Ausable River Camping

Camp site was very clean! The Rangers at the Lumbermans Monument Headquarters were very helpful and pleasant to work with. Easy access with boat.

Featuring gorgeous views of the Ausable. There is lots of space to setup at this site. Plenty of downed wood nearby that can be used as free firewood. There are a ton of mosquitos, probably due to being surrounded by slow/stagnant water. It's pretty far from the other campsites and enveloped in large trees, so you feel like you are secluded although this quickly becomes apparent that it's just an illusion when all the motorboats start whizzin' by on the river. You can also hear the highway, and airplanes are passing by fairly consistently throughout the day to get to the nearby airport in Oscoda. The hike in/out is SERIOUS, especially going up the hills when leaving. Pack light! Overall, I enjoyed my camping experience at this site.

Weve been staying on the island for over 15 years! 40c is always a dream come true! It is so peaceful and elegant!

Very nice campsite

l lunderstand the tall fire pits. But they are so tall you can’ even enjoy a fire unless you put a ton of wood in it.
You have to stand up to get any heat out of it. Really does take away from the experience and the heat.
Thank you.

Isolated campground where you can't see anyone else which was very nice. Signage was not great getting to the camping part but you go turn into the area labeled Whirlpool access and its like the first gravel road on the left and just drive down some.

Awesome site. Well-marked from the road, private, level, and very spacious.

This stretch of the river is beautiful. It's quick and shallow. Great to float down and watch the rocks slide by under you. Site 12 has some very dilapidated plywood stairs that are the opposite of accessible. They are slippery when dry and hot. The shore has crumbled underneath them and made them an almost spiral staircase. The odd angles make it like a funhouse staircase: disorienting and scary. The site is on a nice high bluff with great views of the river for a half mile in either direction. The forest here seems to be the victim of a recent blow down. Many trees are down and half down. Mostly White Spruce and Balsam Fir with an occasional White Pine or Maple. If you venture deep into the woods you will find a lovely fresh stream that feeds into the AuSable. Deer flies were pretty agressive in mid-July. You have to float down to Thompsons Landing if you want to catch a ride back to your car. It is 100 steps up, but there is a canoe ramp that helps a little. If you don't do this spot you have to paddle down to the next dam, which is I think Loud dam. The fun floating stops and the paddling begins at the pond. It might be 2 hours of paddling.

Even though pretty secluded sights along this road, Saturday night brought noise until 3:00 am ish. A sight nearby had many people. In past years we have never had this happen. We really enjoy this primitive camping area and will return, just maybe not on the weekend.

Site 073D. No access to river/ water. Nice view about 300 yds away. Quiet secluded site.