Trails in Northern Michigan

MICHIGAN SHORE TO SHORE TRAIL CAMPS
Descriptions, Directions, GPS Coordinates

There are 10 camps along the East-West Michigan Riding & Hiking Trail, or Shore to Shore Trail, as it is known. The camp directions included in these pages refer to location by highway. References are made toward “drop in camp”, which means no reservations are required, and “group camp”, which means reservations are required through the local DNR or Forest Service. Drop in camp allows you to stop, find a site, pay the camping fee (post), and leave at your convience. Access to group camp is usually blocked by a locked gate, and only groups with a certain number of horses are allowed to rent the camp.

1. River Road Camp: Located 15 miles West of Oscoda Driving Directions: From I-75 North, exit @ US-23 North, through Standish toward Tawas. Turn West (left) @ M-65 North. Go to River Road, and Turn East (right), for approximately 7 miles, to USFS Rd 4411. Turn South (right), and camp is on the left, less than a mile. Camp: River Road Camp is a group camp, which needs to be reserved through the DNR. The well at the camp requires a 5000Watt generator. There are no hand water pumps. There are also no outhouses, therefore portapottys are required, and must be arranged to accommodate campers at the site. The trail from Oscoda enters the east end of the camp, and leaves through the West end.

An alternative to River Road Camp is Old Orchard Park, which is a commercial campground right on the Ausable River, near Foote Dam. Being commercial, it may have noise and activity which might not be what horse campers appreciate. Old Orchard Park is located about 7 miles west of Oscoda, on River Road. It does have hot showers, for a price.

South Branch: Located 19 miles west of River Road Camp Driving Directions: From I-75 North, exit onto US-23 North, through Standish. Turn North (left) @ M-65, to Rollway Road. Turn North (left) onto Rollway Road—the camp is 3 miles down Rollway, on the right. Camp: There are two camps, a drop in camp, with a hand pumped well, and a group camp with a pump requiring a 5000 Watt generator. Both camps have outhouses and shade. This segment of the trail stretches along the AuSable River, and has scenic overlooks, cedar swamps, and is one of the more challenging; offering hills, bridges, and many rocks along the trail. The south branch of the AuSable River is within easy walking distance from the camp, but horses are banned from the banks because of erosion potential. The Michigan Riding & Hiking Trail leaves the far end of the group camp, up the hill, East, toward the River Road camp, or down the hill, West, toward McKinley.

McKinley: Located 25.5 miles from South Branch Camp Driving Directions: In Mio, approached from I-75, M-72, or M33, at the light, go East on County Road 612, for about 9 miles, to camp. Camp: The group camp has a well requiring a 5000 Watt generator, and has outhouses. The trail to the East (South Branch) is accessed from the back of the camp. The trail to the West (Luzerne) is accessed from the front of camp.

Luzerne: Located 24.5 miles west of McKinley Camp Driving Directions: From Luzerne, on M-72, take Deter Road (the intersection by Ma Deter’s Bar) South for about 1.5 miles to Durfee Road. Turn South (left) onto Durfee Road. Camp is about 0.7 miles down Durfee Road. Camp: There are two camps—a drop in camp, with a non-functioning well, and a group camp with a well requiring a 5000 Watt generator. Both camps have shade and outhouses. The fire station in Luzerne, on Deter Road, has a faucet with an attached short hose, if you should need water. The trail to the East (McKinley) starts from the drop-in camp near the well. The trail to the West (4-Mile), starts across the road from the camp entrance. There is a mile floating bridge through a cedar swamp a few miles East of the camp. A few miles West of camp, the trail to the North Spur (Walsh Road Camp) splits off from the main trail.

4-Mile Camp: 25 miles from Luzerne Camp Driving Directions: From I-75 North, take the 4-mile exit and head East about 4 miles to the camp on the right. Camp: The camp is a drop-in camp with a hand pumped well, and a well requiring a 5000 Watt generator. The trail East (Luzerne), goes East along 4-Mile Road. The trail West (Goose Creek) starts at the Northwest corner of camp, and heads North, under I-75. There can be much car traffic and noise in this section. There is also a steel decked bridge, which is slippery and loud when crossed. Yogi Bear Campground is just East of the camp on 4-Mile Road. It has hot showers and laundry facilities, for a price.

