Big Knob Campground

The Great Outdoors

Camp in an RV near Gould City and make the short drive west to the Hiawatha National Forest, which encompasses almost 900,000 acres. It stretches between the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, with over 100 miles of lakefront natural areas to explore. Hikers can tackle part of the 4,600-mile North Country Trail, which extends through the forest and its various wilderness areas while anglers can try their luck fishing in one of the Wild and Scenic rivers. Aside from being home to moose, beavers, river otters, and birdlife, the Hiawatha National Forest is renowned as the home of the Point Iroquois Light, which is now open to the public as a history museum.Also nearby is the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which hugs the southern shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula area. It boasts sweeping views of the shoreline’s picturesque waterfalls, sand dunes, and rock formations, including the multicolored Pictured Rocks cliffs. Some of the sandstone cliffs rise to around 200 feet above the lake’s surface and have been sculpted into arches, shallow caves, and unique formations that resemble human heads and castle turrets. Witness the 19th-century lighthouse at Au Sable Point and relax on the shores of Twelvemile Beach, with the remnants of historic shipwrecks dotting the adjacent waters.Camping at the Big Knob Campground can be used as a base for visiting the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, which lies a short drive to the northwest. It encompasses wildlife-filled wetlands and pine forests, as well as the landmark Strangmoor Bog, which is considered one of the best surviving examples of sub-arctic patterned bog in the United States. Stretch your legs along one of the hiking trails while keeping your eyes peeled for moose, black bears, and river otters, as well as a plentiful birdlife that includes trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, and Canada geese.

Exploring the City

The Big Knob Campground is a 20-minute drive from Gould City, where you’ll find a supermarket for stocking up on groceries and a gas station if you need to fill up your RV rental. Alternatively, you can make the one-hour drive into St Ignace, which offers a wider choice of services and a good selection of eateries and restaurants for dining out.While you’re visiting St Ignace, stop in at the Fort de Buade Museum, which occupies a French fort that was garrisoned during the late 17th century. It was named after the governor of New France at the time, Louis de Buade de Frontenac, and watches over the waters of East Moran Bay. Admire the historical weaponry, beadwork, and trade items that are on display from the French, British, and American eras, as well as cultural artifacts belonging to the region’s indigenous Anishinaabe people. Learn about the historic St Ignace Mission that was also founded at the site, including a French village, a Wyandot Indian village, and an adjacent Odawa village.A campsite at Big Knob Campground can also be used as a base for visiting Sault Ste. Marie, which lies around 90 minutes’ drive to the northeast. It straddles the St Marys River between Michigan and Ontario, with plenty of cultural sights and museums to explore on both sides. Learn about the glacial formation of the river and its Native American heritage at the River of History Museum, then soak up the sweeping views across the heritage-listed Soo Locks from the Tower of History.Just across the river lies the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, with historic exhibits displayed in a former post office building, as well as the Art Gallery of Algoma, where works by regional and international artists are shown. Admire the vintage aircraft on display at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre and explore the 19th-century stone houses of the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site, then wander along the canal that’s lined with historic red sandstone buildings.Whether you want to explore the waterfront trails of Lake Michigan or get cultured in St Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie, book an RV in Mackinac County and start planning your next vacation.