Michigan / Wexford County / Manistee National Forest / Manistee National Forest - Cadillac Ranger District

Seaton Creek Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground typically operates seasonally and is closed during winter months. Single sites are available first-come, first-served when open.

About

Seaton Creek Campground adjoins Seaton Creek at the upper end of the backwater of Hodenpyl Dam Pond on the Big Manistee River in Manistee National Forest. The campground is surrounded by mostly pine forest with rustic sites situated near the Hodenpyl Backwater. The terrain is characterized as hilly with a mix of hardwoods and conifers, located near Briar Hill, which has the second-highest elevation in Michigan's lower peninsula. The surrounding waters offer excellent fishing opportunities for both panfish including perch, bluegill, crappie, and sunfish, as well as game fish such as trout, bass, pike, and salmon. Nearby tributaries including Seaton Creek, Small Creek, Preston Creek, and Cripple Creek host brown and brook trout. Kayakers may access the campground by traveling up the shallow Seaton Creek, though canoeing is better suited for the Hodenpyl Backwaters and Big Manistee River. The campground serves as a trailhead for the Manistee River Trail, with a connector trail directly from the site. The North Country National Scenic Trail can be reached by crossing the suspension bridge over the Manistee River. The Upper Branch Trailhead is also nearby, providing access to extensive hiking opportunities in the national forest.

Directions

From the north: Follow M-37 south 6 miles from Mesick. Turn right on 26 Road for 1.7 miles, then right on O'Rourke Drive for 1.3 miles, then right on Forest Road 5993 for 0.4 mile to the campground. From the south: Take M-37 north 9 miles from its intersection with M-55, turn left on 26 Road for 1.7 miles, then right on O'Rourke Drive for 1.3 miles, then right on Forest Road 5993 for 0.4 miles.

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