Central UP
Best Camping Near Big Bay
Huron Mountains gateway with a lighthouse you can stay in
About Big Bay
Big Bay is a small logging and mining town that most people drive past on the way to somewhere else — which is exactly why it's worth stopping. The Big Bay Lighthouse is now a bed and breakfast, the only lighthouse inn on Lake Superior. Thunder Bay Inn, where scenes from the 1959 film Anatomy of a Murder were shot, is still open. The surrounding Huron Mountain Club land is private and enormous, which keeps the wilderness south and west of town largely trailless and genuinely wild. Thomas Rock offers a short hike and a big view over Yellow Dog River country.
Campgrounds Near Big Bay
Vetted campgrounds within the Big Bay area — from state park sites to private full-hookup RV parks.
Big Bay Township Campground
Basic rustic sites near Big Bay. No hookups. Quiet — this is not a destination campground.
Book on Hipcamp →Craig Lake State Park
One of Michigan's most remote state parks. 7-mile drive on two-track required. Pack in everything.
Book on michigan.gov →Trails Near Big Bay
Thomas Rock Overlook Trail
Short walk to a quartzite outcrop with views over Yellow Dog River valley and the Huron Mountains.
Yellow Dog River Pathway
Through Ottawa National Forest along the Yellow Dog River. Good trout fishing access. Remote.
Gear up for the trail
Don't forget the essentials
Bear spray, trekking poles, headlamp, and moisture-wicking layers — must-haves for UP trails. Quick links to Amazon for the most-searched UP camping gear.
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