Tent Sites
STEVE M
VerifiedSeptember 18, 2026 Stayed at: COYOTE, Loop: West Bear Lake
Good to see the swans...we did some hiking instead of solely paddling this year and was impressed by the trails.
Helpful
About Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping
Planning a trip to the Sylvania Wilderness? Watch for Alerts at the top of the page for any Alerts regarding this facility. Encompassing one of the largest tracts of remaining old growth forest in the Midwest, the Sylvania Wilderness encompasses 18,327 acres and is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 34 named lakes are within its boundary. Recreation opportunities include canoeing on Sylvania's undeveloped lakes, hiking through its old growth forest, and camping at one of its 50 designated backcountry campsites.Special rules and regulations are in place to protect the wilderness characteristics of Sylvania. If you are planning a trip, be sure to watch the Sylvania Wilderness Orientation Video and read the "Need to Know" tab on this web page to plan ahead and prepare.
Available sites
50 total sitesSeasonal information
2026
(Current year)
2026 Season availability
Current season
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Closed periods
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Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
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Dec
Currently open - Oct 1 to Dec 31
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Showers
Water and Hygiene
- Showers
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.
50 Sites Available
⛺
ASH-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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ASH-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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BADGER-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BADGER-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BALSAM-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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BALSAM-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BASS, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BEAR-1, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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BEAR-2, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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BEAVER-1, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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BEAVER-2, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BIRCH, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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BOBCAT, Loop: High Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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CEDAR-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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CEDAR-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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CHIPMUNK, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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COYOTE, Loop: West Bear Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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DEER-1, Loop: East Bear Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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DEER-2, Loop: East Bear Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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EAGLE-1, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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EAGLE-2, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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ERMINE-1, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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ERMINE-2, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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FISHER-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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FISHER-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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FOX-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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FOX-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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LOON, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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LYNX-1, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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LYNX-2, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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MALLARD-1, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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MALLARD-2, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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MAPLE-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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MAPLE-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
MINK-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
MINK-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
OSPREY-1, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
OSPREY-2, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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PERCH-1, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PERCH-2, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PIKE-1, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PIKE-2, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PINE-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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PINE-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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PORCUPINE-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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PORCUPINE-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
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RACCOON, Loop: High Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
SQUIRREL-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
SQUIRREL-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
WOLF, Loop: East Bear Lake
Tent
Yes shade
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
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Site Details
Select a site to view details
50 Sites Available
Site
Price
⛺
ASH-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
ASH-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BADGER-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BADGER-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BALSAM-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BALSAM-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BASS, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BEAR-1, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BEAR-2, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BEAVER-1, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BEAVER-2, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BIRCH, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
BOBCAT, Loop: High Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
CEDAR-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
CEDAR-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
CHIPMUNK, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
COYOTE, Loop: West Bear Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
DEER-1, Loop: East Bear Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
DEER-2, Loop: East Bear Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
EAGLE-1, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
EAGLE-2, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
ERMINE-1, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
ERMINE-2, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
FISHER-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
FISHER-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
FOX-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
FOX-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
LOON, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
LYNX-1, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
LYNX-2, Loop: Mountain Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
MALLARD-1, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
MALLARD-2, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
MAPLE-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
MAPLE-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
MINK-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
MINK-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
OSPREY-1, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
OSPREY-2, Loop: Loon Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PERCH-1, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PERCH-2, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PIKE-1, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PIKE-2, Loop: Whitefish Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PINE-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PINE-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PORCUPINE-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
PORCUPINE-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
RACCOON, Loop: High Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
SQUIRREL-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
SQUIRREL-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Tent
Yes shade
⛺
WOLF, Loop: East Bear Lake
Tent
Yes shade
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews
307 reviews
Summary
Sylvania Wilderness offers a stunning, serene environment ideal for first-time campers, with beautiful weather, mild portage trails, and clean, spacious campsites. Visitors enjoyed peaceful paddling experiences, abundant wildlife, and friendly park staff, making for a memorable outdoor adventure. While some reported issues with mosquitoes and campsite accessibility, the overall experience remains highly praised, with many eager to return.
