Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Camping Permit

Campground · Michigan · 72 bookable sites ·

Managed by the National Park Service

Beaver Basin Wilderness Area (Wilderness Area) · Restricted Access

72
Bookable sites
up to 20
People per site
703 ft
Elevation
A view of Lake Superior looking to the east through Petit Portal arch, also known as Lover's Leap.
Photo: NPS Photo · Recreation.gov

Overview

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore hugs the Lake Superior shoreline for more than 40 miles along Michigan's northern coast. Lake Superior is the largest, deepest, coldest, and most pristine of all the Great Lakes. In addition to boating and kayaking on the lake, the park's backcountry offers nearly 100 miles of walking and hiking trails and opportunities for solitude, inspiration, physical challenge, renewal, and camping. Access to Pictured Rocks' backcountry is primarily along the 'Lakeshore Trail', a part of the 42-mile long North Country National Scenic Trail where you can experience forests, dunes, beaches, waterfalls and wonderful panoramic views. 

Please download the Backcountry Camping Planner form the park website for complete details. The backcountry campgrounds are accessed by hiking or kayaking only. A backcountry camping permit is required year-round for all overnight trips into the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore backcountry. Permits are not required for day hiking. To assist in planning an overnight backcountry trip into Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, take time to carefully plan and prepare for your adventure. Pictured Rocks offers fourteen backcountry campgrounds, that are located at 2 to 5 mile intervals along the Lakeshore Trail. Private shuttle services are available.  

The permit holder must print and retain one copy of the permit when hiking to the campground; permit must be visibly secured to tent at campsite. You will be assigned a campsite number at every backcountry campground. Permit holder may have only one permit reserved at one time. Camp only in designated sites and follow permit itinerary. You must camp within 15 feet (4.5 m) of the numbered post at your chosen campsite. Individual campsites are available for groups of 1-6 people, and 3 tents or hammocks maximum (or a combination thereof). Group sites are available for groups of 7-20 people, and 10 tents or hammocks maximum (or a combination thereof). Group campsite reservations must camp in designated group sites. Each campground has a specific capacity; campsites within each backcountry campground are identified by a numbered post.

Recreation

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers 100 miles (161 km) of hiking trails leading to waterfalls, beaches, forest wilderness, cultural sites, and breathtaking cliff-top views of Lake Superior. Whether you have only a few minutes, hours, or days to see a portion of the lakeshore, one of these hikes may be for you.

Lake Superior's rugged shoreline invites individuals to explore the beautiful Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with its miles of colorful sandstone cliffs and long stretches of sandy beaches. Watch the weather carefully while on the lake. The weather can change suddenly and unexpectedly. Just because it's calm in Munising Bay or Grand Marais Harbor does not mean it is calm along the more distant shores. The Pictured Rocks cliffs rise 50 to 200 feet (15 to 61 m) directly from the lake, offering precious few protected places if the wind and waves increase.

Facilities

  • Backcountry camping is spread across the National Lakeshore. Facilities are entirely primitive and located in the most remote regions of our park.
  • There are 72 available backcountry campsites. 7 of these campsites are group campsites. Only one of these sites are a designated "boat-in" campsite.
  • All campsites have food storage boxes on-site. Please store all food in these containers to protect from wildlife.
  • All campsites are located along the North Country Trail, spanning only a small portion of the entire trail length.
  • Pack in, pack out. There are no designated trash disposal areas at these campsites.
  • There is no electricy or hookups located along the North Country Trail and backcountry campsites.
  • There is no potable water located along the North Country Trail. A reminder to bring items to sanitize any lake or stream water for safe consumption.
  • Certain parts of the North Country Trail are located along frontcountry camping. These campgrounds will have vault toilets for public use.

Natural Features

Sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coastal features and affects every ecosystem, creating a unique landscape to explore. Hiking, camping, sightseeing, and four-season outdoor opportunities abound!

