Camping In Muskallonge Lake State Park: Modern Comfort In Wilderness

A great base-camp for sightseeing

Muskallonge Lake State Park is tucked quietly away, but access to supplies is fairly easy. The park office sells ice and firewood, without overpricing. When you need to restock, the park is just 18.4 miles (29.6 km) east of Grand Marais, MI, and lies 27.3 miles (~ 44 km) north of Newberry, MI. Grand Marais is the bigger town, and has stuff to do, making it a better choice for grocery runs.

Muskallonge is also situated central to a lot of Upper Michigan’s big attractions. Tahquamenon Falls, Whitefish Point, Crisp Point, Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Sable Falls, just to name a few highlights, are all roughly an hour to 90 minutes away by car. Between Muskallonge’s comfortable amenities and its key location, the park is a wonderful place to stay while making day trips to various landmarks.

Activities in the park or close-by

It’s not necessary to leave the park in order to find fun things to do. There are many options within the grounds, or in the nearby vicinity. The area is known for rich forests, lakes, and rivers. The park has a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) hiking trail that loops through this varied habitat. The water attracts wildlife and birds. You might even see an eagle! There is good fishing in the lake, and boating is encouraged; a boat launch sits at the west side of the park. The beach is manicured for swimming, picnicking, or playing, and seasonal hunting is permitted outside the park grounds. Lake Superior is a short walk across the road, with a sandy beach peppered with small stones; you can hunt here for agates! Wild berries grow in the park in summer, and snowmobiling is good in the winter.

Kid-friendly beach and playground

Muskallonge Lake State Park has one of the best beach playgrounds in upper Michigan. A large portion of the beach is kept in sand, especially in the dedicated swimming area. An emergency boat and life-saving equipment rest on the beach, ready to go should the need arise. The beach slopes gently away from the water up to a large, grassy, shade-dappled playground, large enough to give kids room to run and get their sillies out. The gnarly-rooted trees dotting the park might arguably be as fun to explore as are the swings and spring-ride. Parents can relax and still keep an eye on the little ones in one of several park benches located in the shade of trees, overlooking the lake.

Choose your beach, or sample them all

Muskallonge Lake State Park’s swimming area is cordoned off with buoys and the beach is maintained with sand for a large stretch of the park’s beachfront. This section of the beach is great for playing and wading.

If you want a little variety, a short walk will take you to the lake’s natural beach, which is a little less sandy with a healthy scattering of small rocks. Here there are all sorts of fun things to explore. If you look closely, you’ll see someone has already been setting the rocks into patterns and cairns.

Another beach is in easy reach from the park. A short walk across County Road 407 lies a boardwalk path, with stairs leading right down to Lake Superior. This beach is naturally sandy, with small stones scattered here and there, perfect for stone picking or skipping.

Many families come back year after year, and have a tradition of playing in chilly Lake Superior, then returning and warming up in the much less chilly Muskallonge Lake.

Clean facilities and friendly staff

The two shower houses are cleaned and maintained regularly. In fact, it’s common to see park staff making the rounds. They’re chatty with guests, helpful and knowledgeable about the park.

Hot water and a private shower stall are delightful luxuries compared to more rustic campgrounds. Drinking water is available from many fountains situated throughout the camping area.

Select from a variety of campsite choices

The park is open year-round, but sites are only open for reservation during the main season, mid-April through the end of October. Campsites are 20 USD per night, or 18 USD during the off-season. Reservations can be made through the Michigan DNR website. Michigan’s Recreation Pass is required to visit the park. They cost 31 USD (cheaper for Michigan residents) and will provide your vehicle access to any Michigan State Park all year long.

There are 159 campsites, divided into three sections. Section 1 has some of the sunnier sites, with good flat ground for RVs, and Section 3 affords some of the most shady, private spaces. But all are equipped the same, with parking space for trailers or cars, space for tents, electrical hookups, modern fire pits, picnic tables, and close access to clean water. Two modern lavatory and shower houses are conveniently located. If making reservations for a camper, I’d advise calling ahead and asking for help selecting a site with good level ground, especially if you’d prefer the wooded portion of the park.

If you’re keen on the privacy Muskallonge Lake affords, but not interested in camping, a small, privately-owned, family-run resort cabin facility lies on the east side of the lake. The Deer Park Lodge has a private beach and receives good reviews.