Ausable River Camping

Closed — Open year-round first-come, first-served. Camping permits required May 15 through September 10 at $10 per night. Outside the permitted season, sites are not maintained and access points may not be plowed.

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About

Ausable River Camping is a distinctive dispersed camping system featuring 102 individually designated single-family campsites spread across a 55-mile stretch of the Au Sable River, from 4001 Bridge northwest of Glennie to near Whirlpool Angler Access west of Oscoda. These primitive sites are located on bluffs ranging from five to 300 feet above the waterline, though access to the river may be challenging at some sites due to steep or eroding slopes. The camping area is divided into multiple sections: Alcona Pond, the Au Sable Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Area, Loud Pond, Five Channels Pond, Cooke Pond, Foote Pond, and Lower Ausable. Each site is individually designated and maintained by the Forest Service, offering a unique primitive camping experience along one of Michigan's premier waterways. The sites are accessible primarily by canoe, kayak, or boat, though some may be reached on foot. The Au Sable River meanders for 138 miles across Michigan before flowing into Lake Huron, and this section offers excellent fishing for perch, bass, pike, and walleye. The sites are also near the River Road National Scenic Byway, which provides stunning views of the river valley. Canoe rentals are available in nearby communities including Glennie, Hale, Mio, and Oscoda.

Directions

Designated campsites are spread along 55 miles of river shoreline between the Au Sable River Access at 4001 Bridge (7 miles northwest of Glennie) to near the Whirlpool Au Sable River Access (4 miles west of Oscoda). Sites are accessible primarily by boat or canoe. Access points include Alcona Dam, Thompson's Landing, Loud Dam, Five Channels Dam, Pine Acres, Sawmill Point, Cooke Dam, Foote Site Park, Foote Dam, and Whirlpool Angler Access.