Charges & Cancellations

Cancellation Policy:
Prior to printing your permit, you may cancel any time before your reservation date and receive a 50% refund of all backcountry camping permit fees ($5 per person, per night). The $15 reservation fee is non-refundable. If you have printed your permit, there are no refunds.
Change Policy:
Prior to printing your permit, you may make changes to your permit before your reservation date. Changes may be made to the group size, campground, and the duration of your trip. An additional $15 non-refundable fee will be charged for changes.
Changes may be made to the group size through your Recreation.gov account or through the Call Center and may incur additional backcountry camping permit fees or be refunded these fees depending on whether you increase or decrease your group size. If decreasing your numbers, you will receive a full refund of the backcountry camping permit fees for the numbers you are decreasing only.
A change to the duration of the trip or campground may only be made through the Call Center. For changes to the duration of the trip, you may incur additional backcountry camping permit fees or be refunded these fees depending on whether you increase or decrease your number of nights. If decreasing your numbers, you will receive a full refund of the backcountry camping permit fees for the numbers you are decreasing only.
To change your entry date, you must cancel your permit and reserve a new permit. All fees apply.
No Show Policy:
If you do not print your permit by 11:59 p.m. on the first day of your scheduled trip, your entire backcountry camping permit will be canceled. No refunds. Please cancel your reservation if you are unable to use it to open space for others.

The facts

  • 72 bookable sites
  • Up to 20 people per site
  • Loops: AuSable East, Beaver Creek, Benchmark, Chapel Beach, Cliffs, Coves, Grand Sable Lake, Lowney Creek, Masse Homestead, Mosquito River, Pine Bluff, Potato Patch, Sevenmile Creek, Trappers Lake

Site types

  • 64 Hike To
  • 7 Group Hike To
  • 1 Boat In

Amenities

  • Campfires allowed
  • Shade

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, grills, pets allowed.

Book on Recreation.gov

72 campsites at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Camping Permit

Check-in 1:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceWaterMax rigPeople
AuSable East 1AuSable EastHike To——Lakefront—6
AuSable East 2AuSable EastHike To——Lakefront—6
AuSable East 3AuSable EastHike To——Lakefront—6
AuSable East 4AuSable EastHike To——Lakefront—6
AuSable East 5AuSable EastHike To——Lakefront—6
AuSable East 6AuSable EastHike To——Lakefront—6
AuSable East GroupAuSable EastGroup Hike To——Lakefront—20
Beaver Creek 1Beaver CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Beaver Creek 2Beaver CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Beaver Creek 3Beaver CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Beaver Creek 4Beaver CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Beaver Creek 5Beaver CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Beaver Creek 6Beaver CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Benchmark 1BenchmarkHike To——Lakefront—6
Benchmark 2BenchmarkHike To——Lakefront—6
Benchmark 3BenchmarkHike To——Lakefront—6
Benchmark 4BenchmarkHike To——Lakefront—6
Benchmark 5BenchmarkHike To——Lakefront—6
Benchmark 6BenchmarkHike To——Lakefront—6
Chapel Beach 1Chapel BeachHike To——Lakefront—6
Chapel Beach 2Chapel BeachHike To——Lakefront—6
Chapel Beach 3Chapel BeachHike To——Lakefront—6
Chapel Beach 4Chapel BeachHike To——Lakefront—6
Chapel Beach 5Chapel BeachHike To——Lakefront—6
Chapel Beach 6Chapel BeachHike To——Lakefront—6
Cliffs 1CliffsHike To————6
Cliffs 2CliffsHike To————6
Cliffs 3CliffsHike To————6
Cliffs GroupCliffsGroup Hike To————20
Coves 1CovesHike To——Lakefront—6
Coves 2CovesHike To——Lakefront—6
Coves 3CovesHike To——Lakefront—6
Coves 4CovesHike To——Lakefront—6
Coves 5CovesHike To——Lakefront—6
Coves GroupCovesGroup Hike To————20
Boat InGrand Sable LakeBoat In——Lakefront—6
Lowney Creek 1Lowney CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Lowney Creek 2Lowney CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Lowney Creek 3Lowney CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Lowney Creek 4Lowney CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Lowney Creek GroupLowney CreekGroup Hike To——Lakefront—20
Masse Homestead 1Masse HomesteadHike To————6
Masse Homestead 2Masse HomesteadHike To————6
Masse Homestead 3Masse HomesteadHike To————6
Masse Homestead GroupMasse HomesteadGroup Hike To————20
Mosquito River 1Mosquito RiverHike To——Lakefront—6
Mosquito River 2Mosquito RiverHike To——Lakefront—6
Mosquito River 3Mosquito RiverHike To——Lakefront—6
Mosquito River 4Mosquito RiverHike To——Lakefront—6
Mosquito River 5Mosquito RiverHike To——Lakefront—6
Mosquito River 6Mosquito RiverHike To——Lakefront—6
Mosquito River GroupMosquito RiverGroup Hike To——Lakefront—20
Pine Bluff 1Pine BluffHike To——Lakefront—6
Pine Bluff 2Pine BluffHike To——Lakefront—6
Pine Bluff 3Pine BluffHike To——Lakefront—6
Pine Bluff 4Pine BluffHike To——Lakefront—6
Pine Bluff 5Pine BluffHike To——Lakefront—6
Potato Patch 1Potato PatchHike To————6
Potato Patch 2Potato PatchHike To————6
Potato Patch 3Potato PatchHike To————6
Sevenmile Creek 1Sevenmile CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Sevenmile Creek 2Sevenmile CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Sevenmile Creek 3Sevenmile CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Sevenmile Creek 4Sevenmile CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Sevenmile Creek 5Sevenmile CreekHike To——Lakefront—6
Sevenmile Creek GroupSevenmile CreekGroup Hike To——Lakefront—20
Trappers Lake 1Trappers LakeHike To——Lakefront—6
Trappers Lake 2Trappers LakeHike To——Lakefront—6
Trappers Lake 3Trappers LakeHike To——Lakefront—6
Trappers Lake 4Trappers LakeHike To——Lakefront—6
Trappers Lake 5Trappers LakeHike To——Lakefront—6
Trappers Lake GroupTrappers LakeHike To——Lakefront—20

