Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore - Weather Station Campground

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About this campsite

Campground: Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore - Weather Station Campground.

What this place offers

Accommodation Types

Backcountry

Location

Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore - Weather Station Campground•MI

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

FRI☁️

15° / 11°

—

SAT🌦️

15° / 9°

💧 25%

SUN🌦️

15° / 13°

💧 40%

TODAY🌤️

13° / 10°

—

TUE☁️

15° / 9°

💧 1%

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

1.7 km away

South Manitou Group Campground

Overview South Manitou Group Campground is a tent-only backcountry facility on South Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan. Campers must take a 1.5-hour Manitou Island Transit Ferry trip or boat ride to reach it, and must backpack their gear into the campground from the dock. **Booking for individual sites on South Manitou Island are made on a first come/first served basis directly through Manitou Island Transit .** This facility is comprised of three reservable group sites at Bay Campground and three others at Weather Station Campground. Each site is open to groups of nine to 20 people only. Smaller parties must plan to occupy multiple first-come, first-served individual sites at Popple, Bay or Weather Station Campgrounds on the island. Bay is the closest campground to the dock (less than a mile/1.6 km) and a short walk from the beach. Weather Station overlooks Lake Michigan from the bluffs on the south side of the island; the hike from the ferry is about 1.3 miles (2 km). If group sites are full, your group may be able to split up into multiple individual campsites. Be sure to book reservations on the Manitou Island Transit website or call (231) 256-9061 for transportation to the island. Or contact Sleeping Bear Dunes for more information at (231) 326-4700 ext 5010. Summer temperatures range from the upper 70s to 90 degrees F (25° to 32° C) during the day, and from the 50s to 70 degrees F (10° to 25° C) at night. Winters are cold, with daytime highs from 20° to 30° F (-7° to -1° C) and lows in the 10s and 20s F (-12 to -7° C). Snow is usually on the ground from late November through March. Recreation There is no shortage of activities on South Manitou Island. Visitors can hike around the 10-mile perimeter of the island via pebble beaches, take a tour of the South Manitou Island Lighthouse during summer months, view the 1960 shipwreck of the Francisco Morazanon or go on a motorized tour to learn the history of the island. Visitors can also hike day-long excursions to unique sand dune formations and old growth cedar forests. Both campgrounds have beach access where campers can beachcomb and swim; group sites are closer to the beach at Bay Campground than at Weather Station. Facilities Water is only available in the Village area. Group campsites are secluded and set apart from one another. Each site has a fire pit for open fires (firewood must be purchased or collected in the park). Wooden pit toilets are provided, however campers must bring their own toilet paper. Natural Features South Manitou Island is part of an island chain in Lake Michigan that extends north to the Straits of Mackinac. The island consists of a ridge of tilted layers of limestone, buried under a blanket of glacial debris. It features unique sand dune formations, 10 miles of pebble beaches and a grove of old growth white cedars that date back over 500 years. The campgrounds lie on sandy soils among younger forests. Contact Info For local information, please call (231) 326-4700 or call (877) 444-6777 for general information.

1.9 km away

Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore - Bay Campground

Campground: Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore - Bay Campground.

4.9 km away

Popple Campground - South Manitou Island

The Popple Campground is the furthest from the dock (about 3.5 miles), so you are likely to have fewer people camping there. The campground is close to the beach on the northern tip of the island. Bring water filtration equipment since there is no source of purified drinking water. There are 7 individual sites

