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There are over 2,200 private campsites which are dispersed through the watershed. Other outdoor recreational facilities provided by private sources include golf courses, horseback riding and skiing activities.
There is no camping along the Pere Marquette River within 1/4 miles of the river, or outside of designated campgrounds on the National Forest.
There is no permit to camp in National Forests or designated campgrounds. Some do require a reservation and/or camping fee.
For more information, contact the Baldwin White Cloud Ranger District at (231) 745-4631.
Although not located in the watershed, there are several state parks located in the vicinity of the Pere Marquette River. These include Ludington State Park, Newaygo and White Cloud state parks. These parks offer almost 600 campsites as well as picnicking, hiking and playground facilities.
In addition, there are three state forest campgrounds located near the Pere Marquette River. These are: Bray Creek – 9 campsites; Little Leverentz – 7 campsites; and Big Leverentz – 11 campsites.
The U.S. Forest Service campgrounds Timber Creek, Nichols Lake and Highbanks Lake offer picnicking and snowmobiling, and have a total of 43 camping sites. In the past, indiscriminate camping has occurred at the Bowman’s Bridge access site. The U.S. Forest Service is currently developing approximately 50 designated camping units at this location to alleviate this problem. New camping units will be located back away from the river and will be designed to protect the natural values of the river environment. Camping at the water’s edge will be prohibited in the future.
The City of Scottville operates Riverside Park, a campground on the Pere Marquette River. This facility offers picnicking, playground, boat launch facilities, as well as over 50 campsites.
Boat and canoe access sites are well distributed on the main stream. These include sites at: the Forks, Bowman’s Bridge, Rainbow Rapids, Upper Branch Bridge, Walhalla Bridge, Indian Bridge, Scottville, and U.S. 31 Bridge. Access sites are also located on the Baldwin River, Middle Branch, Little South Branch and Big South Branch
Source: USDA Forest Service (revised 2013) and Michigan.gov/dnr
Planning a visit to the Pere Marquette River area? Have questions about your trip? Here’s where you can find help:
The history of the Pere Marquette River includes Indian culture, early exploration, logging, lumber mills, and the Pere Marquette Railroad.
The Pere Marquette River area is rich with wildlife, offering great outdoors hunting and fishing opportunities.
The spring/fall runs of steelhead and salmon, the resident brown trout and “brookies” make the PM River extremely popular for fishing.
All year long, there are activities going on in the Scottville area to keep everyone happy. No matter what the season, there’s always plenty of great events to keep you coming back. Boredom is never a problem here!
Pere Marquette River, with it’s moderately fast current and clear water, is an extremely popular river for canoeists and kayakers.
The Pere Marquette River area is rich with wildlife, offering great outdoors hunting and fishing opportunities.