Getting there

https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/directions.htm

46.56222, -86.30513 · 46°33'44.0"N 86°18'18.5"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 75°F in Aug, down to 24°F in Jan.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F242737486170757568554131
Low °F141320284048555650392920
Precip in————————————

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 18.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

Reservation Fee: $15 non-refundable reservation fee is required for each permit reserved. Backcountry Camping Permit Fee: $5 per person/per night. Children 5 and under are free. Entrance Fee: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore charges an entrance fee separate from reservation and camping permit fees. You may pay the fee if you stop at the visitor center or purchase in advance. The park also honors Federal interagency passes (e.g., annual, senior, access, 4th grade, Golden Age pass etc.).

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

Ways in

Showing 22 of 22.

  • Au Sable East Group — Group Site
  • AuSable East — Individual Campsite
  • Beaver Creek — Individual Campsite
  • Benchmark — Individual Campsite
  • Chapel Beach — Individual Campsite
  • Cliffs — Individual Campsite
  • Cliffs Group — Group Site
  • Coves — Individual Campsite
  • Coves Group — Group Site
  • Grand Sable Lake Campground, Boat-In Only — Individual Campsite
  • Lowney Creek — Individual Campsite
  • Lowney Creek Group — Group Site
  • Masse Homestead — Individual Campsite
  • Masse Homestead Group — Group Site
  • Mosquito River — Individual Campsite
  • Mosquito River Group — Group Site
  • Pine Bluff — Individual Campsite
  • Potato Patch — Individual Campsite
  • Sevenmile Creek — Individual Campsite
  • Sevenmile Creek Group — Group Site
  • Trappers Lake — Individual Campsite
  • Trappers Lake Group — Group Site

More photos

Sunset at Mosquito Beach with waves on the rocky shoreline
Photo: NPS Photo · Recreation.gov
A water view of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Photo: NPS Photo · Recreation.gov

Member photos

Common questions about Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Camping Permit

Can you reserve a site at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Camping Permit?
Yes, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Camping Permit is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Camping Permit have?
72 sites.
Are campfires allowed at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Camping Permit?
Campfires are allowed at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Camping Permit. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Camping near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Camping Permit

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-06-04.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.