Wooded campsite with benches, food storage locker, and fall leaves in the ground.
Pit toilet in the woods
Dirt hiking trail through hardwood forest.
White Pine Backcountry Campground Map
Food storage locker interior

About White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits

White Pine Backcountry Campground is a primitive camp located in the southern district of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the lower peninsula of Michigan. It is located approximately two miles from the Trail's End Road trailhead on the Platte Plains hiking trail south of Empire just off of M-22.  This year-round campground has six campsites, two shared fire rings, pit toilet, and two shared animal resistant food storage lockers. Plan to pack your water into the campsite, as there is no well in the campground.    Summer temperatures range from upper 70s to 90 degrees F (25° to 32° C) during the day, and from the 50s to 70 degrees F (10° to 25° C) at night.   Winters are cold, with daytime highs from 20° to 30° F (-7° to -1° C) and lows in the 10s and 20s F (-12° to -7° C). Snow is usually on the ground from late November through March.

Available sites

7 total sites

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Oct 16 to Dec 31

Campground Amenities

Water Access

Water Access

  • Beach Access
  • Lake Access
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Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

7 Sites Available

Site
Price
⛺ White Pine Campground 1, Loop: White Pine Tent
Yes shade
⛺ White Pine Campground 2, Loop: White Pine Tent
Yes shade
⛺ White Pine Campground 3, Loop: White Pine Tent
Yes shade
⛺ White Pine Campground 4, Loop: White Pine Tent
Yes shade
⛺ White Pine Campground 5, Loop: White Pine Tent
Yes shade
⛺ White Pine Campground 6, Loop: White Pine Tent
Yes shade
⛺ White Pine Campground, Loop: White Pine Tent
Yes shade

Reviews

19 reviews

Summary

AI generated

White Pine Backcountry Campground offers well-maintained trails and clean, spacious sites, making it a lovely backcountry destination near Lake Michigan. Campers appreciate the serene atmosphere, quiet surroundings, and proximity to a private beach, with amenities like fire pits and bear lockers enhancing the experience. However, visitors should be prepared for mosquitoes and potential issues with the pit toilet, as well as the need for more detailed information about the campground online.

Based on guest feedback

4.6

Overall rating

Based on 19 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 78.9% (15)
4 stars 15.8% (3)
3 stars 0.0% (0)
2 stars 0.0% (0)
1 star 5.3% (1)

Showing 19 reviews

Alyssa R

Verified

September 27, 2026 Stayed at: White Pine Campground, Loop: White Pine

White Pines is a delightful backcountry campground. Located very close to the lakeshore and just 2 mi from the parking lot. There are two communal fire pits, two bear boxes, and a pit toilet. Really nice considering it's all backcountry! Trails aren't always super well marked out there, so read the map at the parking lot before you set out!

Helpful

Nolan L

Verified

August 16, 2026 Stayed at: White Pine Campground, Loop: White Pine

Very clean sites. Beautiful walk to the beach and very minimal bugs. All campers were quiet and respectful. Awesome experience

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Mary J

Verified

August 15, 2026 Stayed at: White Pine Campground, Loop: White Pine

Lovely backcountry campground with 6 individual sites, 2 community fire pits, 2 food storage lockers and an outhouse (no water pump). Its located between 2 ridges so not a lot of breeze during a humid Aug stay with the mosquitoes. Two diff paths about 1/3 mi long take you to a 4 mi strech of Lake MI shoreline all to yourselves. Amazing!

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Jonathan D

Verified

August 14, 2026 Stayed at: White Pine Campground, Loop: White Pine

Excellent easy introduction to backpacking for a newbie. Really close to an amazing beach on Lake Michigan. Be aware that the mosquitos are thick!

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Ryan M

Verified

May 4, 2026 Stayed at: White Pine Campground, Loop: White Pine

I rated this 5 stars despite several negative things about my trip. This is because none of those things are the “fault” of this venue. This is a backcountry site so as long as you keep that in mind this place is awesome. There’s even a pit toilet in the camp. It’s nasty but you don’t need to dig a cat hole. There are two food lockers and two fire pits. I was really happy to be the only one in camp but there are a total of six campsites so you could be sharing the campground.

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Location & Directions for White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire, MI 49630 United States

Elevation: 183 ft

Getting There

FROM THE EAST (Traverse City): Take State Highway M-72 west to Empire. Turn south on State Highway M-22.

To Trails End Road: Drive 6 mi to Trails End Road - turn right

Drive 1 mi to the trailhead

To Platte Plains Ski Trail Parking: Drive 6.5...

Nearest town

Empire, MI - 7 mi

About 13 min to downtown

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

Check in time

2PM

Check out time

12PM

General

  • Entrance Fees - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore charges a variety of entrance fees, depending on how a visitor arrives at the park. All visitors must have an entrance pass (separate from camping fees). The park also honors Federal Recreational Lands interagency passes (e.g., annual, senior, access, military, 4th grade, Golden Age). For more information visit the park's Fees & Passes web page.  The Michigan Recreation Passport is not valid for entry at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which is a federally managed site.
  • 1. This is a required permit area. Print your permit and have it in your possession during your stay. 3. A maximum of two tents and four people are permitted at each backcountry campsite. To minimize impact to natural resources, set up your tent in the cleared area of your campsite. Do not set up your tent on vegetation. 4. Camp only in one of the six designated campsites. Sites are not assigned in advance. Campers choose from the unoccupied sites upon arrival. Each site has a numbered post at its entrance. 5. Use a backpack-style stove for cooking or use the community fire rings provided. Only burn dead, down, and detached wood in the fire ring. Do not burn trash or leave aluminum, glass, or other non-burnable materials in the fire ring. Beach fires are restricted to bare beach sand between the water's edge and the first dune. Do not leave fires unattended. 6. Carry out all refuse. Please leave a clean, neat campsite for the next camper. 7. Pets are prohibited in White Pine Backcountry Campground. 8. Bicycles, wheeled devices, wheelbarrows, wagons, carts, and trailers are prohibited on the Platte Plains trail and the White Pine Backcountry Campground. Do not create short-cuts. 9. Keep all food, drinks, coolers, toiletries, hygiene products, trash, recyclables, and scented items stored in the provided food storage lockers when not in use. Do not feed the wildlife.
  • Violation of terms may result in permit suspension, revocation and/or issuance of a citation by law enforcement.

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Last updated: October 24, 2026

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Explore Empire, MI

Population: 341

Elevation: 614 ft

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