USDA Forest Service · Michigan
South Branch Trail Camp Group Site
USDA Forest Service · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Season
- May 15 to October 31
- Group sites
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 896 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- TRAIL CAMP RD (NFSR 2156) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Huron-Manistee National Forests
- Nearest town
- Oscoda
- Address
- 5761 North Skeel Ave, Oscoda, MI, 48750
- Activities
- Camping, Hiking, Hunting, Snowboarding, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
South Branch Trail Campground Group Site is ideal for equestrian camping. The group area impresses with its beautiful scenery and convenient access to horseback riding and hiking along the 240-mile Michigan Shore-to-Shore Horseback Riding and Hiking Trail. Priority will be given to campers with horses, however everyone is welcome. The spacious site holds up to 250 campers and features a day-use horse parking area.
Recreation
Hike or horseback ride on the Michigan Shore-To-Shore Riding and Hiking Trail. The trail begins in the town of Empire near Lake Michigan, on the west side of Michigan and ends near Oscoda, Michigan on the Lake Huron eastern side of the state. The eastern part of the trail follows the historic AuSable River to its end in AuSable, just south of Oscoda.
Facilities
Facilities include at the South Branch Trail Campground Group Site include three sets of vault toilets, an electric water pump - which requires campers to furnish a 5,000 watt generator, one garbage bin and picket posts. Parking allows for up to 65 vehicles.
Natural Features
Campsites are situated in a stand of oak and pine at an elevation of 880 feet. The campground is adjacent to the South Branch River and is also not too far from the AuSable River. The magnificent Lake Huron is only a short drive east of the campground.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 10° | -11° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 27° | 12° | -14° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 25° | 7° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 52° | 34° | 12° | 81° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 65° | 45° | 28° | 83° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 72° | 54° | 45° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 62° | 54° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 77° | 61° | 53° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 55° | 44° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 56° | 42° | 29° | 74° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 41° | 31° | 9° | 62° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 24° | 1° | 59° | 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
- Rollways Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 19 sites
- Alcona Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 7 mi · 222 sites
- Horseshoe Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi
- Monument Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 19 sites
- Gabions Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 8 sites
All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.