Michigan is the ideal spot for camping with its wide-open spaces, great public and private campgrounds as well as weather that provides a bevy of conditions that are ideal for getting outside with kids and family.
One camper in particular hopes that Michigan residents get out this fall to experience the Great Outdoors and all that the state has to offer. Mark S. Wedel, a freelance writer, author and Michigan native, is known for his adventures as a bicyclist not only on long rides but also as a means to camp around the Great Lakes over the past few decades.
“I’ve pedaled all over much of Michigan, rode along the Mississippi near New Orleans, saw much of the Lake Huron shore on the other side in Ontario, and went from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. A bicycle lets you see everything low and slow, an immersive experience. It feels like freedom,” Wedel said.
Wedel said Michigan makes for a perfect camping destination.
“I grew up in Michigan. Sometimes a spot — anywhere on the shores of our Great Lakes, for sure — will make me feel nostalgic for childhood trips,” Wedel said. “Other times, I’m surprised, like on this summer’s bike camping experience, when I discovered that the Manistee National Forest around the Mesick area seems as forested and hilly as Appalachia. From the UP on down to New Buffalo, we’ve got an amazingly varied landscape.”
To go camping with only your bicycle in tow, you need to have the right accessories, pack the proper equipment and think ahead about the trail and conditions in front of you, Wedel said.
“If on a bicycle, you need to be choosy. Too much weight and you will curse yourself going up every hill,” Wedel said.
He said his favorite item is a Jetboil — a burner, small propane can, small mug/pot, that boils water quickly for coffee or dehydrated camping foods. His second favorite is the Klymit, an inflatable mattress, which Wedel said is easy to blow up even after being winded from a 60-mile ride.
“I dug my Marmot one-person tent, very easy to set up, though maybe I could’ve carried the few ounces more a two-person tent would weigh,” Wedel added. “I developed a love/hate relationship with my Burley Coho XC bike trailer — it can carry a lot of stuff, so I put a lot of stuff in it, so there was some cursing towing it up hills. And, of course, the Surly Troll, a bicycle that can go anywhere, though it did meet its match on a few sandy logging roads.”
Getting out there on the road will change your life, Wedel said.
“I was once a pudgy middle-aged man, a freelance journalist sitting sedentary at my Mac all day, before I decided to ride a bike every day in 2011. Now I’m older, a little less pudgy, and am a little obsessed with my bicycleI love a nice cheap motel room after riding all day, but camping makes you feel truly self-sufficient, like a cowboy or explorer traveling through the wilderness,” Wedel said.
Here are some of Wedel’s recommendations for where to go camping this fall across Michigan.
This northern Michigan mainstay is ideally seen through a bike ride around the Island. Camping isn’t allowed here, but Mackinac Island itself — which goes free from car traffic to focus on horses and slower experiences — is still great to enjoy for a day trip. This is “where I learned the joy of travel by bike as a child, even though it was just the nine-mile road around the island,” Wedel said. Wedel described this area as a near 40-mile ride from Kalamazoo to Lake Michigan “that made me obsessed with bike travel as an adult.” There are many places along the route to settle down for the night with permission. This national park truly is a treasure for all to visit, especially in the fall with the changing leaf colors. Wedel called this area and its dunes “a stunning sight after climbing the hills of M-22, but get reservations early because the secret’s out on that spot.” This Upper Peninsula forest is large and largely unpopulated but has many beautiful spots to hike and camp. This is “where I felt like the only human in the UP, and was startled by a giant bald eagle that flew over my bike,” Wedel said. One special location to Wedel is the state’s largest lake. He likes to camp “just about anywhere on the shores of Lake Superior, but the Copper Harbor area and trails going to the end of the Keweenaw Peninsula is ruggedly amazing.” Kal-Haven Trail
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Hiawatha National Forest
Upper Peninsula
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Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the Trailering section of the Owner’s Manual. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can tow.
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Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. The driver should remain attentive to traffic, surroundings and road conditions at all times. Visibility, weather, and road conditions may affect feature performance. Read the vehicle Owner’s Manual for more important feature limitations and information.
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24 months, 10,000 miles per year lease for well-qualified GM employees, retirees, and eligible family members with a current Chevy lease through GM Financial. Must show proof of current lease. Customer remains responsible for current lease payments. $849 due at lease signing after all offers, plus title, tax, license, and plates. No security deposit. Programs are subject to change without notice and certain restrictions may apply, see dealer for details. Offer expires 3/31/21.
24 months, 10,000 miles per year lease for well-qualified GM employees, retirees, and eligible family members with a current Chevy lease through GM Financial. Must show proof of current lease. Customer remains responsible for current lease payments. $1,869 due at lease signing after all offers, plus title, tax, license, and plates. No security deposit. Programs are subject to change without notice and certain restrictions may apply, see dealer for details. Offer expires 3/31/21.
24 months, 10,000 miles per year lease for well-qualified GM employees, retirees, and eligible family members with a current Chevy lease through GM Financial. Must show proof of current lease. Customer remains responsible for current lease payments. $4,469 due at lease signing after all offers, plus title, tax, license, and plates. No security deposit. Programs are subject to change without notice and certain restrictions may apply, see dealer for details. Offer expires 3/31/21.
24 months, 10,000 miles per year lease for well-qualified GM employees, retirees, and eligible family members with a current Chevy lease through GM Financial. Must show proof of current lease. Customer remains responsible for current lease payments. $909 due at lease signing after all offers, plus title, tax, license, and plates. No security deposit. Programs are subject to change without notice and certain restrictions may apply, see dealer for details. Offer expires 3/31/21.
