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Our first trip in the homemade camper started on August 17th!
First stop in Ludington MI for an amazing sunset. Lake Michigan is so vast…. looks like the ocean 🌊
Moved on for the night to find our first camp spot. Searched in a dispersed area….. they were all full. Settled for $32 - in a primitive campground within then Huron-Manistee National Forests - Lake Michigan Recreation Area . We had vault toilets and water spigots.
Next morning we could walk to the “beach” on Lake Michigan.
Spent our second night in a township owned campground. Our first SHOWERS! Only one picture from that spot.
Taking time to wander around the Sleeping Bear dunes area….. made sure to hit Scenic Drive https://www.nps.gov/places/000/pierce-stocking-scenic-drive.htm
Perfect timing for the sunset!
Thanks to my endless scrolling of social media, as an instagram suggestion, we hiked the:
Empire Bluff Trail on AllTrails
The third and fourth nights were a whopping $20 each - located:
A remote state forest and we were the only folks…… well if you don’t count the abandoned camper (no pics)! No inhabitants, other than the mini deep freezer sitting outside of it. Clearly I stayed AWAY!
Some former camper at another site did leave this though! If you can eye spy the most random item in this picture, I’ll give you a free paddleboard session.
Over the same stay, Nick rode his mountain bike in several places. Including: https://www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/preserve/glacial-hills-pathway-and-natural-area/
Me on the other hand, I finally got my paddle time on the clearest of clear lakes called Torch Lake. With no vegetation, lots of rocks & a few visible golf balls, Nick took a shot too, well on the board, not golfing. These pictures really don’t do it any justice.
The Pigeon River https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/places/state-forests/prc is known for an elk herd close to the area. We took some time on a cool morning to search for them. No luck. We did find a backwoods campground along this Pickerel
Last but not least…….. another semi remote state forest that surrounds Hardy Lake. Last camping night @ $20! Vault toilets, Lakeview and water spigots.
Additionally, if you’re into mountain biking the Dragon Trail https://www.thedragon.us/ runs all the way around the lake and through this campground.
I chose not to paddle here because the green algae was off the charts.
Want to learn more about Simply Fitness? Maybe dive into some trips like this? Save the date for the Chasing Waterfalls Retreat in 2025.
Peace :)
Erica
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