USDA Forest Service · Michigan
Murray Bay Group Campsite On Grand Islan
USDA Forest Service · Michigan, United States · in Grand Island National Recreation Area
- Cost
- Overnight Use: Group Site: $35 per night
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 653 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Nearest town
- Munising, MI
About
US Forest Service campground. Grand Island is a Congressionally designated National Recreation Area with fascinating history, beautiful overlooks, pristine sandy beaches, dense hardwood forest, serene inland lakes, and miles of hiking and biking trails. This is a unique destination to spend a day or more biking, hiking, exploring, or just hanging out and recharging. Visitors get to the island by passenger ferry from Munising or private watercraft. The dock at Williams Landing can be used for loading and unloading, but boats may not be left there. Jet skis/motorboats are prohibited from landing on shore. Murray Bay, Trout Bay and North Light Beach have sand beaches with little to no obstructions where a kayak or paddle boat can land. Most locations on the northwest and northeast sides are sheer cliffs. There are 21 designated campsites, including 2 group sites. Reservations are required Memorial Day through Columbus Day, except for Cobble Cove, Flat Rock, and Muskrat Point, which are first-come/first-served. All reservations must be made through Recreation.gov and can be made up to, and including, the day of arrival. Campsites provide picnic tables, campfire rings, benches and bear poles or lockers. Drinking water is available at Williams Landing, Juniper Flats, Farrell Cottage and Murray Bay. If traveling elsewhere on the island, bring water with you or filter/boil/treat surface water. Murray Bay Group campsite is found at Murray Bay. The site is designed to hold a large group of between 7 and 25 people. A day use picnic area and vault toilet are nearby. Camping is not allowed at the day use site. The Murray Bay sites can be accessed either by the island's trail system or by water. The beach is beautiful. Via trail, the site is located 2 miles from Williams Landing. Pack out what you pack in. Open season: Friday before Memorial Day. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 19° | -2° | 38° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 27° | 18° | 2° | 40° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 34° | 25° | 12° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 39° | 32° | 20° | 61° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 48° | 39° | 33° | 65° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 58° | 47° | 40° | 71° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 68° | 57° | 46° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 69° | 63° | 55° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 59° | 48° | 75° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 53° | 46° | 35° | 68° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 40° | 36° | 20° | 55° | 5 of 10 |
| December | 32° | 27° | 9° | 49° | 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
- Loon Call Campsite On Grand Island · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Bermuda Campsite On Grand Island · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Duck Lake Campsite On Grand Island · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Little Duck Campsite On Grand Island · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Driftwood Campsite On Grand Island · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.