Ausable River Camping

Huron-Manistee National Forests

AuSable River Dispersed Camping is a unique series of 102 individually designated single-family campsites on a 55-mile stretch of the lovely AuSable River. All campsites are within Alcona and Iosco Counties in Michigan.

These rustic sites are divided into sections near Alcona Pond, the AuSable Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Area, Loud Pond, Five Channels Pond, Cooke Pond, Foote Pond and Lower Ausable. Each are ideal for family camping, with opportunities for fly fishing, swimming, canoeing and bird watching.

All sites are primitive with no drinking water, toilets or trash removal. Campers are expected to bring plenty of water, portable toilets and garbage bags. Parking aprons are dirt or gravel.

Need to Know

• Your permit is subject to forfeit and a violation notice may be issued for failing to follow these rules

• • Your use of this site is limited to 14 consecutive nights within any 30 day period.

• • Occupy only the site indicated on your permit.

• • All camping equipment must be set up within 25 feet of the numbered campsite marker.

• • No more than 10 people per site.

• • Campsites must be occupied within 24 hours of the start of your reservation. Your site will be forfeit unless the Forest Service has been contacted and your late arrival has been approved.

• • Toilets are not available at most sites. Please provide your own, or dispose of human waste by soil incorporation. Dig a hole 6 to 12 inches deep and cover immediately after use. Location should be on high ground at least 100 feet from any water. Toilet paper must be removed or buried with human waste. 

• • Pack it in, pack it out. Leave the site clean for the next campers. Do not leave trash in fire rings, and do not burry or burn trash or recyclables.  

• • Be careful with fire. Do NOT leave hot campfires unattended. Make sure your ashes are cool to the touch before you leave.  

• • You may use downed wood for firewood. Keep fires within the fire ring.  

• • Fireworks and use of fireworks are NOT permitted.  

• • Do not tie/tack anything to standing trees, including (but not limited to) horses, pets, laundry lines, garbage bags.

• • ORV’s may only be operated on trails signed as open for their use. ORV’s may not be used within campgrounds or camping areas.

• • Other rules and regulations apply. For questions, late arrivals, or early departures please contact Lumberman’s Monument at 989-362-8961, or visit the Huron-Manistee National Forests website www.fs.usda.gov/hmnf. 

• • Don't move firewood: To limit the spread of invasive tree-killing pests, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Some states have quarantines and may confiscate your firewood. Please help protect our forests from invasive species by obtaining your firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more information. 

Natural Features

Campsites sit on bluffs that range from five to 300 feet above the waterline of the lower AuSable River. Depending on the site, access to the river may be difficult due to steep or eroding slopes.

The AuSable River meanders across 138 miles of Michigan and flows into the great lake, Lake Huron.

Recreation

Both river and lake fishing are available for perch, bass and pike walleye. One recommended spot is the Whirlpool Angler access point. All sites are also near the River Road National Scenic Byway, which offers wonderful views of the river valley.

The campground has boat-in camping, and canoe rentals are available in Glennie, Hale, Mio and Oscoda.

Contact Information

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5761 NORTH SKEEL AVENUE OSCODA MI 48750

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 989-362-8961

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

Designated campsites are spread along 55 miles of river shoreline between the AuSable River Access at 4001 Bridge (7 miles northwest of Glennie, MI) to near the Whirlpool AuSable River Access (4 miles west of Oscoda, MI).

For more information on specific campsites, click here.

Available Campsites

• Site 058W, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 061W, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 073D, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 032C, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 010W, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitive North, Type Walk To
• Site 090W, Loop Foote Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 063W, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 037C, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 048D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 060W, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 098D, Loop Lower Ausable, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 007D, Loop Alcona Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 029C, Loop Five Channels Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 038C, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 075W, Loop Foote Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 074D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 070D, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 095C, Loop Foote Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 057D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 024C, Loop Loud Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 101D, Loop Lower Ausable, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 094C, Loop Foote Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 059W, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 067D, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 033C, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 084C, Loop Foote Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 086C, Loop Foote Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 082D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 099D, Loop Lower Ausable, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 019C, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitve South, Type Boat IN
• Site 083C, Loop Foote Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 005C, Loop Alcona Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 042D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 004D, Loop Alcona Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 009C, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitive North, Type Boat IN
• Site 088D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 091D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 047D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 011D, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitive North, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 079W, Loop Foote Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 072D, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 080D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 003D, Loop Alcona Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 023C, Loop Loud Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 062W, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 040C, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 030C, Loop Five Channels Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 018C, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitve South, Type Boat IN
• Site 012C, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitive North, Type Boat IN
• Site 066D, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 100D, Loop Lower Ausable, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 068D, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 028C, Loop Five Channels Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 071D, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 053D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 051D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 089D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 006D, Loop Alcona Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 055D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 081D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 076D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 093D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 043D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 078D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 077D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 017C, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitve South, Type Boat IN
• Site 021C, Loop Loud Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 025C, Loop Loud Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 039C, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 052D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 022C, Loop Loud Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 092D, Loop Foote Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 034C, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 026C, Loop Loud Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 050D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 044D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 014C, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitive North, Type Boat IN
• Site 097C, Loop Foote Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 031C, Loop Five Channels Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 046D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 016C, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitve South, Type Boat IN
• Site 020C, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitve South, Type Boat IN
• Site 001D, Loop Alcona Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 045D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 064W, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 054D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 069W, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 008W, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitive North, Type Walk To
• Site 013C, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitive North, Type Boat IN
• Site 036C, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 102D, Loop Lower Ausable, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 035C, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 002D, Loop Alcona Pond, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 027C, Loop Loud Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 096C, Loop Foote Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 085W, Loop Foote Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 087W, Loop Foote Pond, Type Walk To
• Site 041C, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 015C, Loop Ausable Semi-Primitive North, Type Boat IN
• Site 065C, Loop Cooke Pond, Type Boat IN
• Site 049D, Loop Sawmill Point, Type Standard Nonelectric

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