Au Sable River Backcountry Campsites

Open — Open year-round. Camping permits required May 15 through September 10 at $10 per night. Outside the permitted season, camping is allowed at designated sites without a permit or fee, but sites are not maintained and access areas are not plowed.

About

Au Sable River Backcountry Campsites is a unique dispersed camping opportunity consisting of 102 individually designated single-family primitive campsites located along a 55-mile stretch of the Au Sable River shoreline and bluffs between 4001 Bridge and Oscoda. These sites span Iosco and Alcona Counties within the Huron National Forest and are primarily accessed via the river by canoe, kayak, or other watercraft. The campsites are spread across several segments of the river including areas near Alcona Pond, Loud Pond, Five Channels, Cooke Pond, Foote Pond, and the Lower Au Sable River. Access points include Alcona Dam, Thompson's Landing, Loud Dam, Five Channels Dam, Pine Acres, Sawmill Point, Cooke Dam, Foote Dam, and Whirlpool Angler Access. Maps showing individual campsite locations are available on Recreation.gov. This is a primitive camping experience with no drinking water, minimal facilities, and pack-in/pack-out requirements. During the permitted season (May 15 to September 10), each campsite costs $10 per night and requires a camping permit available through Recreation.gov. Outside the permitted season, camping is still allowed at designated sites without a permit or fee, though sites are not maintained and access areas may not be plowed. The area receives heavy use, particularly during the summer paddling season along this scenic stretch of the Au Sable River.

Directions

Access via multiple river access points along the 55-mile stretch including Alcona Dam, Thompson's Landing, Loud Dam (20 miles west of Oscoda), Five Channels Dam (19 miles west of Oscoda), Cooke Dam and Sawmill Point (15 miles west of Oscoda on River Road), Foote Dam (7 miles west of Oscoda), and Whirlpool Angler Access. Most sites are boat-in only.

Nearby Campgrounds