U.S. Forest Service · Hiawatha National Forest · Munising, MI

Little Bay De Noc

Little Bay Campground provides a quiet respite from more developed campgrounds in the area. It has long been a favorite for visitors seeking solitude. Beautiful sunsets can be seen over the glistening water of the Little Bay de Noc, and campers enjoy water activities on the lake.

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in Michigan · reservable in Michigan · big rigs in Michigan · pets allowed in Michigan · group sites in Michigan

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Little Bay de Noc - Campground RoadLittle Bay de Noc Campground - Boat LaunchLittle Bay de Noc - Swimming AreaLittle Bay de Noc - Swimming Area
Photos courtesy of USFS - Hiawatha National Forest · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups36
Group sites2
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

38 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
015GROUPGroup40GravelPartial24 / 6Yes
016GROUPGroup40GravelPartial24 / 6Yes
001MAYWOODStandardBack-in60GravelPartialLakefront8 / 1YesPreferred
002MAYWOODStandardBack-in60GravelPartialLakefront8 / 1YesPreferred
003MAYWOODStandardBack-in40GravelPartial8 / 1Yes
004MAYWOODStandardBack-in60GravelPartial8 / 1YesPreferred
005MAYWOODStandardBack-in40GravelPartial8 / 1Yes
006MAYWOODStandardBack-in60GravelPartial8 / 1YesPreferred
007MAYWOODStandardBack-in40GravelPartial8 / 1Yes
008MAYWOODStandardBack-in60GravelPartial8 / 1YesPreferred

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length60 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes

The campground offers multiple single-family sites and two large group sites, available for tent and RV camping. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are also provided. A day-use picnic area is equipped with tables and grills. An adjacent open grassy area is available for large recreational gatherings. The picnic area is also adjacent to the swimming beach and boat ramp.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMay 15 to October 8
ForestHiawatha National Forest
BookingSome of the sites at Litte Bay de Noc are reservable.
FeesDay Use $5 per vehicle, per day, up to 5 persons Standard Non Electric Site Fees range from $22 Double campsite, 2 camp units, per night $44 Group Campsites, sites #15 and #16, up to 24 perons $60 Federal Recreation Passes (Golden/America the Beautiful) are accepted.

Hiawatha National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Little Bay De Noc10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.60 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.28 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.87 inches of precipitationApril: 2.57 inches of precipitationMay: 3.49 inches of precipitationJune: 2.48 inches of precipitationJuly: 3.64 inches of precipitationAugust: 2.89 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.43 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.48 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.79 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.77 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 15.8°F averageFebruary: 17.1°F averageMarch: 26.6°F averageApril: 39.0°F averageMay: 51.9°F averageJune: 61.5°F averageJuly: 66.5°F averageAugust: 65.4°F averageSeptember: 58.1°F averageOctober: 45.5°F averageNovember: 34.0°F averageDecember: 23.1°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Rapid Rvr 4Sse, 3 miles from the campground at 598 feet, station USC00206840 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 31 inches a year. The shaded span is the published season, May 15 to October 8.

Getting there

From Rapid River, drive 2 miles east to County Road 513. Continue 6 miles south to the campground.

Nearest townMunising, Michigan
Coordinates45.8417° N, 86.9831° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceHilltop RV Superstore ↗6.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Little Bay de Noc Campground, Lake Michigan, Hiawatha National Forest

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Hiawatha National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground sits on the shore of Little Bay de Noc, on the north end of Lake Michigan. A group camping area is separated from the other sites with oak, hemlock and hardwood trees, providing a relatively private camping experience.

Recreation

The bay is widely recognized as one of the finest walleye fisheries in the country. The Hunter's Point paved boat ramp is located less than a mile from the entrance of the campground. Other than fishing, visitors enjoy non-motorized boating and swimming, or simply enjoying the beach. A variety of hiking trails are also within a couple miles of the campground.

Guidebooks for Hiawatha National Forest and Michigan

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Field Guide Hiawatha National Forest Ecological Classification System
    Greg Kudray, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Tent Camping: Michigan
    Matt Forster, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Michigan
    Kevin Revolinski, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Little Bay De Noc?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Little Bay De Noc?

Day Use $5 per vehicle, per day, up to 5 persons Standard Non Electric Site Fees range from $22 Double campsite, 2 camp units, per night $44 Group Campsites, sites #15 and #16, up to 24 perons $60 Federal Recreation Passes (Golden/America the Beautiful) are accepted.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Little Bay De Noc?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Little Bay De Noc open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 15 to October 8.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Little Bay De Noc have?

38 sites, including 36 standard sites without power and 2 group sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Little Bay De Noc?

The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Little Bay De Noc?

Yes, pets are allowed at Little Bay De Noc. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Little Bay De Noc?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Little Bay De Noc?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Little Bay De Noc?

The bay is widely recognized as one of the finest walleye fisheries in the country. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Little Bay De Noc?

Munising, Michigan.

Source: Getting there

What if Little Bay De Noc is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Flowing Well Campground (14.8 mi, partly first-come), Chicago Lake Campsites (23 mi), and Camp Cook Campsite (23.6 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby