Camping at Pictured Rocks

Twelvemile Beach campground.

NPS Photo

Drive-In and Backcountry Camping

All campsites require a reservation. There is no drop-in camping. All reservations are made on Recreation.gov.

Drive-in campsites are $25 per night. Backcountry (hike-in) campsites have a $15 reservation fee per trip and are $5 per person per night.

Reservations are made on Recreation.gov! See below for more information about reservations.

General Information

• All campgrounds require a reservation. There is no drop-in camping.
• Drive-in campgrounds are open from May 15 through October 15. After October 15^th, water systems and toilets are shut down. Backcountry (hike-in) camping is permitted year-round with proper reservations and permits.
• Campsites do not have any hookups.
• Camping anywhere outside of designated campgrounds is not allowed. This includes beach camping and dispersed camping.
• Overnight car camping (sleeping in vehicles) in parking lots is not allowed.

Campgrounds Overview

• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has three rustic drive-in campgrounds: Little Beaver Lake (8 sites), Twelvemile Beach (36 sites), and Hurricane River (21 sites).
• There are 13 backcountry camping areas. Learn more about backcountry camping here.
• Drive-in campsites have a picnic table, fire ring with grill grate, and tent pad.
• The campgrounds have vault toilets and well water.
• Tent-style enclosures for campsite portable toilets are strictly prohibited.
• Campgrounds do not have hookups. Typically there is no cell phone reception.
• Biting insects are very common from late May through early September. Don't let flies ruin your experience! Bring long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and insect repellant. What's biting me?

 

Backcountry Camping

 

You must store anything with a scent (food, deodorant, toothpaste, sunscreen) in a hard-sided vehicle or in a park-provided bear box, like the one pictured above.

NPS Photo

Important Rules and Regulations

Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations. These rules help to ensure that everyone at the campground enjoys their stay and these campsites stay in good shape for everyone who visits after you.

Campsite Limits

• No more than two vehicles per site, including towed vehicles. Vehicles and trailers must stay on the delineated campsite parking area. Any extra vehicles will have to park elsewhere in parking lots.
• Two tents are allowed per site, or two sleeping hammocks (or one of each).One tent must be on the tent pad, and the other must be within 6 feet of the pad. Any hammocks must be within 10 feet of the tent pad.
• Only one screened porch/tent may be placed over the picnic table per site. A screened tent does not count towards the two tents per site limit.
• No more than eight people are allowed per site.

Important Times

• Campground quiet hours are 8 pm to 8 am. There are generator-free areas at Twelvemile Beach and Hurricane River Campgrounds. Music must be for private listening only.
• Checkout time is 11:00 am.

Leave No Trace

• Campfires are permitted in fire rings only. Fires or hot coals cannot be left unattended. Purchase wood locally. No collecting of wood. No cutting of standing trees or limbs. Ash firewood is prohibited. Beach fires are not allowed.
• This is bear country! All food items, beverages, cooking equipment, food storage containers and pet food must be kept sealed in a hard-sided vehicle when not in immediate use (day or night). Those camping without a hard-sided vehicle must use the park-provided metal boxes for food storage. Violations of food storage rules may result in fines.Garbage must be placed in bear-proof trash cans. Learn more about recreating with bears.
• Dispose of any dish or waste water in the toilet.
• Feeding wildlife is prohibited.
• Use vault toilets or toilet in your camper or RV. No dumping of human waste in trash or on the ground.
• Tent-style enclosures for campsite portable toilets and/or showers are strictly prohibited.
• Do not dispose of human waste in park trashcans. Portable toilet facilities may be used (such as in a camper) only if graywater and sewage remain contained within the vehicle.

Pets?

• Pets are NOT allowed at Little Beaver Lake Campground. At the other two drive-in campgrounds, pets must be always on a leash (six feet or less).
• Pet owners must pick up after their pets and dispose of waste in a trash receptacle.
• Owners must not allow a pet to make noise that is unreasonable.

