You can look at pictures of Pictured Rocks and think, "Wow, that's beautiful," but seeing it in…read moreperson is a completely different experience. It honestly makes you wonder how nature created something like this. The cliffs and colors are absolutely mind-blowing, and learning about the geology behind the different rock colors makes it even more fascinating. There are so many ways to experience this place. You can take a boat cruise, kayak along the cliffs, hike, relax on the beach, or even ice climb in the winter. The nearby towns are fun to explore too, so it's easy to make an entire trip out of it. This is one of those places that sticks with you long after you leave.

There is truly so much to do here, we barely scratched the surface…read more Our favorite spot was the Log Slide Overlook. We had a perfect sunny day so the water looked incredible. The walk to the overlook is nice and shady since you're walking through the woods. The overlook area is very small, so be respectful of those around you and take turns viewing the beauty. We also stopped at the Pictured Rocks overlook, they have flush bathrooms, a ranger on site, and recycling!! Miners beach was also pretty neat, a popular spot even in rainy weather.

We stayed at this campgrounds for 2 nights. The location was absolutely lovely. Despite being in…read moreclose proximity to a main road, the campground was super quiet. We heard another camper (with another group) played the sax one evening and it was very soothing with the sound of the lake lapping the shoreline. The camp host kept plenty of air fresheners in all the vault toilets. They were super clean and very pleasant smelling for vault toilets. The campground overall was super well kept.

Bay Furnace Camp and Picnic Grounds is a terrific place to stay for the simple traveler who…read moreappreciates sleeping outdoors in the heart of nature. I discovered Bay Furnace through the app on my phone called Campendium. Campendium was very helpful in assisting me finding worthwhile campsites along my 2021 summer road trip. Although Bay Furnace Campground is technically located in the town of Munising, Michigan, it's actually situated in the charming town of Christmas, MI. Though when I was here visiting back in the month of May...there wasn't anything Christmas(y) about the town, lol. Still, the main purpose for me being in Munising....was to explore the scenic coastal landscape along the shores of Lake Superior. Overall this campground is set just outside Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and a host of beautiful waterfalls. After spending a good portion of my day driving along Pictured Rocks NL...I couldn't find any affordable accommodations in Munising. The next best thing for myself was camping. I had a tent with me and showed up here to Bay Furnace Campground. It was early evening when I pulled up to the entrance area. The instructions stated that Bay Furnace accepts about half reservations at recreation.gov and half on a first come, first served basis. I was a little nervous about not finding a campsite when I started driving throughout the grounds. It was late in the day on a Thursday just at the start of the summer vacation travel season, yet I spotted an unoccupied site right near the entrance and backed my car into the site. Yah, I was good for the evening! As per normal policy...when you arrive, you pick a campsite and then fill out a slip with your payment and drop it into a safety box. Then the campsite is yours and you can start constructing your tent and getting settled in. It was $22 per night. They accept cash and checks, though no credit cards. Checks must be made out to RRM, Inc. and need to include your Drivers License and License Plate Numbers. There are about 50 non-electric campsites on the grounds each with a fire-pit and picnic table. Check-In time is 2pm and Check-Out time is 11am. Honestly, I really lucked out probably grabbing the 50th and last site. Because in general, throughout this UP section of Michigan I had trouble discovering on a whim available campgrounds that weren't full. I was grateful to be here. Unfortunately there weren't any showers to use, but still...I had cell phone reception and each campsite was really spacious. I felt like I had plenty of privacy being in the woods without anyone around. Two extra notes I'd like to mention... I didn't have plans for the night and across the street from Bay Furnace was the Kewadin Christmas Casino. So...after setting up my tent and washing up...I took a short 15 minute walk outside the campground and went inside the casino and played some blackjack for an hour. It was sort of a pleasant change of pace from driving and picture taking all around the UP, to all of a sudden sitting down and playing blackjack at a random casino. Returning back to my campsite, there was a terrific little overlook vista point section just to the side of the entrance where I sat down on the shore of Lake Superior and admired the colorful sunset. It was a pleasant way to end my day. This panoramic coastline beach shore can't be missed when you're walking towards the facilities area. I highly recommend hanging out here when the sun begins to fade. Although I am a big outdoorsy type of person who loves being among nature...I just really wanted this opportunity to highlight Bay Furnace Camp and Picnic Grounds. Munising, Michigan is well known for its scenic waterfalls combined with picturesque vantage points of Lake Superior that makes this section of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan quite popular. But for those tourists who don't mind setting up camp among quiet surroundings with basic amenities, then I believe you will appreciate choosing to stay at Bay Furnace Campground in the heart of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

This place was fantastic! My wife, two boys, and I stayed in one of the lakefront yurts and were…read moreimpressed. We went during the winter season (March). There were 2 electric heaters and a propane heater for quicker bursts of heat. They already had the electric heaters on when we checked in, so it was pretty comfortable. The heated bathrooms/showers were clean--a bit of a walk if you choose the yurts on the lakefront. The fire pits were easy to find & firewood was available & inexpensive. Charcoal grills, picnic tables, and outdoor furniture that would be great to make use of in the warmer weather. Starry skies at night were great through the skylight, and looking north over Lake Superior, we were even lucky enough to be able to see the Northern Lights for a bit. Tips: Be sure to pack lots of blankets as it does get cold at night even with the heaters. Cell service was in & out (we have Verizon), but there is a wifi signal you can catch sometimes. If you go with kids like we did, think to bring hangers or a drying rack to dry out snow gear.

