White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits
Campground · Michigan · 7 bookable sites ·
Managed by the National Park Service
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) · Open Access
- 7
- Bookable sites
- up to 4
- People per site
- 597 ft
- Elevation
Overview
White Pine Backcountry Campground is a primitive camp located in the southern district of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the lower peninsula of Michigan. It is located approximately two miles from the Trail's End Road trailhead on the Platte Plains hiking trail south of Empire just off of M-22.
This year-round campground has six campsites, two shared fire rings, pit toilet, and two shared animal resistant food storage lockers. Plan to pack your water into the campsite, as there is no well in the campground.
Summer temperatures range from upper 70s to 90 degrees F (25° to 32° C) during the day, and from the 50s to 70 degrees F (10° to 25° C) at night.
Winters are cold, with daytime highs from 20° to 30° F (-7° to -1° C) and lows in the 10s and 20s F (-12° to -7° C). Snow is usually on the ground from late November through March.
Recreation
The Platte Plains trail system boasts more than 25 miles (40 km) of trails, some of which can be accessed a short walk away from the campground.
Facilities
This year-round campground has six campsites, two shared fire rings, pit toilet, and two shared animal resistant food storage lockers.
Plan to pack your water into the campsite, as there is no well in the campground.
Pack it in, pack it out. Whatever you bring in, you are responsible for bringing out. Trash receptacles are not provided.
Natural Features
The campground is within wilderness. Designated Wilderness areas are the most protected public lands in America. They are managed with restraint to preserve characteristics of wilderness and solitude. The Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness, within the boundaries of the Lakeshore, is over 30,000 acres.
The beaches of Lake Michigan are about 1/2 mile (0.80 km) walk from camp. Although the lakeshore is long and narrow, it has northern hardwood and conifer forests, abandoned farm meadows, wetlands, lakes, streams, bogs, and splended examples of glacially formed landscape.
The most prominent features in the park, and those for which it is named, are perched sand dunes above Lake Michigan. The overlooks at Sleeping Bear, Empire and Pyramid Point bluffs are about 400 feet (122 m) above the lake. Within 65 miles (105 km) of Lake Michigan shoreline and numberous inland lakes and streams, the park is wonderfully water-oriented.
The facts
- 7 bookable sites
- Up to 4 people per site
- Loops: White Pine
Site types
- 7 Hike To
Amenities
- Shade
- Pets allowed — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.
7 campsites at White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits
Check-in 02:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Access | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Pine Campground | White Pine | Hike To | — | — | Hike In | Lakefront | — | 4 | |
| White Pine Campground 1 | White Pine | Hike To | — | — | Hike In | Lakefront | — | 4 | |
| White Pine Campground 2 | White Pine | Hike To | — | — | Hike In | Lakefront | — | 4 | |
| White Pine Campground 3 | White Pine | Hike To | — | — | Hike In | Lakefront | — | 4 | |
| White Pine Campground 4 | White Pine | Hike To | — | — | Hike In | Lakefront | — | 4 | |
| White Pine Campground 5 | White Pine | Hike To | — | — | Hike In | Lakefront | — | 4 | |
| White Pine Campground 6 | White Pine | Hike To | — | — | Hike In | Lakefront | — | 4 |
Getting there
FROM THE EAST (Traverse City): Take State Highway M-72 west to Empire. Turn south on State Highway M-22.
- To Trails End Road: Drive 6 miles to Trails End Road - turn right
Drive 1 mile to the trailhead
- To Platte Plains Ski Trail Parking: Drive 6.5 miles - the trailhead parking area will be on the right
- To Peterson Road: Drive 9.5 miles to Peterson Road - turn right
Drive 1.5 miles to the trailhead unloading zone on the right
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FROM THE SOUTH (US-31 / M-115): At the junction of US-31 and M-115, continue north for seven miles. Turn left onto Platte Road. Proceed five miles and turn right onto M-22.
- To Peterson Road: Drive 1.5 miles to Peterson Road - turn left
Drive 1.5 miles to the trailhead unloading zone on the right
- To Platte Plains Ski Trail Parking: Drive 4.5 miles - the trailhead parking area will be on the left
- To Trails End Road: Drive 5 miles to Trails End Road turn left
Drive 1 mile to the trailhead
44.73794, -86.08566 · 44°44'16.6"N 86°5'8.4"W
Typical weather
Typically 77°F in Jul, down to 29°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 29 | 31 | 40 | 52 | 64 | 73 | 77 | 76 | 69 | 56 | 44 | 34 |
| Low °F | 19 | 19 | 25 | 35 | 45 | 55 | 60 | 61 | 54 | 43 | 33 | 24 |
| Precip in | 2.2 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 2.9 | 2.2 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8.7 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Fees and stay limits
Camping Use Fee: The camping fee is $13 per campsite per night Entrance Fee: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore charges a variety of entrance fees, depending on how a visitor arrives at the park (by private vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, boat or on foot). All visitors must pay an entrance fee (separate from camping fees). The park also honors valid America the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands annual or lifetime passes (also known as an interagency pass, e.g., Senior, 4th Grade, Military, etc.). For more information visit the park's Fees & Passes web page. Current Vehicle Fees: $25 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore vehicle entrance fee (1-7 days). $45 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore annual pass (if camping more than 7 days). The Michigan Recreation Passport is not valid for entry at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which is a federally managed site.
From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits
- Can you reserve a site at White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits?
- Yes, White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits have?
- 7 sites.
- Are pets allowed at White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits?
- No, pets are not allowed at White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits.
Camping near White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits
- Platte River Campground 2.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- D.H. Day Group Campground 10.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- D.H. Day Campground 11.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- South Manitou Group Campground 19 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Seaton Creek Campground 29.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Upper Manistee River Backcountry Campsites 33.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Philip A. Hart Visitor Center 5.3 mi · Facility
- Port Oneida Heritage Center 15.5 mi · Visitor Center
- South Manitou Island Visitor Center 18.8 mi · Facility
- Popple Campground - South Manitou Island 21.3 mi · Campground
- Village Campground - North Manitou Island 27.5 mi · Campground
- Udell Trailhead 34.9 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone 231-326-4700
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-03-11.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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