River side Camping

[Shoeman]

As many of you know, I enjoy camping along the banks of our trout rivers. Do to my wife's requirement of heat/air/electrical, I'm somewhat limited to full service facilities.
So far, I have found only a few.

Any suggestions?

[Sarge]

I don't know what kind of fishing the Shiawasee river offers, but it goes right through the Walnut Hills campground. Its mailing address is Durand. Its about 5 miles south of durand and like I said, right on the river.

My wife and I have taken a seasonal site there and out 5th wheel backs right up to the river. I can sit under my awning and fish in the river.

I'm a worm drowner myself, and stick to the fish that don't skunk me, like Gills and the like, so I can't say much about the fishing there. I have caught 16" bass in their little spring ponds though and others have caught quite large ones. Most of the fish, that most people catch in the swimming lake or the spring ponds are little bluegills. I have seen big "wakes" in the river and don't know what made em.

Here is their URL

http://www.michcampgrounds.com/walnuthills/

[Craig M]

Shoe,

My wife is cut from the same cloth as yours. We are in the process of buying a pop-up camper (we hit middle ground). It's has a furnace, air (by openin the windows), electric (also a DC converter will be going in soon, for those real out of the way spots) and a 3 way fridge. She will be off the ground, have a semi comfortable bed, juice for her hair drier and curling iron and I'll have something that I can set up in 20 minutes just about anywhere and be in the woods or water quicker than a trational camp.

Good luck

[Oct.1]

One I haven't tried yet is Twin Oaks in Welston. They advertise that they are walking distance from the Pine and Manistee. The campground has rustic to full camp sites. I am heading to Scottsville over the 4th and plan on checking it out. I'll let ya know.
They have a web page at www.twinoakscamping.com

[Shoeman]

Oct.1st, Scottville has 2 of them on the river. One is owned and operated by the city, the other is quite marginal, but they were working on it. (Pay Showers, very primative, ect.)

[gunrod]

Here is a photo of my families' new compound at Twin Oaks. It is a nice facility (full hook ups if needed) but not on the banks of the rivers. I haven't driven all the back roads since we just moved there last week but it is a 10 minute drive to the Red Bridge launch and 20 minutes to Tippy Dam. There is public access to the Pine at M55 less than a mile away.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/user_gallery/gunrod/dsc00153.jpg

We pay the annual rate and nothing when we show up there. It is really a great bargain (pro rated until Dec 31 at $800.00 and $900.00 for a full year). You will be hard pressed just to find storage at these prices but to include your camping is an excellent price.

[Shoeman]

Craig, I hear ya. We were boaters until 2000. I really enjoy my camping. I get up early and hit the river without disturbing my wife by tossing her around in 5 footers. By noon, she got her beauty sleep and we start our leisure day. Pretty hard to beat.

[Oct.1]

gunrod,
Thanks for the photo and info. I really want to check out Twin Oaks. It sounds like it might become one of my favorites.

Shoeman,
We just bought a 28 foot travel trailer last fall and plan on being at Crystal Lake over the forth.
This is an RV campground with full hookups. The other one is right on the PM. I really wanted to get into Ludington but I tried for reservations in February and it was too late. Scottsville puts me close enough for all I want to do in that area. Planing on looking for some property also. Only a few years till retirement. :D :D :D

[stelmon]

Wallnut hill's is an alright campground in my opinion. If you don't mind camping on each other then that is fine. As far as the fishing, it is great. I started fly fishing river's there and caught numerous bass, big rock bass, and some nice suckers. I think there are also some walleye in there. I liked it because I could get up while the family was sleeping and go fishing. My mom also got a kick outta watching me fishing and actually catching fish:eek: What about that one on the PM river. I can't recall the place name.. All I remember about them is they support snagging of salmon:mad:

[Oct.1]

Stelmon,
I believe the campsite on the P.M. is called Scottville River Park.

[Shoeman]

Oct, he's thinking of the one across the street. Vic's or Vince's or something like that. I've stayed there, but it's not for everyone.

[omerjim]

Hey you trout fishermen;
Don't forget the "Sunrise Side" there are many very nice campgrounds offering everything from full hookups to primitive on the Rifle and Ausable rivers, check out Alcona county park!
Jim

[Steve]

I don't think Twin Oaks could be within walking distance of the Manistee or the Pine.

[skinne]

if you dont mind a short drive there are 2 camgrounds around wolverine to bad i just had a brain fart and cant remember the names 1 is just south of town and located on trowbridge road and not to far from the sturgeon river and about 20mins to the pigeon river and not much farther to the black.if you would liek more info let me know i can ask my uncles and get the names for you both due have hook ups and 1 is in a well wooded area.