Goose Creek Camp: 22 miles West of 4-Mile Camp Driving Directions: From I-75 North, exit @ M-72, and go West about 6.0 miles. Turn North (right) onto Manistee River Road—camp access is approximately 6.5 miles on Manistee River Road. Camp: The drop-in camp is located on the shore of the Manistee River. It has a hand pumped well, and a well requiring a 5000 Watt generator. Canoe liveries sometimes use the horse camp for river access, so you may want to camp a distance from the river. The trail to the East (4-Mile) starts just past the outhouses on the end opposite the river. The trail West (Kalkaska) crosses the Manistee River. Found an easy Eastern ride from camp are dining facilities—one with a picket line; the other with a corral.
Kalkaska: Located 24 miles West of Goose Creek Camp Driving Directions: From the intersection of US-131 & County Road 612 in Kalkaska, head North on US-131 to BeeBe Road, West (left). Go 0.7 miles on BeeBe Road, to Metzgar Road West, and go one mile to Rice Road, South (left) for 0.2 miles to camp.
Camp: The camp is a drop-in camp with a hand pumped well and a well requiring a 500 Watt generator. The trail East (Goose Creek) leaves out the camp access road. The trail West (Shecks) leaves camp past the hand well.

Shecks: Located 19 miles from Kalkaska Camp Driving Directions: From US-131 North of Cadillac, take Supply Road (S. Boardman Road) West to Brown Bridge Road. Turn left onto Brown Bridge Road, and camp access is on the left. Ranch Rudolf is very near the trail camp, and you can follow the Ranch Rudolf signs to the camp. Camp: The camp is on the shore of the Boardman River, and is a drop-in camp. There is a hand pumped well, and a well requiring a 5000 Watt generator. Ranch Rudolf has a restaurant, and for a price you can also get hot showers. The trail East (Kalkaska) leaves camp near the road exit. The
trail West (Mud Lake) goes around Traverse City & may have much car traffic. The South Spur (Hopkins Creek) splits off the trail to the West a short distance from camp.

Dubonnet Lake: Located 25 miles from Shecks Camp Driving Directions: From US-31, about 1.5 miles West of Interlochen, turn North on Wildwood Road. Go about 1 mile North before turning West (left) for 0.5 miles, then North for 0.2 miles. Trail camp is located just across from Mud Lake dam, on the
right. Camp: The camp is on the shore of Mud Lake (Dubonnet Lake), and is a drop-in camp with a hand pumped well, and a well requiring a 5000 Watt generator. There is horse access to the lake near the access road. The trail East (Shecks) leaves camp from the end opposite the access road and follows the lake shore. The trail West (Gerry Lake) leaves out the access road.

Gerry Lake Camp: Located 18 miles West of Mud Lake Camp Driving Directions: From M-72 in Empire, go 5 miles East to Plowman Road. Turn South (right) on Plowman about 2 miles before turning East (left); camp is on the South side. Camp: There are 2 camps: the drop-in camp is on the shore of Gerry Lake. The group camp is up the hill, past the outhouses of the drop-in camp. The drop-in camp has a hand pumped well—the group camp has an electric pumped well. The trails leave the group camp from the end opposite the access road, and are marked.

NORTH SPUR TRAIL CAMPS

1. North Walsh Road Location: 25 miles North of Luzerne Camp Driving Directions: From I-75 North, take M-72 East to Luzerne. Turn North (left) on County Road 489, to the next County Road and turn West (left). Go 4 miles to Walsh Road and turn North (right). Camp access is about 4.5 miles on Walsh Road. Camp: Drop-in and group camps are next to each other. The drop-in camp has a hand pumped well, and group camp has a well requiring a generator. Connections to the East-West trails are South (Luzerne) and a bit West of the Luczerne camp.

2. North Johnson’s Crossing Location: 25 miles North of Walsh Road Camp Driving Directions: From Gaylord, take M-32 East to Gingell Road, about 10 to 12 miles, turn North (left) and go 4 miles to Sparr Road. Turn East (right) for 2 miles, to Johnson’s
Crossing Road. Camp access is about 2 miles on Johnson’s Crossing Road. Camp: Drop-in and group camps are adjacent to each other. The drop-in camp has a hand pumped well—the group camp has a well requiring a generator.

