Camping on South Manitou Island

Manitou Islands Access Update – 2026

Both North Manitou Island and South Manitou Island will have limited visitor access throughout the 2026 season due to a major construction project.

The National Park Service is relocating the docks on both islands to safer, more sheltered locations. This project addresses damage caused by storms, shifting sand, and high-water levels. It also includes repairing historic buildings and replacing failing infrastructure. Safety and resource protection are the top priorities. For these reasons, all facilities, docks, and utilities on both islands will remain closed until the work is complete.

These improvements are funded by the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Fund and will make island access more reliable for years to come. 

What Is Closed?

South Manitou Island

• Dock
• Village
• Lighthouse
• Group campsites
• Bay Campground
• All potable water sources

North Manitou Island

• Dock
• Village
• All potable water sources

When Will Access Resume?

• South Manitou Island: Dock and village expected to reopen in 2027.
• North Manitou Island: Dock and village expected to reopen in 2027.

Getting to the Island in 2026:

• The Manitou Island Transit Ferry will not operate because there is no safe docking location on either island during construction.
• Personal boats cannot dock. Boaters must anchor offshore and use a smaller vessel to reach shore. There are no mooring buoys or protected anchoring areas.
• Charter boats must have a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA).
  • Current CUA holders: 
    • Manitou Fishing Charters – 231-218-5853.

 

 

Planning

Transportation

Access to North Manitou Island is by private boat or by passenger ferry service run by Manitou Island Transit (231-256-9061). The ferry service operates from the Fishtown Dock located in Leland, MI. Weather conditions or other issues may cause the schedule to change. Reservations are recommended.

There is no transportation for camp gear. All gear must be packed in, so travel light. Food should be stored in hard containers or hung from a line to thwart chipmunks.

Boating

Docking is limited to 20 minutes. Fuel service is not available. There are no protected anchoring locations anywhere around the island.

Regulations

• Entrance Pass Required.
• Campers must purchase a Backcountry Use Permit before camping. You may obtain a permit at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Sleeping Bear Dunes campground offices, or Leland dock. Upon arriving at the island, a park ranger will meet you at the dock to complete camper registration.
• Pets are prohibited
• All human waste and toilet paper must be buried at least 6 inches deep.
• Use down and dead wood only.
• Do not leave a fire burning unattended. Put out all fires before leaving the campground.
• Carry out all trash.
• Wheeled vehicles (snowmobiles, bikes, etc.) are prohibited.
• Explosives, including fireworks, are prohibited
• Please do not enter any area posted as CLOSED for nesting piping plovers. These endangered birds need all the assistance we can provide.
• Fires are permitted only in the communal metal fire rings.
• Open fires are prohibited in the wilderness area. Use gas or alcohol stoves.
• Don't take firewood to the islands! Island campers may collect dead and down wood found on the island for personal use during their visit; however, unused wood must remain on the island. Transporting firewood when camping on the islands means you risk carrying tree-killing insects and diseases inside the firewood. The pests can spread to the trees and forest at the campground and begin to destroy those trees and forests. Help slow the spread of pests by gathering dead and down wood on the islands for firewood.
• Please pack out all your trash. Trash cans are located in the village. Please place empty fuel cans next to the trash cans.

Drinking Water

Potable water can be obtained only in the village. All other water must be boiled for one minute or treated with a water filter or purifier before drinking. Most backpacking water filters will remove present waterborne bacteria. Pumps, gravity bladders, and water tablets are examples of useable water purifiers. It is suggested that each hiker have the capacity to carry a minimum of 2 liters of drinking water.

Human Waste

Outhouses on North Manitou Island are present only in the village and the campgrounds. In the backcountry, use a small hand trowel to dig a cathole, which is a pit for human feces. Catholes must be at least 100 feet away from trails, campsites and buildings, 300 feet from water, and 6-8 inches deep. When finished, cover the hole with dirt and other natural materials to disguise the cathole. Groups should establish a communal privy and cover it after the last use.

Toilet paper should be used sparingly, and must be either buried deep in a cathole or packed out. Place toilet paper in a sealable plastic bag to pack out.

Used feminine items must be packed out.

Urine has little impact on the environment or human health. Diluting urine with water can decrease impacts.

Washing

Wash yourself and your dishes at least 200 feet (about 70 adult steps) away from streams or lakes using a small amount of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater after use. Pack out all food waste.

Leave No Trace

Please follow the 7 Leave No Trace principles to minimize human impact on Nouth Manitou Island.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Campsites

Individual Campsites

Individual sites are limited to 4 persons and 2 tents. Campers must purchase a Backcountry Use Permit before camping. NPS staff and volunteers rove the island to assist with backcountry permits. During the off-season, you can contact the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire for permits. Upon arriving at the island, a park ranger will meet you at the dock to complete camper registration and to help you plan your visit.

Community (shared) fire rings are provided in the Bay and Weather Station campgrounds only.

Group Campsites

There are three group campsites at Bay Campground and three group campsites at Weather Station Campground, each designed to hold from 9 to 20 campers (maximum of 10 tents). Group sites are available by reservation only.

Reservations for group campsites at Bay and Weather Station campgrounds can be made (up to one year in advance) on-line and over the phone through Recreation.gov:

South Manitou Island group sites online reservation
Phone reservations: Reservation Center at 1-877-444-6777.
The center is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. eastern time.

If you have questions, please call the park at 231-326-4700.

The fee for group camping does not include transportation to the island.

 

Duration:

3 minutes, 15 seconds

Planning a backpacking trip to the Manitou Islands? Check out these prep tips from a ranger.

 

Camping on South Manitou Island is only permitted at three following locations:

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What to bring

Clothing

• Bandana
• Comfortable camp shoes/sandals
• Gloves
• Hiking shoes (broken in)
• Hiking socks
• Insulated jacket
• Long underwear
• Non-cotton hiking pants
• Non-cotton shirt (long sleeved)
• Non-cotton shirt (short sleeved)
• Rain jacket
• Rain pants
• Shorts
• Sock liners
• Swimsuit
• Underwear
• Warm hat

Personal

• Feminine supplies
• Hand sanitize
• Prescription drugs
• Toiletries

General Camping

• Backpack
• Backpack rain cover (or large garbage bags)
• Batteries
• Binoculars
• Biodegradable soap
• Blister kit or medical tape
• Book
• Bug spray (DEET)
• Camera
• Compass
• Cooking pans
• Cooking/eating utensils
• Day pack
• Duct tape
• First aid kit
• Food bags (for hanging)
• Food/snacks (NOTE: bring two extra days' worth of food, in case of ferry cancellations due to weather)
• Headlamps/flashlights
• Journal
• Large plastic garbage bags
• Lighter/waterproof matches
• Mug
• Pocket knife
• Repair kit for tent, stove, etc.
• Rope
• Scrub brush for dishes
• Sealable plastic bags
• Sleeping bag (3-season)
• Sleeping pad
• Stove
• Stove fuel
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Tarp
• Tent
• Tent groundsheet
• Toilet paper
• Topographic map
• Trash bags
• Trowel
• Water bottles (2 liter carry-capacity per person)
• Water purification/filter