About Craig Lake State Park
Craig Lake State Park is widely considered Michigan's most remote state park — over 9,700 acres of roadless wilderness near Michigamme in the western Upper Peninsula, reachable only via an 8-mile road off Craig Lake Road that the DNR strongly recommends a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle to navigate. From November to mid-May, that road is impassable by vehicle entirely.
There is no drive-in campground here. All 24 campsites are backcountry: 22 are hike-in, ranging from 0.2 to 6–7 miles from the trailhead, and 2 are paddle-in only. Every site is reservation-only, capped at 6 campers, with vault toilets and fire rings as the only facilities — bear bags must be suspended 12 feet high, a reminder that this is genuine wilderness camping. Two yurts and two rustic cabins (the Lodge and Caretaker's Cabin) are also available, each requiring a 2-mile hike to reach.
Things to Do
Craig Lake itself and its smaller companion lakes are the park's draw — quiet, undeveloped water with a real chance of seeing moose, since this is one of the few parts of the Lower 48 with a resident moose population. This is a park for experienced backcountry campers who want genuine isolation, not a family weekend at a beach.
Best Time to Visit
The park is only vehicle-accessible from mid-May through the fall, before the access road becomes impassable for winter. Late spring through early fall is the practical window for a visit.
Reservation Tips
Every site at Craig Lake is reservation-only through MiDNRReservations.com — there's no walk-up camping given the remote, hike-in nature of the park. Check current road conditions before heading out, and come prepared with a high-clearance vehicle and backcountry gear.
Getting There
The park is about a mile west of Michigamme via signs on Craig Lake Road, followed by 8 miles of rough, unpaved road best suited to a high-clearance 4WD vehicle.