Best Camping in and near Duck Lake Public Reserved Land

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Stay at a public campground in Duck Lake Public Reserved Land

Duck Lake Campground

4 sites In Duck Lake Public Reserved Land

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Top-rated campgrounds near Duck Lake Public Reserved Land

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Dragon Adventures Base Camp

9 sites · RVs, Tents23 acres · White Cloud, MI

Dragon Adventures Base Camp is 23 acres of adventurous fun in the heart of a great adventure area! Mountain biking and hiking on the 43 mile Dragon Trail, paddling on Hardy Pond or the Muskegon River, boating, and the most popular beach are all just minutes away. At the Base Camp you’ll find a cabin for rent, campsites, an amazing beer garden with firepits, yard games, and tons of woods and trails to explore year round! Mark and Amy love hosting folks for their adventures! Come as strangers but leave as friends!

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DaltonTraders Base Camp-Grand Cabin

3 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Muskegon, MI

10 miles from Winter Sports Complex at Muskegon State Park 40 acre secluded wood lot located: 10 miles from Lake Michigan public beaches. 5 miles from Michigan’s Adventure amusement park. 4 miles from Thunderbird Raceway 2 miles from US 31 expressway. 3 miles from shopping, bars and restaurants. 1 mile from public golf course. 5 miles from downtown Muskegon. 8 miles from Lake Express cross lake ferry terminal.

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Provision Family Farms

3 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents20 acres · White Cloud, MI

Nestled in Manistee National Forest is a family farm. Trailheads lead to hundreds of miles of public two-track, and the woods roll between oak/maple/beech and aspen/birch. On the farm is a 20 acre lake with a floating island, tent sites, and healthy ecosystems with plenty of wildlife.Our farm pastures pigs, cattle, sheep and poultry, investing in our dirt and our neighbors. We are provision family farms because we provide for our animals even as we are provided for. Drop on in at the house and we may have time for a little tour.In the woods is a small composting toilet, but you're welcome to fertilize our pastures anytime. There's also a shower available in the house.The best time to visit Michigan forests is in October when the leaves turn color and the nights are cool. The mosquitoes are done for the winter and the air is brisk.

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Lynx Run Wilderness Retreat

8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Stanwood, MI

My property (Lynx Run) has an amazing geological and historical background. During the last ice age, glacial waters carved out the ravine in which the Betts Creek flows. Sometimes, the creek drops over 60 feet below the surrounding terrain as it meanders back and forth in oxbows as it flows toward the Muskegon River. It was once the hunting, foraging and camping grounds of the Potawatami Indians. In the late 1800's it was at the center of the Michigan Timber Industry. Running along the edge of my property is the old railroad bed where timber was once hauled away. Only two miles from my home, the logs were sent down the side of the hill and into the Muskegon River on log chutes and then floated to where the Muskegon empties into Lake Michigan. Piles of field stones indicate that after the timber industry moved on, farmers moved in and attempted to tame the land. But, fortunately for me, the land was abandoned by the farmers and has returned to a much more natural and pristine state. My land is now a part of the Manistee National Forest and I am surrounded by thousands of acres of beautiful land (both public and private). I am the only person who lives back here in this part of the forest, so seclusion and privacy are wonderful and the wildlife and beauty is abundant.

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Hen and Hive Provisions

3 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Cedar Springs, MI

We are a small bio-dynamic farm situated on 10 acres in West Michigan. the land has small diverse eco-systems. Open meadows with large White pine to dense woods to the back of the property. We have a small diverse fiber herd of Jacob sheep and Nigora Goats along with some heritage Breed chickens including 1 Rooster who watches over the flock. A small group of Cayuga duck work their pest control magic as the snoodle around the entire property. These ducks go everywhere! There are also 2 barn cats, that might visit your camp site if you are traveling without dogs. we also host group of 24 Bee Hives. On the farm we grow a variety of veggies, flowers and Medicinals. We have plots of native woodland medicinals and a variety of other Perennials and Medicinals including Hemp and Cannabis on a very small scale. Everything is grown organically. Sorry, No children under 10 We are also close to the Red Flannel Gun club, quite a bit of the time we hear guns. We are also very close to the Cedar Chase Golf Course if you like golf. Hen and Hive Provisions makes a small collection of Honeys, medicine and full-Spectrum Aromatherapy CBD Topicals that we sell locally and at seasonal markets. Email henandhiveprovisions@gmail.com for a full product list + price list. We hope you come for a visit, we would love to meet you!