24 months, 10,000 miles per year lease for well-qualified GM employees, retirees, and eligible family members with a current Chevy lease through GM Financial. Must show proof of current lease. Customer remains responsible for current lease payments. $689 due at lease signing after all offers, plus title, tax, license, and plates. No security deposit. Programs are subject to change without notice and certain restrictions may apply, see dealer for details. Offer expires 3/31/21.
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OR $70 Mail-in Rebate with any other form of payment.
Purchase must be made at participating U.S. GM dealer. See mycertifiedservicerebates.com for details and rebate form, which must be postmarked by 12/31/20. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery of debit card. Offer ends 11/30/2020.
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OR $50 Mail-in Rebate with any other form of payment.
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$100 Rebate: Credit approval required. Terms and conditions apply. Talk to your participating Service Advisor to apply.
1 Based on retail registrations in the Detroit designated market area, through June 2019.
2 EPA-estimated 26 MPG city/31 highway with 1.5L engine (FWD).
1 With second-row seats folded flat. Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution.
1 Vehicle user interface is a product of Apple and its terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible iPhone and data plan rates apply. Apple CarPlay is a trademark of Apple Inc. Siri, iPhone and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
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3 Service varies with conditions and location. Requires active service plan and paid AT&T Data plan. See onstar.com for details and limitations.
1 Excludes GM vehicles.
2 Class is Half-Ton Full-Size Pickup segment.
1 Premier model shown seats up to eight. Nine-passenger seating available on LS models only, with available front-row split-bench seat.
2 With second- and third-row seats folded flat. Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution.
3 With 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine. Requires 2WD and available Max Trailering Package. Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the Trailering section of the Owner’s Manual. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can tow.
1 Vehicle user interface is a product of Apple, and its terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible iPhone, and data plan rates apply. Apple CarPlay is a trademark of Apple Inc. Siri, iPhone and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
2 Vehicle user interface is a product of Google, and its terms and privacy statements apply. Requires the Android Auto app on Google Play and an Android compatible smartphone running Android™ 5.0 Lollipop or higher. Data plan rates apply. Android Auto is a trademark of Google LLC.
3 Based on GM Large SUV segment. With 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine. EPA-estimated MPG city/highway: Tahoe 2WD 15/22, 4WD 15/21.
1 98.2 cu. ft. with second- and third- row seats folded flat. Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution.
1 With rear seats folded flat. Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution.
2 EPA-estimated 26 MPG city/31 highway (FWD models).
3 Vehicle user interface is a product of Apple and its terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible iPhone and data plan rates apply. Apple CarPlay is a trademark of Apple Inc. Siri, iPhone and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Vehicle user interface is a product of Google, and its terms and privacy statements apply. Requires the Android Auto app on Google Play and an Android compatible smartphone running Android(TM) 5.0 Lollipop or higher. Data plan rates apply. Android Auto is a trademark of Google LLC.
1 EPA-estimated MPG city/highway: 26/34.
2 The 2016 Chevrolet Sonic received the fewest reported problems in its segment in J.D. Power’s 2019 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study following three years of ownership. See jdpower.com/awards for more details.
3 EPA estimate for Sonic Sedan with available 6-speed manual transmission.
1 Always use seat belts and child restraints. Children are safer when properly secured in a rear seat in the appropriate child restraint. See the Owner’s Manual for more information.
1 EPA-estimated MPG city/highway: 26/34.
2 The 2016 Chevrolet Sonic received the fewest reported problems in its segment in J.D. Power’s 2019 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study following three years of ownership. See jdpower.com/awards for more details.
3 EPA estimate for Sonic Sedan with available 6-speed manual transmission.
1 Chevrolet Infotainment System functionality varies by model. Full functionality requires compatible Bluetooth and smartphone, and USB connectivity for some devices.
2 Service varies with conditions and location. Requires active service plan and paid AT&T Data plan. See onstar.com for details and limitations.
1 EPA-estimated 259-mile EV range. Your actual range may vary based on several factors, including temperature, terrain, battery age, and how you use and maintain your vehicle.
2 Charging rate varies based on output of the charge unit, vehicle settings and outside temperature.
1Chevrolet Infotainment System functionality varies by model. Full functionality requires compatible Bluetooth and smartphone, and USB connectivity for some devices.
1 Based on initial vehicle movement. Coupe models with available 10-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission.
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1Standard on all trims: Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, Following Distance Indicator and IntelliBeam. Read the vehicle Owner’s Manual for more important feature limitations and information.
1. App functionality and features vary with vehicle equipment and trim level. Data connection may be required. Some features require active service plan and working electrical system. User terms and limitations apply.
1 2WD diesel models. 4×4 diesel models except ZR2 have 7,600 lbs. of towing capability. ZR2 diesel models have 5,000 lbs. of towing capability. Requires available Z82 Trailering Package. Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the Trailering section of the Owner’s Manual. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can tow.
2 EPA-estimated 30 MPG highway for Colorado 2WD with available Duramax 2.8L Turbo-Diesel engine.
1 Colorado 2WD with available 3.6L V6 engine. Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the Trailering section of the Owner’s Manual. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can tow.
1 EPA-estimated 26 MPG city/31 highway with 1.5L engine (FWD).
1 High Country, LTZ, LT Trail Boss, RST, LT, Custom Trail Boss, Custom, Work Truck
1 With second-row seats folded flat. Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution.
1 98.2 cu. ft. with second- and third- row seats folded flat. Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution.
1 EPA-estimated 26 MPG city/31 highway (FWD models).