State Forest · Michigan
Thunder Bay River State Forest Campground
State Forest · Michigan, United States · in Thunder Bay River State Forest
- Sites
- 10
- Hookups
- 10 no hookups
- Season
- May 1 to December 1
- Cost
- $20 per night; a Recreation Passport is required on the vehicle
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Boat launch
- Yes
- Elevation
- 719 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 989-734-2543
About
This rustic campground rests on the banks of the Thunder Bay River and provides water access at every campsite. The area provides great opportunities for fishing and paddle sports. There is a small boat launch on the north side of the campground. The 1.5 mile Wah-Wah-Tas-See Pathway can be accessed from the campground. There is an ORV trailhead directly adjacent to the campground off of Indian Reserve Road. There are ten sites available for tent and small trailer use located at the end of a narrow gravel and dirt road.
The campground is located 9 miles southwest of Alpena via M-32 and Indian Reserve Road.
10 rustic campsites, $20 a night. Closed December 1 to May 1. 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 Hoeft State Park (989-734-2543).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 13° | -5° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 27° | 15° | -8° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 24° | 6° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 50° | 33° | 10° | 77° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 61° | 44° | 29° | 82° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 52° | 44° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 62° | 53° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 77° | 61° | 53° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 71° | 56° | 45° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 56° | 44° | 32° | 75° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 41° | 32° | 14° | 62° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 25° | 5° | 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
- Alpena County Fairgrounds Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 6 mi · 69 sites
- Ossineke State Forest Campground · State Forest · 10 mi · 42 sites
- Beaver Lake Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 13 mi · 59 sites
- Long Lake Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 13 mi · 106 sites
- Sunken Lake Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 15 mi · 56 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.