Concept of yurts and cabins is great. In practice they are much too close together. You can hear…read moreevery sound your neighbor makes whether you want to or not! Weekend nights are drunk fests many lasting into the wee hours. A hassle if u signed up for an early morning paddle or hike.But if you are there to party til u puke and do it loudly this is your kinda place lol. Wifi is very good. Campfire wood sold on nearby lot is mostly hardwood and seasoned. Build and finish of yurts and cabins is better than that of safari tents. Many tents had large rips in canvas walls and alongside main wall zippers allowing entry to too many mosquitoes and flies. The tents offer nice breezy front porches. All beds are hard green plastic covered mattresses - no bueno. Bring your own sleeping pad and comfy sleeping bag or blanket. Also highly recommend bringing own pillow. Pillows supplied look like they need laundering. Campground bathrooms get overwhelmed on weekend days and evenings. Cleanliness suffers . Some campers are gross beasts however Campground staff needs to stay on top of cleanliness and supplies. Campground and office staff are pleasant enough it seems that management is not allowing the campground (bathrooms, fire pits, chairs and grounds) to look first class.

Easiest camp site. Great location. Clean trash areas, public areas and bathrooms. The mid tier…read morespots have a beautiful view of the islands

This was our second year stopping at this campground on our annual anniversary trip and boy it did…read morenot disappoint! Love the people, the views, accommodations, and serenity. We will make it back again! Thanks again for having us!

I did the 6-hour and the 8-hour kayak trips, both were absolutely stunning. The two guides I went…read morewith (Merideth and Adin (hopefully I spelled that correctly)) were very wonderful people and definitely made the trip a lot more enjoyable. Thank you, Uncle Ducky's for the absolutely amazing adventure

I purchased a kayaking excursion voucher through Uncle Ducky's / Paddling Michigan during a holiday…read morepromotion and later traveled from out of town specifically for this experience, spending additional money on lodging, gas, food, and travel expenses in order to participate. Unfortunately, the experience was extremely disorganized and unprofessional from the moment I arrived. The building was locked, no guide or management staff were present, there was no organized check-in process, and there was absolutely no communication regarding what was happening. Multiple guests were left outside confused and attempting to determine whether the tour was even operating. Company-associated staff eventually arrived but provided no meaningful information until directly prompted. At that point, they stated they were only shuttle drivers and that they had to "figure out what was going on" after the scheduled rendezvous time had already passed. At no point within the first 20 minutes of our rendezvous was there was any clear communication, leadership, organization, or professionalism demonstrated by the company. Considering they're responsible for guiding customers onto Lake Superior, I no longer felt comfortable or safe participating in the excursion and chose not to proceed with 10 minutes remaining until the a scheduled launch time. I attempted to resolve this directly via email since management wasn't present during working hours and present staff couldn't provide a direct way to contact management; however, they refused to issue a refund. The owner instead responded publicly to a review in a defensive manner while claiming an emergency situation had occurred. He even blamed my inability to adapt over his employees vague and unprofessional verbal responses and despite three shuttle drivers being present and not shuttling us to our launch. The issue is the complete lack of communication, organization, professionalism, and reasonable resolution afterward.

We picked this place as a plan B, because we waited too long and the better camp sites in the area…read morewere all booked up. At Wandering Wheels, the sites are cramped, making you feel a little too cozy with your neighbors. Way too many kids and dogs, making it a very noisy place (we were woken up to our neighbor's little yapping dogs at 6:30 AM). I should also add that being as close to the road as it is, you hear cars all night and morning. I had a difficult time falling asleep... rather than being lulled to sleep by nature, all I heard were trucks. The bathrooms were also pretty gross; continually wet and smelly. The one pro is that the shirtless guy cleaning the bathrooms was nice. That's about it. I think this place is better suited for families who want a place to park their RVs at night; did not suit our group of young 20-somethings looking to camp in a tent.

This is a KOA now, which is an embarrassment for KOA. This…read moreis one of the most expensive KOA camping cabins I've ever stayed in. There was no potable water or electric on the exterior. This made cooking and washing a real chore. I found myself dehydrated on 90 degree days because I wasn't drinking enough. The RV site next to us had it. It would be simple to split the spigot. If you have a fire ring, you should have water to extinguish said fire. You have to hike super far for water or bathrooms. There are only three showers for a ton of sites. For $150, this was a joke. There are no hooks or mirror inside or screen door (pretty standard at Kai camping cabins). Pay the extra money and stay at the Econolodge next door for $160. You'll have water, ac, and electricity. We wanted to go camping for the first time with our son. It wasn't worth it for the cabin. We should've just rented it. The campground in Newberry was half the price and worth it.