[Shoeman]

Skinne, I'm sure a list of those would come in handy to many of us. Thanks to all

[gunrod]

Steve, it depends on what you call walking distance. It is about a mile back up the dirt road from Twin Oaks to the M55 public access for the Pine. In my eyes that is not walking distance. Maps show the Manistee close by but I believe you are right on that one.

Either way it is a nice campground that suited our needs. We don't pull our trailers home or around the state so it works for us.

[chef]

Madsons campground is on the big manistee just down river from clay banks. you can pull your boat up on shore at your camp site. there is some excellent trout fishing around this area. the river water is warm in the summer however there are several nice creeks that flow into the big river and the trout concentrate in these pockets.

[Pinefarm]

This is a paste from the BBT site for the Baldwin/Pere Marquette area. Although, I don't think any are on the river. Pickerel Lakeside is on a lake.

Pickerel Lakeside
Campground & Cottages (800) 464-1468
(231) 745-7268
Ivan's Campground & Cabins (231) 745-9345 www.ivanscanoe.com
Big Star Lake Trailer & RV Resort (231) 898-2458
Humble Haven Inc. (231) 745-7811
Oaks Condominium Campground (231) 898-2801
Putman Lake Campground (231) 745-4936
Whispering Oaks (231) 745-7152

[northern_outdoorsman]

Hey Ralf...Get a Generator and You'll be all Set! ;)

[Shoeman]

built right in. Electric start on the power panel :D

I hate the fumes and the noise, though

[northern_outdoorsman]

Ralf...after the Campfire and Party you are Supposed to turn it Off..LMAO!:D

[Shoeman]

..... and let my wife over-heat during a night of passion?????????

Are you nuts? Oh, I forgot, you're not married.... Yet. lol

[Erik]

Twin oaks has been one of our favorites for years. It was taken over by new owners about two seasons ago and while it's still a nice place, it now gets alot more business than it used to. We used to stay there every memorial day and labor day weekend, but this past fall we couldn't get reservations. All the electric sites were already booked by the first week of august. Also the river is not what I consider walking distance. In fact even on a bicycle its a long ways. As the crow flies, I'd call it a good mile, and by road maybe two. Nice place though none the less.
There is a place in benzonia called vacation camp ground that has sites with electric that are right on the betsie river. They have canoe/kayak rentals, a heated swimming pool, game room, showers, you name it. Only thing is the sites could stand to be a little larger, and you have to make reservations plenty early if you want to be on the rivers edge. Other than that all the river side campgrounds that I know are rustic.

[gunrod]

Twinoaks does seem nice. Fortunately we are locked into spots so we don't have to worry about the reservations. And if it stays busy then we don't have to worry about the price going up.;)

[JStarbrite]

Whispering Pines is on the bank of the upper Mannistee. Off 612 just west of Mannistee River Road. I liked it so much I leased a site for the whole year!

[Shoeman]

Forgot about this one.
Paddle Brave, it's just outside of Roscommon on the South Branch.

Nice shaded sites with plenty of grass. It's kept very clean.
Canoe rental on the premises

[DEERSLAYER]

If you end up on the west side of the state you can check out "Salmon run" on the Muskegon river. We have not had a chance to go there yet, but checked it out and it looked real nice {even has a pool}. I think it opens the end of May. It is real close to "Anderson Flats" {boat launch}. Two of the sites are directly on the river. There are plenty of smallmouth, walleye and trout in that area. They have a couple of LITTLE cabins to rent in case you want to tow a boat instead of a camper. I liked it a lot better than Henning park {which I believe you were at last year}. I think you will love it.

[Shoeman]

We stopped by there and originally wanted to hold the first Newaygo outing at Vic's, but I couldn't find anyone to talk to. The grounds were quite littered and the bathrooms filthy. I'm glad to hear they cleaned it up. I have stayed there, but it was about 12 years ago. (before the DNR poisoning) They have a small boat launch as well. The river in that stretch has great fishing, especially upstream. Tons of trout.

[skinne]

i posted earlier in this heading about 2 camp grounds around the wolverine area and i said i would get the names and numbers and post them so here they arethe first is Elkeood Campground their phone number is 231-525-8373 thay have a heated pool and a store there from what my mother told me and 55 sites and its about a 5minute drive to the sturgeon river and 20-25 mins to the pigeon river and its nicley wooded. the other is the Circle S campground there number is 231-525-8300 they have a driving range and are right on the sturgeon river and this is there web site http://www.circle-s.20m.com/ hope this helps anybody who have thought of camping up that way and if you do go p.m. me and if im at the familys cabin ill gladly try to show anybody around the area and try to find a few elk. Skinne

[DEERSLAYER]

shoeman,
We went to Vic's before it opened for the season. Maybe they let it get trashy after it opens. That would be a shame. If we get a chance this summer we will go up there and find out. I just love that river.