About Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping
Number of accommodations: 50
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
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Showers
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- Showers
Water Access
- Beach Access
- Lake Access
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Reviews (224)
What Guests Are Saying
Sylvania Wilderness offers stunning natural beauty, with well-maintained campsites and friendly staff, making it a favorite destination for backcountry camping. While some reviewers noted the need for better trail markers and experienced issues with mosquitoes, the overall experience is highly regarded, particularly in late September when the area is quieter. Many visitors appreciated the pristine lakes, the remoteness of the sites, and the opportunity for memorable outdoor adventures.
What Guests Are Saying
Sylvania Wilderness offers stunning natural beauty, with well-maintained campsites and friendly staff, making it a favorite destination for backcountry camping. While some reviewers noted the need for better trail markers and experienced issues with mosquitoes, the overall experience is highly regarded, particularly in late September when the area is quieter. Many visitors appreciated the pristine lakes, the remoteness of the sites, and the opportunity for memorable outdoor adventures.
Review Summary
Clayton B
VerifiedSeptember 15, 2022 • Stayed at: BALSAM-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Bodacious.
Michael B
VerifiedSeptember 14, 2022 • Stayed at: PIKE-1, Loop: Whitefish Lake
'K.I.S.S.' Sylvania backcountry is simply stunning and worth the venture. Not too difficult to navigate.....well maintained trails....and plenty of beautiful sights. Can't wait to return for the winter season! If a picture is worth a thousand words....then let our cheesy 'family' video speak for itself. https://youtu.be/7LTWfQ7PXFs
jovan d
VerifiedSeptember 12, 2022 • Stayed at: PIKE-1, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Quiet, wild, and pristine. Clear waters with good fishing. Old growth forest, open and walk able. You can hear wolves howl at night. Check out the wiki page on this place to get a sense of how special it is.
Jason B
VerifiedAugust 31, 2022 • Stayed at: BOBCAT, Loop: High Lake
Not for the glamper!
Kevin B
VerifiedAugust 29, 2022 • Stayed at: ASH-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Go to this site to find all of the info you need: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ottawa/recarea/?recid=12331
If you go fishing, the rules are very complicated, size and quantity restrictions apply to some lake and not others, as well as method of fishing. (You can't use "barbs" on your hooks, that was the oddest thing to me until someone explained it, just file down or crimp back the part of the hood that prevents the fish from backing out).
Shane S
VerifiedAugust 25, 2022 • Stayed at: PERCH-1, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Beautiful forests and lakes. This place gives you a great wilderness feel for being somewhat small. Fishing is excellent and there are good opportunities to see an abundance of wildlife.
The portage trails aren’t marked and can take some exploring to find, in some cases. There were some blow-overs on some of the deeper portage trails, specifically getting into secluded Whitefish Lake. Both these things make everything feel a little more wild and rugged though.
I much enjoyed my trip to Sylvania and will be back.
Dave C
VerifiedAugust 25, 2022 • Stayed at: BOBCAT, Loop: High Lake
I had a wonderful experience on my recent trip to Sylvania. This was not my first trip to Sylvania and look forward to many more. I stayed at the Bobcat campsite on High Lake and very much enjoyed this site.
Anne S
VerifiedAugust 25, 2022 • Stayed at: MAPLE-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Best wilderness camping location in the Midwest.
Scott T
VerifiedAugust 22, 2022 • Stayed at: LOON, Loop: Loon Lake
A good trip, nice campsite and decent fishing, first time back in quite a few years.
Elden H
VerifiedAugust 20, 2022 • Stayed at: CEDAR-1, Loop: Clark Lake
There were no staff seen anywhere, and the Clark Lake day use building showers were closed due to lack of employees to clean them. The natural beauty was still abundant.
Location Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping
Address:
Sylvania Wilderness
Watersmeet, MI, 49969
United States
Backcountry wilderness campsites can be accessed from the Sylvania Recreation Area by parking at the Clark Lake or Crooked Lake Boat Landings, or from entry points on the perimeter of the wilderness (see map). To reach the Sylvania Entrance Station and Recreation Area: From Watersmeet, travel approximately 3.5 miles west on US 2 to County Road 535 (Thousand Island Lake Road), then drive south on CR 535 approximately 4 miles to the Sylvania Wilderness and Recreation Area entrance.
The campground is accessible via US 2, located approximately 3.5 miles to the north. From US 2, take County Road 535 (Thousand Island Lake Road) south for about 4 miles to reach the Sylvania Entrance Station.
Latitude & Longitude: 46.2447 / -89.3106
Elevation: 554 feet
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
