Can you reserve a site at Au Sable Area?

No. Au Sable Area is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Au Sable Area, Michigan — sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Along the Au Sable River is the Au Sable Special Area, a 10,628 acre area characterized by flat to gently rolling hills with some steep banks along the Au Sable River. This area is located in Iosco and Alcona counties. The Au Sable Special Area stretches the southern end of Alcona Dam Pond (Bamfield Road) to just before Cook Pond on either side of the river.

The area is densely forested and inhabited by bald eagles, deer, bear, bobcat, porcupine and various songbirds. Campers and day-use visitors enjoy boating, tubing, rafting, canoeing and fishing on the Au Sable River. Other popular recreation activities include viewing the river and wildlife, hiking, swimming, picnicking, horseback riding, hunting, trapping and berry and mushroom gathering. The Forest Service requires camping permits from May 15 through September 30 at the 19 designated primitive campsites along the river in this area.

Two developed campgrounds are located in this area, South Branch Trail Camp and Rollways Campground.

Getting there

44.56250, -83.78222 · 44°33'45.0"N 83°46'56.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 79°F in Jul, down to 27°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	27	30	39	53	66	75	79	77	70	57	43	33
Low °F	9	8	17	28	41	50	54	53	46	35	25	17
Precip in	1.7	1.3	1.9	2.9	3.1	3.3	3.7	3.1	2.8	3.6	2.1	2.3

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 4.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Au Sable Area

Can you reserve a site at Au Sable Area?: No. Au Sable Area is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Also listed by

Au Sable Area also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Au Sable Area's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

No Fee

Restrictions:

Motorized Vehicle Use of Roads, Trails and Off-road Areas; R904-14-02
Occupancy and Use; R904-14-03

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Au Sable Area

Gabions Campground 5.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
South Branch Trail Camp Group Site 5.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Rollways Campground 7.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Monument Campground 12 mi · Campground · we watch it
Horseshoe Lake Campground and Boat Launch 2.8 mi · Campground
Bear Island Campground 7.4 mi · Campground
Buttercup Campground 8.4 mi · Campground
Pine River Campground 9 mi · Campground
Sawmill Point Boat Launch 11.2 mi · Facility
Jewell Lake Campground 12.1 mi · Campground
Kiwanis Monument 12.2 mi · Facility
Cathedral Pines Campground 12.7 mi · Campground

Contact

Info Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Au Sable Area