Ausable River Camping

Love this site, especially when the water is up

Love this site, especially when the water is up

The big island is the best campsite on the river probably the best one in Michigan. That’s the way I feel, but there are people who do not respect the island. When I arrived there on August 4 th I was very disappointed with the people who had just left. I’m sure it was the kids that were there that left behind the cellophane wrappers from juice boxes. I pick up almost 20 from one end of the site to the other. Come on parents those poor kids may never learn how to respect nature!! And the adult that was too lazy to dig a cat hole and left a large pile of poop on the base of a tree just steps from the campsite. NICE JOB! I am sure that came from the group that had just left because the friendly raccoons that visit each night couldn’t find any thing at my camp cleaned up the pile of crap. Oh yeah one more thing whoever thinks that the campers that follow you likes the look of thousands of pistachios shells everywhere you are wrong so wrong they are too small to rake up so you just have to walk through them. You should be banned from camping. Try a wastebasket or the fire pit. I hope you are lucky enough to get the chance to visit next year an see what all the others that do not trash the place have to look at the whole time they are there. Another great job from someone who has no respect for nature and the great number of people who share that island and do respect it!!

Sorry to be so harsh on a few people because most of you islanders do love and respect that small place of paradise.

Very peaceful camp, couldn’t barely hear the neighbors down the road (quite a bit down the road, barely any drive by), and it was a perfect campsite. Little messy from previous campers but we cleaned it up before we left. Highly recommend and will definitely return to any of the sites on this strip in the future. About a ~100 yard walk down a hill through the woods to a perfect riverside relax site along the water. We chilled there for a while and skipped rocks before going back to make dinner. Highly recommend this site!

This is a beautiful site. Too bad some youngsters didn’t want to leave because they set up camp a day before their check in. We had to wait a couple hours for them to leave and we were able to catch the sunset. The nice staff at Lumberman’s Monument refunded the overnight fee.

Scenic and spacious. I’ve stayed at this site 3 times now. The only down side is the trees are starting to obstruct the view.

This campground and Foote Pond are my favorite camping places in the Huron national forest. The natural beauty of Michigan along the Ausable River, and the sounds/sights of wildlife along with the solitude and the escape from the city and smog are the reasons I come here. And I’m OFF THE GRID!
However the camp host ruined my solitude and experience by running his generator the WHOLE TIME. He was not seen either! Just heard! Used to be greeted and welcomed. Not this time! No other campers use/used generators, never have heard them in the Huron national forest before. Please stop this! Make it a law! The whole reason to rustic and primitive camp is to get away from this! Big question…..will I ever return to Sawmill? Right now the answer is no.

Site 44 and 45 I think should be one site. They are both very nice but they’re right next to each other. All the other sites are separated by a buffer of trees and other fauna making it seem that you are the only one camping there. A week after I left lot 44 I came back to lot 45. Saturday afternoon I went for a boat ride. When I returned lot 44 had been over run. There was 3 tents a 24 foot trailer and at least a dozen people along with the 4 cars and trucks they came in. Not so peaceful now!!

Excellent trip

I just wanted to take the time for future campers as we were let down by the campsite we were given due to the website labeling the sites in incorrect locations. We stayed at 30C, of the four sites on this stretch (28,29,30,31), 30 is absolutely the worst. Super steep hill, if you are not in good shape you will struggle getting up and down to the site without getting hurt. The site itself is completely shady, which we didn't mind, but I'm sure others might.

I will now try to explain all the sites and there locations so somebody does not get put in a spot they do not want to be... On the online map site 29 is actually site 28 in person, site 30 is actually site 29 and is on the point just right of where it is labeled, site 30 is around the following bend to the north side of the river, and site 31 is at the next point after that.

Site ranking:

Site 29 is the best site on the river it is has a access with a hill but once you get on top there is tons of space. You are on a point, so there is shade and sun and always a nice breeze. It is the best view on this stretch. There is a rope swing. (Sidebar this is the site I expected to get when I book site 30 based on there map)

Site 31 is super easy access and has abundant space. Really nice clean area. Low to river so has more mosquitos and shade. No hill to climb whatsoever.

Site 28 has all the same traits as site 31 except the boat access forces you to go through really thick weed beds all the way to the bank, which also negates the desire to want to swim in river.

Site 30 has a goat path hill climb to endure before you get to the site, its shady and there really isn't much space if you have more than a handful of people. Couldn't see the stars because of the thick canopy. I really don't know why this location was chosen as a site. The pros were that the bugs were minimal and there was a nice breeze most of the night.

We still had a great time on the river. Just wanted to clarify and help future campers.