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Fern Gully

3 sites · Lodging, RVs12 acres · Nunica, MI

12 wooded acres close to lakes and rivers. 7 miles from Lake Michigan, Grand Haven. Enjoy gorgeous beach sand as far as the eye can see, splash in the waves, or take a book and relax in the sun. The beach is often the main attraction in Grand Haven and offers soft golden sands-so take a stroll, build a sand castle or just sit back and enjoy the view of Lake Michigan. There are over 100 miles of bike paths throughout the area. Popular paths and trails run along the Lake Michigan shoreline on Lakeshore Drive between Grand Haven and Holland, circling Spring Lake, and along the Grand River to Eastmanville. Grand Haven offers one of the largest charter boat fishing fleets on Lake Michigan. The seasoned charter boat captains and their crews can provide everything from licenses to lunch-even clean and ice your catch-so all you have to do is come aboard and enjoy the day. 2 Miles from Spring Lake. Close to Contastoga camp grounds on Grand River. Quiet groomed sites for camper or tent. Fire pit and wood provided. Pets allowed. Please make sure to pick up after them.

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Muskegon Pines-Lake Cabin

1 site · Lodging1 acre · Newaygo, MI

Pet friendly 2-bedroom, 1 bath cabin on Croton Pond with great views of the Muskegon River valley. The lake cabin has all the amenities necessary for an incredible stay. There is a private beach and a dock for a boat on a large all sports lake. Lake and beach area is accessible on property via 185 steps. There are other lake access points in the area such as Duchemin public boat launch. There is great fishing in the area, and we are approximately 2 miles from the Dragon Trail - mountain bike trail. https://www.thedragon.us/the-dragon-trail/ https://newaygocountyexploring.com/project/croton-pond/

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One Grand Place - Riverside Retreat

7 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Robinson Township, MI

Welcome to our little slice of heaven along the Grand River in Grand Haven, Michigan. Voted one of the best places to visit in 2022 and 2023. This property is at the end of a private road and has three adjoining waterfront parcels that have been in the family for decades that we fondly refer to as One Grand Place. Family still lives on one of the parcels but we are excited to be sharing the other 2 parcels with all of you. One parcel is our Premium RV site on a cement pad, parallel to the river and can accommodate 1 RV (5th wheel, travel trailer, pop up, Class C etc. NO Class A's allowed). 30/50/standard 110 Electric and water hookup. Pump out is available for a fee. The other adjacent parcel at the very far west end of the property is a large grassy area with 2 sites. Both have 30 and standard 110 electric, plus water. --1 Standard RV site can accommodate 1 RV (5th wheel, travel trailer, pop up, Class C etc. NO Class A's allowed). Or, can be used as a tent site IF the tent only site is already booked. Pump out is available for a fee. --1 Tent only site. To be booked first before the Standard RV site. However, both sites are next to each other with same view. There is plenty of room to set up games, fish, play with the kids or the dogs, etc. What's not to like? It is your very own exclusive home away from home. If you don't have an RV or a tent and want to still come and visit, no problem. Rent one of our RVs or rent our tent. PLEASE NOTE: We are not a commercial campground or a business. However, there are certain rules that must be adhered to per the agreement with our local township and our neighbors along our shared private road. Property is adjacent to Connor Bayou County Park and is surrounded by natural wetlands. Perfect place to unwind, chill, enjoy the fresh air and picture perfect sunsets. Boating, swimming, jet skis, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing are just a few of the things to enjoy on the water. Bring your own boat, jet ski, kayak or rent from nearby establishments. One of many public boat launches is just a couple minute ride and Connor Bayou County Park has a kayak specific boat launch. You can also drop a kayak in at the very west end of our property right from shore. If you are bringing your own boat, jet ski, kayak and have a separate trailer, parking of that trailer must be pre-authorized due to limited space. Please inquire. Hiking, biking and wildlife, bird/eagle watching are also in the area. Spring Lake, Lake Michigan, beaches, various state/county parks, downtown Grand Haven's shops and restaurants are just a short drive away. Holland is about 30 minutes south and also has a cute downtown, craft beers, and beaches. PJ Hoffmaster State Park is 20 minutes North. If you are a thrill seeker Michigan's Adventure Amusement and Waterpark is only 30 minutes North in Muskegon. There are also many wineries, ciders and craft beer in Southwest Michigan. And many blueberry farms around too. Bottom line....there is plenty of things to do and see during your visit. You can be as active or as chill as you want to be.

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Endless Adventure

7 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Cedar Springs, MI

Enjoy a slice of heaven with the richest joys of Michigan, all in one place. Swim, soak in the hot tub or indoor pool (pending construction), meet the floofiest kitties and witness the miracles of a natural ecosystem. Butterflies Wildflowers Kindness Grounding Peacocks Chickens Egrets Herons Diving Birds Barn and shed style cabins (not empty, but they have room to fit some camp beds inside) no utilities. Cement camper pad (hookups not guaranteed, last we checked electrical worked but other utilities not available) . Put your tent anywhere near a labeled campsite sign (or in a secluded area if campsite signs are not available). And so so much more!

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PV's Campground and Resort

16 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · White Cloud, MI

We sit on over 50 acres that has been in our family for over 40 years.

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Country Cabin

6 sites · RVs, Tents3 acres · Rockford, MI

3.5 acres near Merrill mountain bike trail and about 1.5 miles south of Rockford on the White Pine. Our home and a small cabin with a refrigerator and electricity is located on the property with wooded areas and trails throughout. Plenty of open flatland for tenting and electric available for an RV.