 

reservations on recreation.gov!

Camping Reservations Click Here

 

Reservations

Reservations are now made on Recreation.Gov. Drive-in camping reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance. To make a reservation go to www.recreation.gov (or call 1-877-444-6777. International callers: 1-518-885-3635.). Two campsites in each drive-in campground will be held for last minute reservations (two weeks in advance).

Helpful hints to find the park's campsites on recreation.gov:

1. Once on www.recreation.gov, log into an existing account or sign up for a free new account.
2. Type "Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore" in the search window.
3. Click on the first search result: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
4. Scroll down and click on Camping & Day Use.
5. Click on the campground you are interested in. The Availability Grid will open a calendar showing the status of each site. Follow the prompts from there. Online information includes campsite parking length, location, pictures, which sites are wheelchair-accessible, and other details.

 

An empty campsite at the Little Beaver Lake Campground.

NPS Photo.

Campgrounds

Little Beaver Lake Campground

• New for 2023: Pets are not allowed at the Little Beaver Lake Campground due to its proximity to the Beaver Basin Wilderness. Pets are not allowed on any trails leading from the campground or any trails within the wilderness zone.
• This small campground (8 sites) is located at the end of Little Beaver Lake Road, 3 miles north of Alger County Road H-58 and 20 miles northeast of Munising. All sites are on or near Little Beaver Lake. One campsite is wheelchair accessible.
• Single unit vehicles in excess of 36 feet and vehicle/trailer combined units in excess of 42 feet are prohibited at Little Beaver because of the small campsites and the narrow, twisting, hilly access road.
• A small boat ramp is available for launching boats. Only electric motors are permitted on Little Beaver Lake and Beaver Lake as these lakes are within the Beaver Basin Wilderness. The campground also features a 1.5 mile trail that leads to Lake Superior and connects with the North Country Scenic Trail.

Little Beaver Lake Campground map and photo gallery
Reservations – Little Beaver Lake Campground (recreation.gov)

 

Sites at the Twelvemile Beach Campground.

NPS Photo.

Twelvemile Beach Campground

• Twelvemile Beach Campground’s 36 sites are located on a high sandy plateau above Twelvemile Beach on Lake Superior; the most popular sites have a lake view. This campground is located 15 miles west of Grand Marais off Alger County Road H-58 (34 miles east of Munising). There are two wheelchair-accessible campsites.
• Generator use is prohibited in the campground's west loop.
• Because the turning radius is limited within this campground, we recommend single vehicles no more than 36 feet and vehicle/trailer combined length no more than 42 feet.
• There are three sets of stairs to the beach as well as a day-use picnic area and parking. The two-mile White Birch Nature Trail begins and ends at the campground. The North Country Scenic Trail treks through the campground. The entrance road winds through a picturesque stand of white birch.
• Pets on a 6-foot leash are permitted at this campground.

Little Beaver Lake Campground map and photo gallery
Reservations – Twelvemile Beach Campground (recreation.gov)

 

A campsite at the Hurricane River Campground.

NPS Photo.

Hurricane River Campground

• Eleven campsites are available in the lower campground loop, and ten in the upper loop. Both loops include one wheelchair-accessible campsite. This 21-site campground is located 12 miles west of Grand Marais on County Road H-58 (37 miles east of Munising) on the shores of Lake Superior.
• Several campsites are designated as generator-free.
• Because the turning radius is limited within this campground, we recommend single vehicles no more than 36 feet and vehicle/trailer combined length no more than 42 feet.
• The Hurricane River flows into Lake Superior near the picnic area. A level 1.5 mile walk on the North Country Trail east from the lower campground leads past shipwreck remnants to the historic Au Sable Light Station.
• Pets on a 6-foot leash are permitted at this campground.

Hurricane River Campground map and photo gallery
Reservations – Hurricane River Campground (recreation.gov)

 

Looking for something a bit more remote?

Learn about Backcountry Camping at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.