USDA Forest Service · Michigan
Blacksmith Bayou Access
USDA Forest Service · Michigan, United States
- Cost
- Day Use: $5 vehicle per day $15 per seven day
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 669 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- BLACKSMITH BAYOU (NFSR 5555) · improved native material · moderate degree of user comfort
- Nearest town
- Brethren, MI
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
Site map
The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
US Forest Service campground. One of many bayous along the lower portion of the river, Blacksmith is an oxbow lake left from an old river channel. The river channel moves during geologic time, creating new meanders in the mile-wide river valley. The North Country Trail follows the ridge along the bayou and crosses the entrance road. This is a good area for ice fishing. Open season: April 1 - December 1. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 17° | -11° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 29° | 16° | 0° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 27° | 11° | 69° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 51° | 36° | 14° | 77° | 7 of 11 |
| May | 66° | 46° | 31° | 80° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 73° | 55° | 45° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 63° | 53° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 64° | 56° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 74° | 58° | 47° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 57° | 46° | 35° | 72° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 42° | 34° | 17° | 62° | 7 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 25° | 6° | 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.
Trails nearby
- Udell Trailhead · 2.8 mi as the crow flies
North Country Trail 128 mi Hike · Drive there
All 269 trails in Huron-Manistee National Forest
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Sawdust Hole Angler Access · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Pine Lake Recreation Area Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Tippy Dam · Michigan State Parks · 5 mi
- Marzinski Horse Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 19 sites
- Government Landing Access · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.