State Forest · Michigan
Portage Bay State Forest Campground
State Forest · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 22
- Hookups
- 22 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Cost
- $20 per night; a Recreation Passport is required on the vehicle
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Elevation
- 617 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 906-644-2603
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
Nestled along northern Lake Michigan, this beautiful campground gives visitors an unplugged back-to-nature experience. Many of the rustic campsites sport spectacular views of Lake Michigan. The Ninga Aki Pathway provides visitors 2.7 miles of maintained hiking trail amidst a boreal forest ecosystem. There are 23 sites for tent and small trailer use.
The campground is located 10 miles south of Garden via County Road 483 and Portage Bay Road.
*Note there is a ramp, it is unimproved and limited to very small boat launches
22 rustic campsites, $20 a night. Open all year; the road may not be plowed in winter. First come, first served; register at the campground kiosk on the day you arrive. Vault toilets and a hand-pump well for drinking water; no electricity or hookups. One camping unit and six people per site, 15 nights at most. Managed from Fayette Historic State Park (906-644-2603).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 18° | -3° | 38° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 28° | 19° | 0° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 34° | 26° | 9° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 38° | 33° | 20° | 49° | 6 of 11 |
| May | 48° | 43° | 35° | 55° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 59° | 53° | 45° | 67° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 68° | 63° | 57° | 78° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 71° | 65° | 59° | 77° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 66° | 61° | 49° | 71° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 54° | 48° | 35° | 64° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 41° | 36° | 20° | 53° | 5 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 27° | 6° | 51° | 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.
Nearby campgrounds
- Fayette · Michigan State Parks · 7 mi
- Flowing Well Campground · USDA Forest Service · 17 mi · 6 sites
- Indian Lake – South Unit - Campground · Michigan State Parks · 18 mi
- Indian Lake – West Shore Campground · Michigan State Parks · 19 mi
- Manistique Lakeshore Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 21 mi · 56 sites
All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-17. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.