Grand Island offers a bus tour! For those of us long past strenuous hiking or mountain biking but…read morestill wanting to explore Grand Island, there's a bus tour for day trippers! Experience and explore the highlights of Grand Island without worrying about mobility. The bus has a lift for mobility aides. Most walkways are plank board or firm gravel. Viewing area have plenty of room. The driver adjusts to the needs of the group. You get all the best of " pure Michigan " and then some. Yes, I'm talking about flies, mosquitoes, and no-see-in's. Dress accordingly and bring bug spray. Learn a bit of the fascinating history of Grand Island without over exerting yourself. Some of the nicest people you'll ever meet are in the main office. Surprise! They're also your ferry captain and 1st mate. Rich, the bus guide, is a lifelong local who loves the area and especially Grand Island. Ask him anything. He tells great stories. You'll see some fauna and a lot of flora. Overall, a most enjoyable excursion in Munising.

Based on other reviews we got lucky when it came to bugs...I do't recall even using our bug spray…read moreand we didn't have any issues. We visited the first week of September, so maybe we just got lucky. My husband talked me into biking the west rim, then cutting down the middle of the island back to the ferry. Around 20 miles. Our rental bikes were a bit tough to use with not much padding on the seat and gears that were difficult to use. My husband's chain came off at one point. The good news is that we made it in just over four hours - I was so worried about missing the last ferry at 6pm, but we actually caught the 5pm ferry. I would love to visit the island again and stay over night so we don't have to race a clock. The bike trails are tough! I'm a decent bike rider, but trail riding is tough for me. I actually was okay for the first 12 miles, but my legs and rear became sore, making the last eight miles tough. I'm super glad that I was able to complete the ride, and once again had we gotten an earlier start and didn't have to worry about catching the ferry back I think I could have relaxed and not been as worried about having to push my bike up and down some tough and washed out trails. The views on the west rim were amazing! I actually wish we would have just turned around and retraced our steps instead of going down the middle of the island to get back, which is mainly a dirt road for atvs. We will be back to explore some more and work on our bike skills!

From the parking lot to the falls, this trail is not even half a mile out and back. Definitely…read morefriendly to all skill-levels and a very easy stop at the beginning (or end) of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, whichever way you look at it. Fun / sad story: My parents came here 30+ years ago, well before I was born, and it was one of their first trips after they had moved to Michigan. Back then, you were still able to walk the entire trail all the way up to the falls and then walk BEHIND the falls, so that you got to experience the water falling on one side of you and the rock wall on the other side. Over 30 years later, erosion has sadly caused it so that you can no longer walk behind the falls, there's simply not even enough pathway left to do so. So this past weekend, when I went to Munising Falls for the first time with my parents who were coming for the second time, we were all pretty disappointed to see that we could no longer walk behind the falls. Instead, now there are just three different viewpoints you can walk up to: 1) a middle, head on, from the ground up view, 2) a medium altitude, left-side vantage point view, and 3) a highest altitude, right-side vantage point, almost looking down at the falls kind of view. The highest altitude viewpoint involves quite a bit of climb and forks out early on in the path. Viewpoints 1 & 2 go hand in hand. You arrive at the first viewpoint, take some photos, then can take the staircase up a bit to the left of the viewing platform up to viewpoint #2. My group ultimately only did 1 & 2 because we were pressed for time, but I believe viewpoint #3 would have the best view of the falls out of the 3 if you're down to make the climb. If not, viewpoint #1 gets you a great view as well and I was more than satisfied with what I got to see! Onwards to the next destination!

The Munising Falls are about 800 feet from the visitor center. The main path is paved with some…read morewooden bridge areas, but overall it's a smooth trail, definitely family friendly. It follows the stream so you can hear and admire the pretty tannin-stained water. There's a trail to the lower falls which takes you to the level of the plunge pool (and then stairs from that point to a middle vantage point), but also branches to stairs to the upper falls if you want to get another viewpoint. The upper falls trail also winds close to the sandstone cliffs, some of which have been unfortunately defaced by graffiti. Overall this can be a quick stop if you're in a hurry, or you can spend longer if you take some time to absorb your surroundings. Make sure to bring bug repellent since there's plenty of mosquitoes around!

Nice park surrounded by trees. Feels secluded. Cement pad is nice. Bath house looks new, but I…read moredidn't use it. Sites have grass and are spacious compared to. KOA and cost less. Good AT&T cell service to power my hotspot. This will definitely be my goto park for future visits to Pictured Rocks. Casino is close by and pretty nice. Good food there.

Light on amenities and not particularly well maintained. The bathroom facilities are very basic,…read moreand the overall property feels neglected, with trails leading to broken-down trucks and trash. As other reviewers mentioned, there is absolutely no shade anywhere on the grounds, people were literally sitting outside the bathroom building with chairs just to escape the sun. There's a small playground for kids, but not much else in terms of activities. Road noise is noticeable while tent camping, so expect a steady hum of traffic. One positive: they don't seem to care what you put on your site. We had an RV, a tent, bikes, and a car all together, and it was completely fine.