USDA Forest Service · Michigan
Bowman Bridge
USDA Forest Service · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 17
- Hookups
- 17 no hookups
- Season
- May 2 to October 12
- Max RV length
- 50 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 784 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- BOWMAN CAMP LOOP (NFSR 5249-C) · bituminous surface treatment · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Huron-Manistee National Forests
- Nearest town
- Lake Township
- Address
- MI
- Phone
- 231-745-8760
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Water Activities
17 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Bowman Bridge Campground is perfect for true nature immersion. Campers come here for easy access to the Pere Marquette National Scenic River and for the delightful views of the great outdoors.
Recreation
The top three activities for campers at Bowman Bridge are canoeing, fishing and hiking. Anglers cast for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout.
Watercraft rentals are available at two nearby liveries in Baldwin. A permit is required to float the river from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Monday of Labor Day weekend. Watercraft hours during the permit season are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hikers can head up the campground's connector trail to the North Country National Scenic Trail. This "north country" trail weaves through many scenic, historic and cultural areas across seven states, measuring 4,600 miles end-to-end.
Facilities
Campsites are in a wooded setting, but due to a tornado that passed through in 2005, tall trees and shade are less dense than in neighboring campgrounds.
The campground has a single loop 16 paved family campsites. There are also 4 walk-in family campsites and 4 tent-only group sites that can accommodate up to 20 people each.
Natural Features
The campground is situated along the Pere Marquette National Scenic River, a 66-mile stretch of clear, unspoiled waters within the Huron-Manistee National Forests in Michigan. Large blocks of public land offering opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, photography, and hunting can be found in the surrounding area.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.
Nearby Attractions
Visitors enjoy exploring the extent of the Pere Marquette National Scenic River. Other nearby attractions include the Bowman Lake Foot Travel Area and the historic community of Idlewild.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 14° | -9° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 30° | 15° | -3° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 42° | 27° | 7° | 71° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 55° | 36° | 17° | 80° | 7 of 11 |
| May | 70° | 48° | 31° | 82° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 77° | 56° | 44° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 81° | 63° | 54° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 79° | 63° | 52° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 75° | 57° | 46° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 57° | 44° | 32° | 73° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 42° | 31° | 11° | 64° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 24° | 3° | 60° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Bowman Bridge Campground · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Gleasons Landing · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 6 sites
- Sulak Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Timber Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Bray Creek State Forest Campground · State Forest · 6 mi · 9 sites
All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-06-26. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.