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Old 05-16-2012, 07:02 PM
 
Location: northern lower MI
183 posts, read 609,968 times
Reputation: 110

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Hi all,
I would like to go tent-camping with my 40 pound Blue Heeler this summer. Can you recommend a dog-friendly campground within 2-3 hours of Cadillac? I am hoping to find a place that will allow her to swim in a body of water, but that is not essential. Hiking trails would be good, as well as bathrooms and drinking water. I will be going solo on this adventure, so I would prefer somewhere fairly safe and close to help in an emergency. Any suggestions?
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Old 05-16-2012, 10:23 PM
 
Location: west mich
5,739 posts, read 6,931,116 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snoshoewalkr View Post
Hi all,
I would like to go tent-camping with my 40 pound Blue Heeler this summer. Can you recommend a dog-friendly campground within 2-3 hours of Cadillac? I am hoping to find a place that will allow her to swim in a body of water, but that is not essential. Hiking trails would be good, as well as bathrooms and drinking water. I will be going solo on this adventure, so I would prefer somewhere fairly safe and close to help in an emergency. Any suggestions?
Question: are you okay with rustic camping?
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Old 05-17-2012, 04:22 AM
 
Location: northern lower MI
183 posts, read 609,968 times
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Rustic camping is fine, as long as it is accessible with a regular 2wd car. I don't mind a few people around. I will have my own drinking water and food, but a bathroom (pit toilet is ok) and more drinking water available would be nice.
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Old 05-17-2012, 06:01 AM
 
Location: Loving life in Gaylord!
4,120 posts, read 8,897,469 times
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There is a great place over by Glennie on the Au Sable. We go there quite a bit, and you can take your dog in the water...just not the small beach.
Alcona Park - 1100 Acres of Trophy Producing Fishing Waters
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Old 05-17-2012, 07:25 AM
 
Location: West Michigan
3,119 posts, read 6,600,730 times
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I think the best place to go might be Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Since it is a national park and not a state park, it has different rules regarding dogs. We stayed at the D.H. Day campground, and it was very dog friendly. You could even take your dog to the beach, which most state parks will not let you do.

D.H. Day Campground - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
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Old 05-17-2012, 10:44 AM
 
Location: west mich
5,739 posts, read 6,931,116 times
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According to this, Buttersville park allows dogs on the beach. It's a few miles from Ludington.
Visit Ludington - Pets and Pet Friendly Places in Ludington, MI
Buttersville Campground - Michigan Campgrounds & RV Parks - Pure Michigan Travel

I have seen many unleashed dogs at Lake Michigan Rec Area beach here.
Ludington, MI - Google Maps
Also on the beaches here. Camping is not in the immediate area but the D.H. Day campground is not far away. Also there is a walk-in campground in this area of Sleeping Bear, but I have not camped there.
Ludington, MI - Google Maps

Were they in violation of some ordinance? I don't know, but nobody seemed to care.
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Old 05-17-2012, 05:02 PM
 
Location: On the brink of WWIII
21,088 posts, read 29,206,191 times
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Most everywhere we have been has been very dog friendly.
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Old 05-17-2012, 05:07 PM
 
Location: northern lower MI
183 posts, read 609,968 times
Reputation: 110
Thanks all for the suggestions! I will check them out and let you know how my experience went!
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Old 06-19-2012, 06:42 AM
 
Location: northern lower MI
183 posts, read 609,968 times
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Well, I am back from camping, and I decided to check out the Lake Michigan Campground, part of the Manistee National Forest. It is about 15 miles southwest of Manistee, and it is a gem! There are 4 loops to the campground. 3 of the 4 are first come, first served. I stayed Thursday through Saturday, and the campground was never more than 3/4 full. It was quiet at night too. But the best part was I was allowed to take my dog on the beach! She absolutely loved it! There obviously were a lot of dogs around, so it helps to have a dog that behaves near other dogs. There are hiking trails (part of the Nordhouse Dunes Trail system) connected to the campground, and I took full advantage of them too. You can also do primitive camping off the Nordhouse Trails. I would recommend this campground if you like a quiet and uncrowded camping/beach experience!
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Old 06-19-2012, 10:30 PM
 
Location: west mich
5,739 posts, read 6,931,116 times
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Yes, that beach is a dog's paradise. The beach at Good Harbor Bay is very similar, but less crowded.
I don't know about the rules at Sleeping Bear beaches, but I have seen many dog walkers there.
BTW sometimes you must be prepared for biting flies. The coastal counties have high populations of dog ticks, so I would check your dog and yourself for these critters.
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