About Hiawatha National Forest
Hiawatha National Forest spans more than 900,000 acres across two units in the Upper Peninsula, stretching from Lake Michigan to Lake Superior. Unlike a single Michigan state park, it's a U.S. Forest Service property containing dozens of developed and dispersed campgrounds across its territory — this guide focuses on Bay Furnace, one of the most popular, on Lake Superior near Munising.
Bay Furnace Campground has 50 standard nonelectric sites with tables and campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water, but no hookups. The campground itself doesn't have direct lake access, though boat ramps are available in Munising less than 5 miles away.
Things to Do
Bay Furnace sits on Lake Superior's south shore right next to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, with scenic sunrises, sunsets, and occasional northern lights visible from the shoreline. Historic furnace ruins sit adjacent to the campground, and a 10-minute ferry from nearby Munising reaches Grand Island for day hiking. Fishing, boating, hiking, and mountain biking are all popular in the surrounding forest.
Best Time to Visit
Summer is peak season given the proximity to Pictured Rocks, while fall offers quieter camping and color along the Lake Superior shoreline. Most Hiawatha National Forest campgrounds operate roughly May through October.
Reservation Tips
Bay Furnace and most other Hiawatha National Forest campgrounds are booked through Recreation.gov rather than the Michigan DNR's MiDNRReservations.com system — a day-use fee of $8 applies, and a $40 annual day-use pass is available if you'll be visiting multiple national forest sites. Reserve ahead for summer weekends, especially given the campground's proximity to Pictured Rocks.
Getting There
Bay Furnace sits about 3 miles west of Munising on M-28, near the village of Christmas, and is one of many campgrounds spread across Hiawatha National Forest's two units in the eastern and central Upper Peninsula.