Ausable River Camping

Great reservation process. We did not use our reservation. We had to end our trip early due to the smoke.

Was an amazing site that was very secluded and peaceful. Steep hill down to river, like other reviews stated. (learned not to try wearing crocs while going down. lol) Came in handy to have a spot to just sit in the water due to it being very hot the few days I was there. Paid for that with getting swimmers itch, though. Will certainly stay at that site again.

Great process for reserving.

The site deserves 4 stars and was great. But mother nature almost got the best of us. 90°+ heat followed by thick smoke from Canada's forest fires. This area of the Ausable River is beautiful.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.