13.5 km away

D.H. Day Group Campground

Overview D.H. Day Group Campground is a tent-only facility located in the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, about one mile (1.6 km) north of the Dune Climb, where visitors can walk over miles of sand dunes. This year-round campground has four sites which accommodate groups of 7 to 25 people. Recreation D.H. Day Group is a hub for water activities. Motorized and non-motorized boating is allowed on the lake, with restrictions, and there is a boat ramp about six miles away by which boaters can access Lake Michigan. Campers can also rent canoes and kayaks in the town of Glen Harbor to float the nearby Crystal River. The beach at Glen Haven, which is popular for beachcombing and swimming, is about one mile away from the campground. There are no lifeguards on duty at the park's beaches. The facility is also close to the Dune Climb, where visitors can climb on sand dunes over 200 feet high, walk more than 1.5 miles on the dunes to Lake Michigan and catch a great view of Glen Lake. Facilities Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided at the campsites. The campground has drinking water during the reservation season, but the water is shut off from October through April. Pets and RVs are not allowed in the group sites. Access to the campground is via a dirt road. Natural Features The campground is open with sparse vegetation. Contrary to the park's name, bears are rarely sighted here, yet other wildlife such as birds, deer and wild turkey may be seen. Although the Lake Michigan shore is long and narrow, it has northern hardwood and conifer forests, abandoned farm meadows, wetlands, lakes, streams, bogs and splendid examples of a glacially formed landscape. The most prominent features in the park, for which it was named, are the perched sand dunes above Lake Michigan. The overlooks at Sleeping Bear, Empire and Pyramid Point bluffs are about 400 feet above the lake. With 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and numerous inland lakes and streams, the park is wonderfully water-oriented. Nearby Attractions The historic area of Glen Haven, which features a working blacksmith shop, a 1920s-era general store and Sleeping Bear Point Maritime Museum, is within a short drive of the campground. Contact Info For local information, please call (231) 326-4700 or call (877) 444-6777 for general information. Charges & Cancellations

13.7 km away

D.H. Day Campground

Overview D.H. Day Campground is located in the northern district of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the lower peninsula of Michigan. This rustic campground is one of the most popular in Northern Michigan and is open (weather permitting) from April 27 through the last Sunday in November. Reservations are required May 1 through October 15. Campsites are within walking distance of the Lake Michigan shoreline and a short drive to many popular features in the park. Summer temperatures range from the upper 70s to 90 degrees F (25° to 32° C) during the day, and from the 50s to 70 degrees F (10° to 25° C) at night. Recreation Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's rustic D.H. Day Campground is beautifully wooded. Campers can swim, canoe, kayak, fish and relax along the shoreline of the campground. The multi-use Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail passes through the campground opening up 20+ miles (32 km) of biking and hiking. There are canoe and bicycle rentals nearby in the village of Glen Arbor. The historic village of Glen Haven is a short 15-minute walk away. Multiple hiking trails, the Dune Climb, and the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive are just a short drive away. D.H. Day Campground is the perfect launching point for a fun-filled stay at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Facilities With 81 beautifully wooded campsites, shared water spigots, and vault toilets, D.H. Day provides a more rustic camping experience. Free hot showers are available at Platte River Campground, located 17 miles (27 km) south along highway M-22. Each campsite has a parking area, large picnic table, fire ring and tent pad. Firewood is also sold in the campgound at a self-pay station. Natural Features D.H. Day Campground lies in the middle of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near the historic village of Glen Haven. The spacious wooded campsites are no more than a 5-minute walk to the Lake Michigan beach. Features include northern hardwood and conifer forests, old farm meadows, wetlands, lakes, streams, bogs, and splendid examples of glacially formed landscapes. The beautiful, perched sand dunes, for which the parked is named, are just a few minutes' drive from the campground. Contact Info For local information, please call (231) 326-4700 or call (877) 444-6777 for general information. Nearby Attractions Village of Glen Arbor (1.5 miles East). The Alligator Hill Trail is less than a mile away. To the West visitors will find the Historic Village of Glen Haven & the General Store bookstore (0.8 miles ), the Maritime Museum (1.1 miles), and the Sleeping Bear Point Trail (1.4 miles). The Dune Climb (2 miles) and Dune Center bookstore are a short drive to the south. 4.2 miles to the south is the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, where the Lake Michigan Overlook is located . Village of Empire (7.5 miles South). The Crystal River winds its way to Lake Michigan just a few short miles to the north. The Port Onieda Historic District can be found 5.7 miles to the North. The Harbor Town of Leland is 20 miles north of the Lakeshore & is the gateway to both North and South Manitou Islands . Charges & Cancellations