We planned a weekend trip to enjoy the Upper Peninsula and this was one of our stops. The scenery…read moreis worth hiking the trail. This was our longest hike with 6 miles but we did it! Make sure you bring supplies for mosquito and tick repellent. You also need hydration and snacks. Most of us have mosquito nets for our faces. They are needed leading up to the lake. There was plenty of parking available. However, because it is not a state park their restroom facilities are basically out houses. Come prepared!

The trail if you are up for it, is good. It's lengthy and windy and many ups and down…read more Definitely good for sneakers or hiking boots, maybe even a hiking stick for some leverage on the inclines. Make sure as with any walks or hikes, bring water to keep yourself hydrated. As the walk will leave you parched as you go up and down small hills. It's good either way to get some fresh air, not the urban air either. Happy hiking and see cool stuff! You can drive close to by the Sand Point, Miners Castle other stops along the shore.

We stayed at this campgrounds for 2 nights. The location was absolutely lovely. Despite being in…read moreclose proximity to a main road, the campground was super quiet. We heard another camper (with another group) played the sax one evening and it was very soothing with the sound of the lake lapping the shoreline. The camp host kept plenty of air fresheners in all the vault toilets. They were super clean and very pleasant smelling for vault toilets. The campground overall was super well kept.

Bay Furnace Camp and Picnic Grounds is a terrific place to stay for the simple traveler who…read moreappreciates sleeping outdoors in the heart of nature. I discovered Bay Furnace through the app on my phone called Campendium. Campendium was very helpful in assisting me finding worthwhile campsites along my 2021 summer road trip. Although Bay Furnace Campground is technically located in the town of Munising, Michigan, it's actually situated in the charming town of Christmas, MI. Though when I was here visiting back in the month of May...there wasn't anything Christmas(y) about the town, lol. Still, the main purpose for me being in Munising....was to explore the scenic coastal landscape along the shores of Lake Superior. Overall this campground is set just outside Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and a host of beautiful waterfalls. After spending a good portion of my day driving along Pictured Rocks NL...I couldn't find any affordable accommodations in Munising. The next best thing for myself was camping. I had a tent with me and showed up here to Bay Furnace Campground. It was early evening when I pulled up to the entrance area. The instructions stated that Bay Furnace accepts about half reservations at recreation.gov and half on a first come, first served basis. I was a little nervous about not finding a campsite when I started driving throughout the grounds. It was late in the day on a Thursday just at the start of the summer vacation travel season, yet I spotted an unoccupied site right near the entrance and backed my car into the site. Yah, I was good for the evening! As per normal policy...when you arrive, you pick a campsite and then fill out a slip with your payment and drop it into a safety box. Then the campsite is yours and you can start constructing your tent and getting settled in. It was $22 per night. They accept cash and checks, though no credit cards. Checks must be made out to RRM, Inc. and need to include your Drivers License and License Plate Numbers. There are about 50 non-electric campsites on the grounds each with a fire-pit and picnic table. Check-In time is 2pm and Check-Out time is 11am. Honestly, I really lucked out probably grabbing the 50th and last site. Because in general, throughout this UP section of Michigan I had trouble discovering on a whim available campgrounds that weren't full. I was grateful to be here. Unfortunately there weren't any showers to use, but still...I had cell phone reception and each campsite was really spacious. I felt like I had plenty of privacy being in the woods without anyone around. Two extra notes I'd like to mention... I didn't have plans for the night and across the street from Bay Furnace was the Kewadin Christmas Casino. So...after setting up my tent and washing up...I took a short 15 minute walk outside the campground and went inside the casino and played some blackjack for an hour. It was sort of a pleasant change of pace from driving and picture taking all around the UP, to all of a sudden sitting down and playing blackjack at a random casino. Returning back to my campsite, there was a terrific little overlook vista point section just to the side of the entrance where I sat down on the shore of Lake Superior and admired the colorful sunset. It was a pleasant way to end my day. This panoramic coastline beach shore can't be missed when you're walking towards the facilities area. I highly recommend hanging out here when the sun begins to fade. Although I am a big outdoorsy type of person who loves being among nature...I just really wanted this opportunity to highlight Bay Furnace Camp and Picnic Grounds. Munising, Michigan is well known for its scenic waterfalls combined with picturesque vantage points of Lake Superior that makes this section of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan quite popular. But for those tourists who don't mind setting up camp among quiet surroundings with basic amenities, then I believe you will appreciate choosing to stay at Bay Furnace Campground in the heart of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Concept of yurts and cabins is great. In practice they are much too close together. You can hear…read moreevery sound your neighbor makes whether you want to or not! Weekend nights are drunk fests many lasting into the wee hours. A hassle if u signed up for an early morning paddle or hike.But if you are there to party til u puke and do it loudly this is your kinda place lol. Wifi is very good. Campfire wood sold on nearby lot is mostly hardwood and seasoned. Build and finish of yurts and cabins is better than that of safari tents. Many tents had large rips in canvas walls and alongside main wall zippers allowing entry to too many mosquitoes and flies. The tents offer nice breezy front porches. All beds are hard green plastic covered mattresses - no bueno. Bring your own sleeping pad and comfy sleeping bag or blanket. Also highly recommend bringing own pillow. Pillows supplied look like they need laundering. Campground bathrooms get overwhelmed on weekend days and evenings. Cleanliness suffers . Some campers are gross beasts however Campground staff needs to stay on top of cleanliness and supplies. Campground and office staff are pleasant enough it seems that management is not allowing the campground (bathrooms, fire pits, chairs and grounds) to look first class.

