South Manistique Lake Campground

Camp in an RV near Germfask and make the short drive northeast to the Tahquamenon Falls State Park, which is home to one of the largest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Sprawling across more than 46,000 acres, the park encompasses not only the Tahquamenon River and its spectacular falls but also a section of the long-distance North Country Trail for Germfask campers wanting a challenging hike. Photograph the golden-brown color of the falls, which results from tannins in the nearby cedar swamps, with rowboats and canoes available for rent to access the lower falls. Camping at the South Manistique Lake Campground is also a good base for visiting the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses vast tracts of wetlands and pine forests to the northwest. It’s renowned for the landmark Strangmoor Bog, considered the best surviving example of sub-arctic patterned bog in the country and sculpted by wind and water into parallel strips. The Seney National Wildlife Refuge also provides vital habitat for river otters, moose, and black bears, together with more than 200 bird species that include trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, and Canada geese. Just over an hour’s drive west of the South Manistique Lake Campground is the Hiawatha National Forest, which encompasses almost 900,000 acres and over 100 miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Historic lighthouses dot the shores, including the Point Iroquois Light and its museum, while a section of the 4,600-mile North Country Trail extends through the forest. Numerous wilderness areas are encompassed within the forest, as are five national Wild and Scenic rivers that include the Indian River and the Sturgeon River. While exploring the woods, keep your eyes peeled for moose, beavers, and river otters, together with sandhill cranes, golden eagles, and hawks.