Ausable River Camping
Campground · Michigan · 101 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Huron National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 101
- Bookable sites
- 40 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 10
- People per site
- 934 ft
- Elevation
Overview
AuSable River Dispersed Camping is a unique series of 102 individually designated single-family campsites on a 55-mile stretch of the lovely AuSable River. All campsites are within Alcona and Iosco Counties in Michigan.These rustic sites are divided into sections near Alcona Pond, the AuSable Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Area, Loud Pond, Five Channels Pond, Cooke Pond, Foote Pond and Lower Ausable. Each are ideal for family camping, with opportunities for fly fishing, swimming, canoeing and bird watching.
Recreation
Both river and lake fishing are available for perch, bass and pike walleye. One recommended spot is the Whirlpool Angler access point. All sites are also near the River Road National Scenic Byway, which offers wonderful views of the river valley.The campground has boat-in camping, and canoe rentals are available in Glennie, Hale, Mio and Oscoda.
Facilities
All sites are primitive with no drinking water, toilets or trash removal. Campers are expected to bring plenty of water, portable toilets and garbage bags. Parking aprons are dirt or gravel.Natural Features
Campsites sit on bluffs that range from five to 300 feet above the waterline of the lower AuSable River. Depending on the site, access to the river may be difficult due to steep or eroding slopes.The AuSable River meanders across 138 miles of Michigan and flows into the great lake, Lake Huron.
The facts
- 101 bookable sites
- 102 sites in total, including non-bookable
- Vehicles up to 40 ft
- Up to 10 people per site
- Loops: Alcona Pond, Ausable Semi-Primitive North, Ausable Semi-Primitve South, Cooke Pond, Five Channels Pond, Foote Pond, Loud Pond, Lower Ausable, Sawmill Point
Site types
- 46 Standard Nonelectric
- 40 Boat In
- 15 Walk To
- 1 Management
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Shade
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, sewer hookups, picnic tables, grills.
102 campsites at Ausable River Camping
Check-in 12:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001D | Alcona Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 002D | Alcona Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 003D | Alcona Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 004D | Alcona Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 005C | Alcona Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 006D | Alcona Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 007D | Alcona Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 008W | Ausable Semi-Primitive North | Walk To | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 009C | Ausable Semi-Primitive North | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 010W | Ausable Semi-Primitive North | Walk To | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 011D | Ausable Semi-Primitive North | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 012C | Ausable Semi-Primitive North | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 013C | Ausable Semi-Primitive North | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 014C | Ausable Semi-Primitive North | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 015C | Ausable Semi-Primitive North | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 016C | Ausable Semi-Primitve South | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 017C | Ausable Semi-Primitve South | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 018C | Ausable Semi-Primitve South | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 019C | Ausable Semi-Primitve South | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 020C | Ausable Semi-Primitve South | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 032C | Cooke Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 033C | Cooke Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 034C | Cooke Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 035C | Cooke Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 036C | Cooke Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 037C | Cooke Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 038C | Cooke Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 039C | Cooke Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 040C | Cooke Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 041C | Cooke Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 058W | Cooke Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 059W | Cooke Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 060W | Cooke Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 061W | Cooke Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 062W | Cooke Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 063W | Cooke Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 064W | Cooke Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 065C | Cooke Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 066D | Cooke Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 067D | Cooke Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 068D | Cooke Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 069W | Cooke Pond | Walk To | Back In | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 070D | Cooke Pond | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 071D | Cooke Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 072D | Cooke Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 073D | Cooke Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 028C | Five Channels Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 029C | Five Channels Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 030C | Five Channels Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 031C | Five Channels Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 074D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 075W | Foote Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 076D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 077D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 078D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 079W | Foote Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 080D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 081D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 082D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 083C | Foote Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 084C | Foote Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 085W | Foote Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 086C | Foote Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 087W | Foote Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 088D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 089D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 090W | Foote Pond | Walk To | — | — | — | 4 | 🐾 |
| 091D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 092D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 093D | Foote Pond | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 094C | Foote Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 095C | Foote Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 4 | 🐾 |
| 096C | Foote Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 097C | Foote Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 021C | Loud Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 022C | Loud Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 023C | Loud Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 024C | Loud Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 025C | Loud Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 026C | Loud Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 027C | Loud Pond | Boat In | — | — | — | 10 | 🐾 |
| 098D | Lower Ausable | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 099D | Lower Ausable | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 100D | Lower Ausable | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | — | 40 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 101D | Lower Ausable | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 102D | Lower Ausable | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 042D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 043D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 044D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 045D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 30 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 046D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 30 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 047D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 30 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 048D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | — | 30 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 049D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 30 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 050D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 051D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 18 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 052D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 053D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 054D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 055D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 26 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 056D | Sawmill Point | Management | Back In | — | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 057D | Sawmill Point | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | 30 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
Getting there
Designated campsites are spread along 55 miles of river shoreline between the AuSable River Access at 4001 Bridge (7 miles northwest of Glennie, MI) to near the Whirlpool AuSable River Access (4 miles west of Oscoda, MI).
For more information on specific campsites, click here.
For more information on specific campsites, click here.
44.65111, -84.09944 · 44°39'4.0"N 84°5'58.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 81°F in Jul, down to 28°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 28 | 32 | 42 | 54 | 68 | 77 | 81 | 79 | 72 | 58 | 44 | 33 |
| Low °F | 11 | 10 | 18 | 30 | 41 | 51 | 56 | 54 | 47 | 36 | 28 | 18 |
| Precip in | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 1.7 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 0.9 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Ausable River Camping
- Can you reserve a site at Ausable River Camping?
- Yes, Ausable River Camping is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Ausable River Camping have?
- 102 sites in total, of which 101 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Ausable River Camping?
- 40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Ausable River Camping?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Ausable River Camping.
- Does Ausable River Camping have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
- Are campfires allowed at Ausable River Camping?
- Campfires are allowed at Ausable River Camping. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Camping near Ausable River Camping
- Au Sable Loop Campground less than 0.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Mack Lake ORV Campground 5.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Wagner Lake (MI) 7.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Chimney Loop Campground 7.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Island lake (MI) 10 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Meadows ORV Campground 12.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- River Dune Campground 0.1 mi · Campground
- Meadow Springs Campground 1.3 mi · Campground
- Cathedral Pines Campground 4.7 mi · Campground
- Buttercup Campground 9.2 mi · Campground
- Loon Lake Day Use Area 9.6 mi · Facility
- Bear Island Campground 10.2 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 989-362-8961
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-06-27.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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