Based on guest feedback
4.5
Overall rating
Based on 307 reviews
5 stars
69.4% (213)
4 stars
18.9% (58)
3 stars
6.5% (20)
2 stars
2.9% (9)
1 star
2.3% (7)
Showing 307 reviews
Verified Only
Sort by: Newest First
Blake B
VerifiedSeptember 15, 2026 Stayed at: PORCUPINE-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Great trip and awesome place!
Helpful
Jessica G
VerifiedSeptember 14, 2026 Stayed at: SQUIRREL-2, Loop: Crooked Lake
Lovely camping! Disappointed that motorized boats are allowed on the lake, it seems like they could put a “no motorized boats past this point” just north of the lillypad channel leading up to Squirrel sites. It definitely took away from the rustic experience having pontoons and motorized boats crank past the site and truck around the lake as everyone else paddled.
Other than that, the sites are clean, the scenery is gorgeous, and we love everything about the wilderness of the area.
Just wish the locals were a little less loud, non-motorized, and recognized that blasting music on the lake is obnoxious to those of us who are there for the rustic atmosphere.
Helpful
Monika M
VerifiedSeptember 13, 2026 Stayed at: FISHER-1, Loop: Crooked Lake
Sylvania was beautiful, the campsite was nice, it had everything we needed, it was very peaceful and quiet. We took a hike to Loon Lake, this had beautiful sand beaches, good for swimming.
Helpful
Drew M
VerifiedSeptember 13, 2026 Stayed at: LYNX-2, Loop: Mountain Lake
Amazing place. I heard from a friend who came with me that this is better than Boundary Waters.
Helpful
Priscilla M
VerifiedSeptember 12, 2026 Stayed at: ASH-1, Loop: Clark Lake
Trip was wonderful. Very few people around. Very quiet at night. Campsites were spacious and clean.
Helpful
Dave S
VerifiedSeptember 10, 2026 Stayed at: CEDAR-2, Loop: Clark Lake
What a beautiful area! So nice to be in nature with my daughter and granddaughter. Despite some rain it was dry under our tarp. Lots of miles to walk and paddle. Not many areas offer all of theses beautiful options within 4.5 hours of home. We are lucky it is here for us. Don’t take it for granted!!
Helpful
Lincoln T
VerifiedSeptember 10, 2026 Stayed at: OSPREY-2, Loop: Loon Lake
Amazing environment, with so many cool native plants!
Helpful
Mark R
VerifiedSeptember 8, 2026 Stayed at: LOON, Loop: Loon Lake
Really enjoyed the crystal clear waters of Loon Lake and the sandy beaches. Loon campsite was a fantastic setting. We also enjoyed the Bobcat campsite on High Lake (which is a very deep lake!). Additionally, all the portages we used (to Deer Island Lake, Cub Lake, Florence Lake, High Lake, Loon Lake, Mountain Lake and East Bear Lake) were in great shape. Bathroom facilities and well water pumps at the boat launches for Clark Lake and Crooked Lake were in great shape, with the exception that the top hinge on the bathroom door at the Clark Lake boat launch needs to be replaced. It is bent, which causes the bathroom door to stick at the top. Best of all, there were hardly any bugs in late August!
Helpful
Tamela V
VerifiedSeptember 7, 2026 Stayed at: PINE-2, Loop: Clark Lake
Nice site. Some sun. Privacy from the other site. The only thing we didn't like was the trail pretty much went through the site.
Helpful
Location & Directions for Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping
Sylvania Wilderness, Watersmeet, MI 49969 United States
Elevation: 554 ft
Getting There
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 Statio...
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 mi west on US 2 to County Road 535 (Thousand Island Lake Road), then drive south on CR 535 approximately 4 mi to the Sylvania Wilderness and Recreation Area entrance.
Highway access
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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: October 24, 2026
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Watersmeet, MI
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Managed by the USDA Forest Service