Dispersed Camping & Cooking On A Campfire in Mackinaw, Michigan
Last June, we headed out towards northern Michigan to explore all the trails they offer! We had also discovered a lesser known dispersed camping spot, which I will not disclose the exact location on this page. If you want to learn more about how to find backcountry camping locations, our tips, tricks, behind the scenes, everyday life, and more - be sure to subscribe for our email list!
Watch the video
Many people don’t know that you can actually legally camp for free in Michigan (and many other states!) on National or Public land. I’ll film a video and make a blog post on how to find spots for that so you can find your own dispersed locations.
But what is backcountry camping or dispersed camping? Backcountry camping/dispersed camping is camping out on state or national lands with little-to-no amenities. You can either find your own location, or some areas will provided clear spaces (call and ask the ranger for assistance). Some spots are walk up only, some spots you can drive to, and some spots you make yourself, but if you choose to visit a cleared, provided space, be sure to check and see if a permit is required. Also, be sure to leave the space cleaner than you found it!
This trip was a much needed getaway from our homes and having to sit in our home offices day in and day out, and the current news. We just wanted to relax off-grid and test out our new Osprey Child Carrier. Our first anniversary trip was going to be our first ever (real) backpacking trip and we wanted to practice before heading out. It’s always a good idea to practice or test out your equipment so you can learn your limits!
We did not expect to be hit with as many mosquitos as there were! So this trip turned into a relaxing trip where we hung around camp more than we spent hiking, which was just what we ended up needing. We found our spot nestled in the Wilderness State Park, but it wasn’t too far from the general store in case we needed anything (which we did!).
Since we were in the area, we headed to the International Dark Sky Park too. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend it! Bring chairs and blankets and get ready to watch as the stars come out.
I forgot that I am very quickly affected by well water and didn’t pack any reserve for myself. So we ended up having to call our trip early after 4 days and headed into the city of Mackinaw for some breakfast. We were surprised to see the bridge covered in morning fog!
This past year has been crazy and it affected both of our metal health. We have learned to prioritize getting out and enjoying our local forests/greenery on a more regular basis. Our camping trips are my favorite way to reset, boost creativity, and come home feeling refreshed and ready to tackle my next projects.