Location 5+ stars, everything else my two star rating is a bit generous…read more The Yurts (tents) are $260 per night. For this price you get a twin over full bunkbed with rubberized mattresses that offer the comfort of rocks. There is no running water in your yurt and one electrical outlet. If you are here with a group and the purpose of your visit is to sit outside drinking by the fire all night, this might be your spot. If you're with the family and want to get a quiet nights sleep, forget about it. There is zero enforcement of "quiet hours". The location, steps from Lake Superior. You can hear the waves all night. This just isn't enough to overcome the price. For almost $300 per night I expect much more glamping than what's offered.

Easiest camp site. Great location. Clean trash areas, public areas and bathrooms. The mid tier…read morespots have a beautiful view of the islands

This was our second year stopping at this campground on our annual anniversary trip and boy it did…read morenot disappoint! Love the people, the views, accommodations, and serenity. We will make it back again! Thanks again for having us!

Beautiful trip on the lake and we did the 3 hour tour. Shelby was our guide and was great. Busses…read morewere clean and check in was easy. Life jackets were clean, boats were heavily used but perfectly fine. Every employee was nice. No issues at all.

I purchased a kayaking excursion voucher through Uncle Ducky's / Paddling Michigan during a holiday…read morepromotion and later traveled from out of town specifically for this experience, spending additional money on lodging, gas, food, and travel expenses in order to participate. Unfortunately, the experience was extremely disorganized and unprofessional from the moment I arrived. The building was locked, no guide or management staff were present, there was no organized check-in process, and there was absolutely no communication regarding what was happening. Multiple guests were left outside confused and attempting to determine whether the tour was even operating. Company-associated staff eventually arrived but provided no meaningful information until directly prompted. At that point, they stated they were only shuttle drivers and that they had to "figure out what was going on" after the scheduled rendezvous time had already passed. At no point within the first 20 minutes of our rendezvous was there was any clear communication, leadership, organization, or professionalism demonstrated by the company. Considering they're responsible for guiding customers onto Lake Superior, I no longer felt comfortable or safe participating in the excursion and chose not to proceed with 10 minutes remaining until the a scheduled launch time. I attempted to resolve this directly via email since management wasn't present during working hours and present staff couldn't provide a direct way to contact management; however, they refused to issue a refund. The owner instead responded publicly to a review in a defensive manner while claiming an emergency situation had occurred. He even blamed my inability to adapt over his employees vague and unprofessional verbal responses and despite three shuttle drivers being present and not shuttling us to our launch. The issue is the complete lack of communication, organization, professionalism, and reasonable resolution afterward.

This is a KOA now, which is an embarrassment for KOA. This…read moreis one of the most expensive KOA camping cabins I've ever stayed in. There was no potable water or electric on the exterior. This made cooking and washing a real chore. I found myself dehydrated on 90 degree days because I wasn't drinking enough. The RV site next to us had it. It would be simple to split the spigot. If you have a fire ring, you should have water to extinguish said fire. You have to hike super far for water or bathrooms. There are only three showers for a ton of sites. For $150, this was a joke. There are no hooks or mirror inside or screen door (pretty standard at Kai camping cabins). Pay the extra money and stay at the Econolodge next door for $160. You'll have water, ac, and electricity. We wanted to go camping for the first time with our son. It wasn't worth it for the cabin. We should've just rented it. The campground in Newberry was half the price and worth it.

Pros-decent sized sites. Woodsy or sunny options. Close to Munising and sites. Full hookups to…read morerustic. We hauled firewood out of woods and no one cared. Nice trails on site. Kids had fun with free mini golf. Cons-Noisy neighbors. People doing full pan of dishes AT the freshwater sprayer and no rule against it (different people, daily). Bathrooms seemed messy but not completely disgusting (we had full hookup so I only went in the park's bathhouse once). Noisy road, next to railroad (loud whistle @ 7:00am!), landfill across street with noisy trucks in am. Pool advertised as heated but quite chilly! Pool and mini golf need repair. Laundry facilities not adequate (but there are two laundromats in town). Overall, not bad, not great either. Served as a good home base for our adventures but definitely not a destination itself. Sidenotes: check out MNA Falls and Tannery Falls. AWESOME and easy to get to. If you do Pictured Rock cruise, get dramamine!! Go to IGA in town rather than Glens grocery. Cheaper and really nice store. Skip Frozen Flamingo, ripoff!

