Camping on North Manitou Island

Duration:

3 minutes, 15 seconds

Planning a backpacking trip to the Manitou Islands? Check out these prep tips from a ranger.

 

Planning

Transportation

Access to North Manitou Island is by private boat or by passenger ferry service run by Manitou Island Transit (231-256-9061). The ferry service operates from the Fishtown Dock located in Leland, MI. Weather conditions or other issues may cause the schedule to change. Reservations are recommended.

There is no transportation for camp gear. All gear must be packed in, so travel light. Food should be stored in hard containers or hung from a line to thwart chipmunks.

Boating

Docking is limited to 20 minutes. Fuel service is not available. There are no protected anchoring locations anywhere around the island.

Regulations

Low impact camping is the rule to minimize human impact on the fragile natural resources.

• Entrance Pass Required.
• Campers must purchase a Backcountry Use Permit before camping. You may obtain a permit at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Sleeping Bear Dunes campground offices, or Leland dock. Upon arriving at the island, a park ranger will meet you at the dock to complete camper registration.
• Pets are prohibited
• All human waste and toilet paper must be buried at least 6 inches deep.
• Use down and dead wood only.
• Do not leave a fire burning unattended. Put out all fires before leaving the campground.
• Carry out all trash.
• Wheeled vehicles (snowmobiles, bikes, etc.) are prohibited.
• Explosives, including fireworks, are prohibited
• Please do not enter any area posted as CLOSED for nesting piping plovers. These endangered birds need all the assistance we can provide.
• Fires are permitted only in the communal metal fire rings.
• Open fires are prohibited in the wilderness area. Use gas or alcohol stoves.
• Don't take firewood to the islands! Island campers may collect dead and down wood found on the island for personal use during their visit; however, unused wood must remain on the island. Transporting firewood when camping on the islands means you risk carrying tree-killing insects and diseases inside the firewood. The pests can spread to the trees and forest at the campground and begin to destroy those trees and forests. Help slow the spread of pests by gathering dead and down wood on the islands for firewood.
• Please pack out all your trash. Trash cans are located in the village. Please place empty fuel cans next to the trash cans.

Drinking Water

Potable water can be obtained only in the village. All other water must be boiled for one minute or treated with a water filter or purifier before drinking. Most backpacking water filters will remove present waterborne bacteria. Pumps, gravity bladders, and water tablets are examples of useable water purifiers. It is suggested that each hiker have the capacity to carry a minimum of 2 liters of drinking water.

Human Waste

Outhouses on North Manitou Island are present only in the village and the Village Campground. In the backcountry, use a small hand trowel to dig a cathole, which is a pit for human feces. Catholes must be at least 100 feet away from trails, campsites and buildings, 300 feet from water, and 6-8 inches deep. When finished, cover the hole with dirt and other natural materials to disguise the cathole. Groups should establish a communal privy and cover it after the last use.

Toilet paper should be used sparingly, and must be either buried deep in a cathole or packed out. Place toilet paper in a sealable plastic bag to pack out.

Used feminine items must be packed out.

Urine has little impact on the environment or human health. Diluting urine with water can decrease impacts.

Washing

Wash yourself and your dishes at least 200 feet (about 70 adult steps) away from streams or lakes using a small amount of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater after use. Pack out all food waste.

Leave No Trace

Please follow the 7 Leave No Trace principles to minimize human impact on Nouth Manitou Island.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Camping Locations

Village Campground

Village Campground contains eight first-come, first-serve designated campsites. There is one outhouse. Sites are limited to 4 persons and 2 tents.

Fires are permitted in the two community fire rings at the Village Campground.

Campers must purchase a Backcountry Use Permit before camping. You may obtain a permit at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Sleeping Bear Dunes campground offices, or Leland dock. Upon arriving at the island, a park ranger will meet you at the dock to complete camper registration.

Dispersed Camping

Dispersed camping, also known as primitive camping or boondocking, is allowed on North Manitou Island. Camping on North Manitou Island offers solitude and a wild beauty and nights listening to lapping waves.

Camping is prohibited within 300 feet of the Lake Michigan high water mark, lakes, streams, ponds, springs, buildings, or other camps. Camping is prohibited on any trail. Groups are limited to a maximum of 10 people.

Open fires are prohibited in the wilderness area. Use gas or alcohol stoves.

If you have questions, please call the park at 231-326-4700.

What to Bring

Following is a list of suggested items to bring into the backcountry. Non-cotton (synthetic) base layer clothing is suggested as it dries more quickly than cotton materials. Layering clothes for warmth is important. Temperatures on the island are typically cooler than on than on the mainland; be sure to pack plenty of layers. Bring two extra days' worth of food, in case the ferry doesn't run due to weather. It is recommended to have two water purification methods in the backcountry.

Clothing

• Bandana
• Comfortable camp shoes/sandals
• Gloves
• Hiking shoes (broken in)
• Hiking socks
• Insulated jacket
• Long underwear
• Non-cotton hiking pants
• Non-cotton shirt (long sleeved)
• Non-cotton shirt (short sleeved)
• Rain jacket
• Rain pants
• Shorts
• Sock liners
• Swimsuit
• Underwear
• Warm hat

Personal

• Feminine supplies
• Hand sanitizer
• Prescription drugs
• Toiletries

General Camping

• Backpack
• Backpack rain cover (or large garbage bags)
• Batteries
• Binoculars
• Biodegradable soap
• Blister kit or medical tape
• Book
• Bug spray (DEET)
• Camera
• Compass
• Cooking pans
• Cooking/eating utensils
• Day pack
• Duct tape
• First aid kit
• Food bags (for hanging)
• Food/snacks (NOTE: bring two extra days' worth of food, in case of ferry cancellations due to weather)
• Headlamps/flashlights
• Journal
• Large plastic garbage bags
• Lighter/waterproof matches
• Mug
• Pocket knife
• Repair kit for tent, stove, etc.
• Rope
• Scrub brush for dishes
• Sealable plastic bags
• Sleeping bag (3-season)
• Sleeping pad
• Stove
• Stove fuel
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Tarp
• Tent
• Tent groundsheet
• Toilet paper
• Topographic map
• Trash bags
• Trowel
• Water bottles (2 liter carry-capacity per person)
• Water purification/filter

 

Map of North Manitou Island