State Forest · Michigan
Hopkins Creek State Forest Campground
State Forest · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 7
- Hookups
- 7 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Cost
- $20 per night; a Recreation Passport is required on the vehicle
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Elevation
- 1,040 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 231-775-7911
About
Hopkins Creek State Forest Campground provides seven rustic sites for tents and small trailers. Nestled along the creek's edge within a dense evergreen forest, it offers a peaceful retreat. There's a walk-in campsite for backpackers.
This campground, sharing an access road with the Hopkins Creek Equestrian State Forest Campground and Trail Camp, prohibits both horses and ORVs.
The state forest campground is a stop along the Shore-to-Shore Trail, a 420-mile trail system open to hiking and horseback riding, that stretches east-west from Empire to Oscoda with two additional northern and southern spur trails. The Michigan Trail Riders Association assists with maintenance of the trail.
The campground is located 5.5 miles north of Arlene via M-42 and Lucas Road.
7 rustic campsites, $20 a night. Open all year; the road may not be plowed in winter. First come, first served; register at the campground kiosk on the day you arrive. Vault toilets and a hand-pump well for drinking water; no electricity or hookups. One camping unit and six people per site, 15 nights at most. Managed from Mitchell State Park (231-775-7911).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 12° | -14° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 27° | 13° | -8° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 23° | 7° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 54° | 34° | 11° | 81° | 8 of 11 |
| May | 67° | 45° | 28° | 81° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 74° | 53° | 42° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 62° | 54° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 61° | 52° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 74° | 56° | 44° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 43° | 31° | 74° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 40° | 31° | 10° | 61° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 32° | 22° | 1° | 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
- Hopkins Creek Equestrian State Forest Campground and Trail Camp · State Forest · 0 mi · 16 sites
- Old US 131 State Forest Campground · State Forest · 5 mi · 25 sites
- Old 131 State Forest Campground (Wexford County local operation) · City, County & Regional Parks · 5 mi
- Spring Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 6 mi · 30 sites
- Long Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 9 mi · 11 sites
All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-17. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.