Are you the owner for this park? Make it a featured listing and be seen in the top search results!
Pere Marquette/Arbutus Lake
Overview
Nestled within the expansive Pere Marquette State Forest, the Arbutus Lake campgrounds offer a quintessential Michigan outdoor experience. This destination is defined by its serene waterfront views and deep immersion in the natural world. Unlike high-density commercial resorts, this area provides a tranquil atmosphere where the sound of the wind through the pines takes center stage. It serves as a peaceful home base for those who value simplicity and direct access to the water.
Location & Surroundings
Located just ten miles southeast of Traverse City, this park sits along the shores of the beautiful Arbutus Lake chain. The surrounding landscape is a lush mix of hardwood and evergreen forests, providing excellent shade and a sense of privacy for campers. The proximity to the Boardman River valley adds to the ecological diversity, making the area a haven for local wildlife and a picturesque backdrop for every Northern Michigan sunrise.
Amenities & Park Features
As a state forest facility, the park focuses on a rustic camping experience rather than modern luxuries. Travelers should prepare for a primitive stay that emphasizes the beauty of the outdoors. Features include:
- Vault toilets and potable water from a hand pump
- Spacious sites equipped with fire rings and picnic tables
- Direct access to boat launches for small watercraft
Most sites are designed to accommodate smaller RVs, trailers, and tents, offering a secluded feel that is often missing from larger, paved RV parks.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Water activities are the primary draw, with the lake being highly popular for paddling and fishing. Anglers often find success catching bluegill, bass, and perch in the quiet coves. For land-based adventure, the nearby Vasa Trail system offers world-class opportunities for mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. Additionally, the vibrant breweries and boutiques of downtown Traverse City are just a short drive away, allowing for easy day trips.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for travelers who prefer off-grid style camping and wish to disconnect from digital distractions. It is best suited for those with smaller campers or vans who do not require electrical hookups or sewer connections. If you are an outdoor enthusiast looking for affordable lakeside access near one of Michigan’s most popular summer destinations, this quiet forest retreat will perfectly fit your travel style.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Abby
My dog loved it we both had an amazing time
Manowar Jones
Great place, it was clean & cool!!
Jerry Farler
Nice little self serve campground. Clean and quiet. 15 minutes from traverse city
Courtney Darling
Nice beach. It's pretty clean, and water is decently warm. We're only a few decent sized sites that were level. So, if you have an RV or larger party, I'd just expect that you won't be able to get a site on a holiday/busy weekend. There's only 10-15 sites, maybe a few more, but theres not many at all. The rest of the sites are decent but only accessible to camp with a tent. About half of them require you to walk down/up steps to even access the site. However, if you don't wanna be treated like you're basically incompetent of understanding english and don't enjoy being harassed by the DNR for days in a row, I'd just go someplace else. We stayed for 14 days. 4 days in a row, they came to "remind" us that I was only allowed to camp there for 15 days. Even after making it more then clear to them that I understood them and planned to be gone before then anyways. Then also even came to ask me if we were leaving when we were literally in the process of packing up our things, as if they couldn't tell that we were taking everything down and into our vehicle to leave. They told us that it was because "other people need a chance to be able to use the campground" but the site we were on was nothing but roots and on a hill. So truthfully don't know who'd even wanna use that site when all the other ones were unoccupied the entire 2 weeks. There were 3 sites occupied at most the entire 2 weeks we camped there. There were also people there even longer than us, who were still there when we left. I never once seen the DNR say a single thing to them about needing to leave. Aside from that though on a more positive note, we had a great time playing at the beach, in the woods, and creating memories while camping there.
JFP Watson
There was trash around my site which I picked up. The fire pit was filled to the brim with ashes. Otherwise, it was a pleasant location.