3. North Elk Hill Location: 19 miles North of Johnson’s Crossing Driving Directions: From I-75 North, exit at Vanderbilt. At blinking light in Vanderbilt, turn left onto Main Street. Main Street will turn into Sturgeon Valley Road. It is 11.3 miles to Twin Lakes Road (Round Lake Campground Road) from the light in Vanderbilt. Turn North (left) onto Twin Lakes Road, until you reach the camp access road. Camp: The drop-in and group camps are on the same access road. Turn off The drop-in camp road, to the right, to reach the group camp. The acess road ends at the drop-in camp, just a few hundred yards from the group camp. The drop-in camp has a hand pumped well, and the group camp has a well requiring a generator. Drop-in camp is located on the shore of the Pigeon River, and is often filled. The Forest Service has designated 15 “off-site” campsites, where horses are allowed. A map is available at the Forest Service Headquarters, located on the access road. This camp is very popular because of the Elk herds found in the area. The trail along the Pigeon River starts near the horse watering area, and heads down river. Take caution, as some of the trails are designated for hiking only.

4. North Stoney Creek Location: 25 miles North of Elk Hill Driving Directions: From the Indian River exit off I-75, go East on M-68 To the junction of M-68 and M-33. Turn North (left) On M-33 for about 2 miles (about 200 feet past Quincy Street), and turn East (right) for about 0.7 miles to camp. Camp: The drop-in camp and group camp are adjacent to each other. The drop-in camp has a hand pumped well, and the group camp has a well requiring a generator. A new trail to the North, to the water’s edge near the Mackinac Bridge follows old railroad embankments.

SOUTH SPUR TRAIL CAMPS

1. South Hopkin’s Creek Location: 22 miles South of Shecks Camp Driving Directions: Exit I-75 North onto M-55 West, to Lake City. At the
intersection of M-55 and M66 (at the light), turn North (right) onto M-66, for 2 miles. Turn West (left) onto M-42, toward Manton. After 4.5 miles, turn North (right) onto Lucas Road for about 6 miles. Camp access road is at the top of a small hill, by some high voltage transmission lines. Camp is about 2 miles off from Lucas Road. Camp: The drop-in camp has both a hand pumped well, and a generator. There is usually a camp host during the riding season.

2. South Cadillac Camp Location: 15 miles South of Hopkin’s Creek Camp Driving Directions: From the intersection of US-131 and Boon Road North of Cadillac (near Walmart), head North for 2 miles to 30 Road. Turn East (right) for a mile, to the end of the pavement. The road name changes to 43 Þ Road, and after about 0.2 miles, curves right. Continue on the dirt road for 0.8 miles, heading East (Long Lake Road—but the road sign has been missing). Camp is on the North or left side of the road. Camp: The camp is a group camp only, with no facilities except a hand pumped well.

GPS COORDINATES FOR TRAIL CAMPS

River Road: N44º, 26’, 31.7” : W 83º, 32’, 17.2”
South Branch: N 44 º, 28’, 57.7”: W83 º, 47’, 32.1”
McKinley: N 44 º, 38’, 22.7” : W 83 º, 58’, 25.3”
Luzerne: N 44 º, 35’, 4.9” : W84 º, 17’, 21.8”
4-Mile: N 44 º,35’, 48.8”: W 84 º, 37’, 16.6”
Goose Creek: N 44 º,45’, 40.6”: W 84 º, 50’, 22.7”
Kalkaska: N 44 º, 45’ 8.8”: W 85 º,11’, 41.7”
Shecks: N 44 º,, 39’, 7.5”: W 85 º,26’, 50.7”
Mud Lake: N 44 º,39’, 7.5”: W 85 º,, 26’, 50.7”
Gerry Lake: N 44 º,, 46’, 36.5”: W 85 º, 56’, 50.1”

North Spur

Walsh Road: N 44 º,, 46’, 59.3”: W 84 º,22’, 24.3”
Johnson’s Crossing: N 45 degrees, 2’, 41.5”: W 84 º,, 24’, 31.1”
Elk Hill: N 45 º,10’, 58.4”: W 84 º,, 25’, 8.3”
Stoney Creek: N 45 º,, 24’, 22.9”: W 84 º,26’, 12.2”

South Spur

1. Hopkin’s Creek: N44 º,29’, 7.8”: W 85 º,18’, 40.0”
2. Cadillac: N 44 º,18’, 53.9”: W 85 º,22’, 14.4”

All measurements are taken from a location in the camp site.

Above Map may not be true to scale.

You may obtain maps to trails at your Michigan DNR Offices.