand, free of the limestone cobbles along much of the shoreline. Also a picnic area ... more

Kewadin Casino, Manistique. One of the smaller U.P. Indian-run casinos, the Kewadin here has 2 blackjack tables and one roulette table, a poker room, and 80 slots. Free drinks while gaming ... more

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