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A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service campground

Carp River Campground

Forest Service campground in Hiawatha National Forest, Mackinac County, Michigan. 631 feet. 10.1 miles from St. Ignace.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Hiawatha National Forest
Elevation
631 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
20 20 standard non-electric
Longest rig
45 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Mackinac County

Overview

Nestled in a quiet, rustic setting adjacent to the Carp Wild and Scenic River, Carp River Campground is an ideal place to get away and enjoy the outdoors.

The surrounding Hiawatha National Forest provides visitors with countless recreational activities, and the scenery provides a beautiful backdrop for a traditional camping experience.

Recreation

Divided into two major blocks of land and five districts, the forest is home to Grand Island National Recreation Area, Whitefish Scenic Byway, six lighthouses, five Wildernesses and Clear Lake Education Center. In addition to recreation opportunities, visitors will find a wide array of habitats, including trees like northern hardwoods, jackpine and other conifers, and a variety of inland wetland habitats.

Fishing is a popular activity in the campground area, and brook, brown and rainbow trout can all be spotted in the Carp River.

In addition to the fishing opportunities, hiking canoeing, kayaking, wildlife viewing and more are all available at or around the Carp River Campground.

Facilities

All campsites are wooded and shaded from the hot summer sun. Each site has a table and a fire ring, and drinking water and vault toilets are conveniently spaced throughout the campground.

Natural Features

Located in Michigan's wild and scenic Upper Peninsula, the Hiawatha National Forest is known as "the Great Lakes National Forest." The forest's dramatic shorelines lie nestled up to Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan.

Outstanding lakeshores, lighthouses, islands and historic sites create a playground and place of respite, all within a day's drive from major urban and rural areas of Michigan and Wisconsin.

Nearby Attractions

Carp River Campground is located just eight miles from St. Ignace, which is known for its fine restaurants, museums and historic sites.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Carp River Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated September 2, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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