Grand Island offers a bus tour! For those of us long past strenuous hiking or mountain biking but…read morestill wanting to explore Grand Island, there's a bus tour for day trippers! Experience and explore the highlights of Grand Island without worrying about mobility. The bus has a lift for mobility aides. Most walkways are plank board or firm gravel. Viewing area have plenty of room. The driver adjusts to the needs of the group. You get all the best of " pure Michigan " and then some. Yes, I'm talking about flies, mosquitoes, and no-see-in's. Dress accordingly and bring bug spray. Learn a bit of the fascinating history of Grand Island without over exerting yourself. Some of the nicest people you'll ever meet are in the main office. Surprise! They're also your ferry captain and 1st mate. Rich, the bus guide, is a lifelong local who loves the area and especially Grand Island. Ask him anything. He tells great stories. You'll see some fauna and a lot of flora. Overall, a most enjoyable excursion in Munising.

Based on other reviews we got lucky when it came to bugs...I do't recall even using our bug spray…read moreand we didn't have any issues. We visited the first week of September, so maybe we just got lucky. My husband talked me into biking the west rim, then cutting down the middle of the island back to the ferry. Around 20 miles. Our rental bikes were a bit tough to use with not much padding on the seat and gears that were difficult to use. My husband's chain came off at one point. The good news is that we made it in just over four hours - I was so worried about missing the last ferry at 6pm, but we actually caught the 5pm ferry. I would love to visit the island again and stay over night so we don't have to race a clock. The bike trails are tough! I'm a decent bike rider, but trail riding is tough for me. I actually was okay for the first 12 miles, but my legs and rear became sore, making the last eight miles tough. I'm super glad that I was able to complete the ride, and once again had we gotten an earlier start and didn't have to worry about catching the ferry back I think I could have relaxed and not been as worried about having to push my bike up and down some tough and washed out trails. The views on the west rim were amazing! I actually wish we would have just turned around and retraced our steps instead of going down the middle of the island to get back, which is mainly a dirt road for atvs. We will be back to explore some more and work on our bike skills!

The Munising Falls are about 800 feet from the visitor center. The main path is paved with some…read morewooden bridge areas, but overall it's a smooth trail, definitely family friendly. It follows the stream so you can hear and admire the pretty tannin-stained water. There's a trail to the lower falls which takes you to the level of the plunge pool (and then stairs from that point to a middle vantage point), but also branches to stairs to the upper falls if you want to get another viewpoint. The upper falls trail also winds close to the sandstone cliffs, some of which have been unfortunately defaced by graffiti. Overall this can be a quick stop if you're in a hurry, or you can spend longer if you take some time to absorb your surroundings. Make sure to bring bug repellent since there's plenty of mosquitoes around!

Munising Falls used to be an amazing place you could take the kids and family, now it is pay to…read moreenter, they over charge familys, and is now closed from a storm, honestly you need to make it donation and allow people to enter free of charge again, making locals pay the same as others is neglecting the locals and you take advantage of the people, also the money is not being used to fix it or they would of had it reopen already, Munising falls used to be a dream come true for me as a kid, now it is nothing more then a cash grab slowly sinking into ruins. Do not get your hopes high for this ! used to be so amazing thou...

Allow me to be the first to review this new campground…read more They have been open about two weeks at this point, and as such not everything is quite complete (some sites don't yet have grass). However, this campground has a lot of potential to be a great place to stay while visiting the area. The campground is located just outside of Munising, and is close to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The sites are large and level, with full hookups and included free wifi. The staff was friendly and helpful. Also, at $35 per night, it's one of the most affordable options in the area. There are some minor issues (mostly related to them being brand new). There is no playground or play area for kids. There really is no shade to speak of (hopefully they will plant some trees around the sites). The bathrooms are a bit small for the capacity of the campground with only a few stalls and a few showers (this will only be an issue when the campground is at full capacity). Overall I was pleased with our stay here. The issues we saw were minor and can be corrected easily. I would gladly stay here again while visiting the area.

Light on amenities and not particularly well maintained. The bathroom facilities are very basic,…read moreand the overall property feels neglected, with trails leading to broken-down trucks and trash. As other reviewers mentioned, there is absolutely no shade anywhere on the grounds, people were literally sitting outside the bathroom building with chairs just to escape the sun. There's a small playground for kids, but not much else in terms of activities. Road noise is noticeable while tent camping, so expect a steady hum of traffic. One positive: they don't seem to care what you put on your site. We had an RV, a tent, bikes, and a car all together, and it was completely fine.