Campground Review: Paint River Forks Campground Ottawa National Forest

I've been staying at the U.S. Forestry Service's Paint River Forks Campground in the Ottawa National Forest which is in the westernmost part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula for the last five days and I'm not leaving until my water or food runs out!  It's that great of a camping experience and, as a plus, with the exception of one group of day picnickers I've had the campground completely to myself for five days now.

Pretty much right on the Michigan - Wisconsin border.

Comprising just under a million acres of forest, the Ottawa National Forest was sold by the Ojibwa tribe to the federal government in the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe.  The National Forest was created in 1931 by the US Government and is administered by the USDA's Forestry Service headquarters in Ironwood, MI.  The Paint River ranks as one of the Upper Peninsula’s most family-friendly rivers. An important tributary of the Menominee River, the Paint flows through remote forestland for much of its length, passing through patches of both Ottawa National Forest and Copper Country State Forest.

The Paint.  It's only about 18 inches deep by the campground.

The campground itself is tiny, comprising only four campsites, each with it's own picnic table and fire ring ---no hookups.  Here's the Paint River Forks Campground data sheet:

Hookups:                                 None

Fire ring:                                  Yes

Water Access:                         Yes

Fresh Water:                            No                              

Trash Service:                          No – pack it out

Toilets:                                    Yes - One vault toilet

Showers:                                 No

Dump station:                          No

WiFi:                                       No

Level sites:                              Yes

Laundry:                                  No

Store:                                       No

Pool:                                        No

Shade:                                     Yes

Verizon reception:                   None (2 bars of 4g with a booster)

Internet reception:                   None (2 bars with a booster)

Cost:                                     Free for up to 14 days

The actual "fork" the campground is named for.

After reading about the campground I drove to it on a Saturday fully expecting it to be full, imagine my surprise when, on a picture perfect weekend day, I pulled into a deserted campground!  I immediately copped one of the two sites that back right up to the river and settled in for a great five days.

Arrive early and snag a river site!

The Paint River is reputed to be one of the UP's premier trout fishing rivers so I busted out my Shakespeare travel spinning rod and could find no evidence that fish exist in the river.  O-fer.  In it's defense the water was pretty shallow around the campground and the trout probably live in it's deeper sections, at least according to my Dad.

The camp billboard--note the 14 day limit.

 If you had two cars with your group you could drive one downstream five miles to the Blockhouse Campground and leave it so you could float-canoe-kayak from the Paint River Forks boat launch to the Blockhouse, bring Deepwoods Off or Cutters as you're in the middle of a forest and deer flies seem ever present. 

Sign by the boat launch giving the Blockhouse as a canoe destination.

In a lot of my reviews I mention my intent to return to camp at the reviewed campground but sometimes I doubt I ever will.  I definitely am coming back to the Paint River Forks Campground!  If you plan to camp there remember to bring plenty of insect repellent and some large garbage bags as there is zero garbage service there, not uncommon with isolated Forest Service campgrounds.

Thanks for reading! 

Shots from along US 2

My time in the fantastic weather that is Michigan in July (low 80's days and high 50's nights) is shortening.  After a great three days with my Dad and brothers at the casino in Brimley, MI I spent one more day in Midland then headed back up to the U.P. traveling along scenic US 2 which follows the shore of Lake Michigan for long stretches.  Here's some pics.

Big Mac from a scenic turnout along US 2

Dunes and Lake Michigan from US 2

My Dad tees off while my brothers Jim and Jerry look on.

Having a blog means you get to embarrass your family!

 

Lots of road work along US 2.

The Tank "casino camping" near St. Ignace.

Thanks for reading!

Mackinac Island St. Ignace, MI

I picked Becky up at Detroit Airport and we first went to my brother Jim's in Midland, MI where I had stored the detached camper in order to remount it on the pickup.  I figure it saved me a tank of gas in the improved mileage I got going down to West Bloomfield to visit my college buddies Gary and Steve and then picking her up the next morning.

Big Mac.  Gateway to the Upper Peninsula.

We stayed at a Straits State Park which is almost under the bridge and found it to be very cramped with campsites sardined right next to each other.  Nevertheless, it served as a good jumping off point to visit Mackinac Island, first time for Becky second for me.

Arch Rock.  I missed this attraction my first time through.

The round trip ferry boat ride from St. Ignace to the island costs $25 / person and takes about 20 minutes.  The ferry docks at the commercial docks in Mackinac Island and you are immediately faced with a crucial decision:  walk or rent bikes.  The island is 8.3 miles in circumference so most sane people go to one of the bike rental shops immediately off the pier and rent bikes.  Guess what we did?

Bikes?  We don't need no steenkin' bikes!

Becky had just bought a Fitbit activity wristband and wanted to make sure she "got her steps"....boy did she!

The village's "Main Drag".

Actual UPS "truck"...no kidding!

Coastline from the observation tower at Arch Rock.  Lake Huron.

Lake Huron seen through Arch Rock.

Thanks for reading!