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The 40 Acre Wood

5 sites · Lodging40 acres · Shelby, MI

www.facebook.com/the40acrewood Before our forest was "owned," it belonged to the Odawa people. Once white settlers arrived and governments were established, land deeds were written. We traced those deeds back through the Oceana County Register of Deeds and found that larger tracts of land were owned by people from Chicago and California, which were later divided into smaller parcels. Interestingly, one owner lost the property after failing to pay back taxes of $3.50, shortly after World War II. It is likely that he never returned. In the mid-1900s, Ed Dewey was the owner. Today, we have a cabin on the east side of the 40 acres that was built by Ed, entirely constructed with oak. He had three sawmills there, each powered by the engines of old Studebakers. He cut and milled enormous oak trees, using the wood to construct crates for transporting cherries. Today, you can still see old oak crates on various farms, but they are slowly being replaced by plastic. Ed never finished the little cabin, and the story goes that he died there. The next owners were a couple from Inkster, near Detroit. Despite Ed leaving an acre of "yard art" all over, the place was used as a vacation home after a 50-foot long mobile home was placed near the cabin. As they aged, they sold off their property to us. First, we acquired the 20 acres where the Cozy Camper Cabin resides, then the 7 acres near Weaver Road and 44th, and finally, the remaining 13 acres with the cabin. We began purchasing the property in parcels in 1992 for $500 an acre and owned it all by 1998. From 1998 to 2008, we removed the mobile home, cleaned up all the yard art, refurbished the cabin, added a garage, and built a new shed nearby. The Hipcamp shed was originally built in 1999 and has been used for storage until it was converted into a unique little place in the woods in 2021. Over the years, our Forester has carefully managed the property. We have logged three times. The first round was to remove 75 huge oak trees. The second round involved culling mature poplar trees. The last time, we took out 276 mature oaks and beeches. A Woodsman spent a year cutting down the tops of the trees. Clearing these old growth trees revitalized the forest, as planned. Today, there are over two miles of trails running throughout the property. Some were logging roads, while others were carved out over time. The land is flat to the north but hilly to the south, as these are forested sand dunes. There are approximately a million trees on the property, densely forested with many large "mother trees" such as oaks, beeches, maples, and pines. The poplar trees are growing rapidly, as they do. Wild cherry, sassafras, beeches, oaks, and maples are also growing quickly and thickly. To the south, there are fenced-in asparagus fields and cherry orchards. To the north, on the other side of Weaver Road, is the privately owned Silver Lake Airport, which remains quiet most of the time. On the east side of our 40 acres, you'll find our cabin and buildings, and we kindly ask you to avoid wandering onto that side of the property. Signs will alert you when you get close. To the west, there is a 20-acre section occasionally occupied by some "Dunners." The area is famous for Silver Lake State Park and the sand dunes, located about 2.5 miles northwest of us. Our neighbors in that area have dune buggies, and they sometimes drive around their property, creating more noise than we prefer. It's possible that you may encounter this during your visit, so please be aware. Deer are abundant in the area, and in 2021, we spotted a porcupine for the first time, although we have occasionally seen evidence of their presence through bark-stripped maples. Raccoons come and go, while turkeys are frequent visitors at times. You can hear coyotes yipping away at night, and depending on the time of year and migratory season, you'll see lots and lots of birds. We're pleased to report that there is no poison ivy on the property! It is a beautiful place in the woods, not far from many entertaining activities suitable for both the young and old. Come and visit, but please be respectful of the land and our privacy while enjoying yours. Love Mother Earth while you are here and nourish your soul.

The best camping near Duck Lake Public Reserved Land guide

Overview

About

We all know that water makes the world go round, but you won’t truly believe it unless you visit Duck Lake Public Reserved Land, where you’ll find 27,000 acres of streams, ponds, lakes, waterfalls, wetlands, and bogs. Slide your kayak into the water and meander from lake to stream to river. Pitch your tent on a bed of soft pine needles surrounded by blueberry bushes. Hike the network of trails that meander around, over, and between the waterways, and don’t forget to cool off in the cold, northern water. This is great habitat for moose, deer, and bear, so have your camera ready for action. Grab your bug spray and get out on the water in this semi-remote wilderness preserve.

When to go

The allure of Duck Lake Public Reserved Land shines brightest from late spring to early fall, when the weather is most conducive for outdoor activities. Winter offers a snowy paradise for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, though access may be challenging. Avoid the muddy conditions of early spring and the peak of black fly season in June for the most comfortable experience.

Know before you go

Check the Bureau's Safety page for access updates before planning your visit.
Prepare for semi-remote conditions; ensure you have all necessary supplies and equipment.
Respect the 'Buy It Where You Burn It' policy to prevent the spread of invasive species via firewood.
Be aware of the local wildlife and practice safe and responsible interaction with the environment.
Visitor accessibility information is available for those requiring additional assistance.