This campground is along Lake Huron. Follow the signage from 23 to find your way here! Our site (#17) was fairly open and spacious, and there was a path from our site to the beach. We enjoyed taking our lawn chairs to the beach and sitting along the waterfront. No electricity or showers. Vault toilets. No reservations; sites are on a first come, first served basis. You self register and pay with cash or cheque (no credit cards). The fee to camp was $15.

Date of stay: July 2019

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travelprofessor wrote a review Sept 2012

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Wonderful Place to Camp

I grew up in Ossineke, Michigan, and this campsite is a hidden treasure. The beaches here are fantastic, the water is fun to swim in, and the campsites are excellent. There is no entrance fee to the campground area if you just want to come for the day and swim, and there are opportunities for fishing (with a boat launch), hiking, mountain biking, and camping.

There is a water pump for cleaning off sand from your body and feet in the wooded area, and it really is a nice place to bring a camper or a tent for the night (or even a few nights). There are several gas stations in the area for food and supplies, and it's really fun to be out in this area. Sometimes, the white caps get really big if it's windy, so it's a lot of fun.

To me, this is the best feature of Ossineke.

Date of stay: June 2012

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Trip type: Travelled with friends

Beth B wrote a review Sept 2013

Huntington Woods, Michigan

Hidden Beauty

This is beautiful campground not too far from Detroit 'burbs. It's only 3 hours or so on Lake Huron. But what a find. Not huge 40ish sites. Huge RVs cant fit but 5th wheels can (sadly). The sites are pretty far apart and mostly you can't see your neighbors. The lake side sites are really great. Just walk through path from your site and it's right there. Sandy beaches and beautiful water. Its a rustic site so just vaulted and pump water from a well ( wouldn't drink it).

Date of stay: September 2013Trip type: Travelled as a couple

JenniferLynn920 wrote a review Aug 2017

Waterford, MI

Pros and Cons - but nice overall

This is a rustic campground, no electric hookups and only pit toilet facilities. We were on the south end and had a path leading to the lake.

The surrounding area has a lot of lowlands (i.e. swampy) so there were a lot of bugs (mostly dragonflies, some mosquitos, and flies) as well as frogs.

The lake changes daily, some days the water was very rough with whitecaps, while others it was SO quiet you couldn't hear the waves rolling in from camp.

We had a screen house that was raided nightly, so keep food in your car, cooler, or tub that cannot be opened easily (they're very crafty critters).

There are a handful of things to do in the surrounding area (and this is 10 miles south of Alpena for more). The park is back off the main road and you'll pass through rural housing area on the way through. There is a township park that you can walk to along the lake front with a few amenities (odd pit bathroom, not-so-private changing rooms and playground equipment).

The water here is on a bay, so not as pristine at you'll find Lake Huron to be from the open water areas, but safer by far. There is a sea-grass type of plant growing in the water on the south end of the park, with rocks and some sediment that gets stirred up throughout. Not bad overall, though. A burm of what looks like straw was formed at the south end of the park. We picked our way through a path to the beach on the north end easily enough.

The squeaky pump well was annoying and due to the water sound travelled all over. The water from the pump was rusty and a bit cloudy. One hand pump was missing a handle (unusable). Toilets were supplied with paper and hefty amount of flies.

Date of stay: August 2017

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Trip type: Travelled with friends

Jenna B wrote a review Sept 2016

American in Germany

Spacious lots, beautiful beach

Had a great time camping at Ossineke State Forest. Close to Alpena with lots to do. Campsites were spaced apart nicely and heavily wooded. Waterfront lots mostly had paths to the beach. Perfect for camping with a dog. Beach was clean and water was clear. One of the nicer State Forest spots we've stayed at.

Date of stay: September 2016Trip type: Travelled with family

Sadie M wrote a review Sept 2016

Beautiful campground, with pros and cons.

More pros than cons. Pros-Beautiful campground, very tall pines, lots of privacy, mostly empty, quiet, warm Lake Huron beach that lulls you to sleep at night, nice beach to walk on, not far from grocery store if you need supplies, stars are very visible at night. most the camping spots have private paths to the beach. Cons-a factory across the beach ruing the veiw, houses are visible from some of the non-waterfront camping spots and worst of all some very nervy raccoons! NEVER leave food on the picknick table! I only left a bottle of water on the table, and this raccoon refused to leave! Not even a little bit afraid of people, which tells me people were feeding them in the past. Please don't feed wild animals at a campground because they think it's ok to bager the campers. If you want to feed them, set some food down in the woods, and leave, but please dont leave food on the picknic table.

Date of stay: August 2016

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Trip type: Travelled with friends

Carol S wrote a review Jun 2015

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Simple and serene

Simple and serene, this campground offers rustic accommodations right on Lake Huron. We set up a tent in the south loop, which had fewer RVs and larger sites. Stands of hardwood and cedar groves separate the sites, and we felt like the only people in the entire park. Right from our site, a trail led through a magical field of seagrass that opened up to a rocky beach on Lake Huron, where we snorkeled and hunted for fossils.

Over in the more popular north loop, a boardwalk is available to get you down to the beach, and site 15 features the 1865 grave marker of a man that drowned over 100 years ago. Eerie and historic, Ossineke is a truly unique experience.

Date of stay: September 2014Trip type: Travelled with family

Room Tip: The south (east) loop is better for tents

William M asked a question Sept 2022

Is there electrical hookups at any of the sites?

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lorianne371 asked a question Jun 2016

We would be coming from ohio and will be coming before we would be able to get a camping permit mail to us if we order online. Can we purchase at your campground or where could we purchase one in person?

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Jessica H asked a question May 2015

4 contributions1 helpful vote

I cannot find this place on the map. Does it go by another name?

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Carol S wrote a tip Jun 2015

Kalamazoo, Michigan335 contributions81 helpful votes

"The south (east) loop is better for tents"

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United StatesMichiganOssineke

NUMBER OF ROOMS

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OSSINEKE STATE FOREST CAMPGROUND: See 7 Reviews and Traveller Photos (MI)

Frequently Asked Questions about Ossineke State Forest Campground

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Nearby attractions include Dinosaur Gardens (2.5 km), Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox (3.4 km), and Sanborn Country Park (0.00 km).

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