Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping

The Sylvania Wilderness is a gem and I will be better prepared for the next trip there but it needs better signage to direct campers to their campsites rather than a 3’ wooden post that blends in with the surrounding woods …

I have gone to Sylvania almost every year since 2000. I go with folks who like to fish, so we stay on Crooked Lake with Michigan Fishing Regulations. The challenge with fishing is to catch larger pan fish, as the smaller ones are more aggressive. Sometimes that means a larger hook. Did catch a 17 inch bass. Mosquito's are abundant the second week of June, so good gear like the original bug suit is a requirement. Lots of structure from downed trees, so I have gone to heavier fish line to aggressively bring in fish before they dive under a downed tree. We take some sort of shore breading and this is the best fish meal of the year, better than a fresh Grouper in Florida. I also plan a hike and our group has some folks that have a sawmill and do logging so we take a large saw and often cut a log for a bench to sit around the fire pit. We carve seats in it with a draw knife also called a pull plane. Unfortunately, when we make a log bench out of smaller logs someone put an end in the fire and destroyed them. We had a nice green maple this year. Watch out for widow maker trees, avoid a tent under a leaning tree. Sylvania is the only place I have seen trees fall down. Plan on a hike as the trails are great. 2013 was our most memorable trip. The year of the polar vortex, Mosquitos beyond belief. Loons were off the nest and deer were on the roads to escape them. We had an exchange student who commented "I've been to the Jungles of South Africa, I guess I did not what mosquito's were". When we went in the fall we were bug free. My favorite places are groves of old growth White Pine which form a sort of cathedral.

Truly amazing views, nature, and experience! Do wish the portages were a little easier to find.

Definitely better than Badger 1.

Very few trees for hammock camping near the designated tent sites. Very few trees near the fire pit for a tarp should you desire to tie to a tree. Because there are few trees near the tent and fire pit locations, great opportunities for seeing stars.

The shallow waters and the transition towards the Fisher sites (east along the southern shore) hold tons of perch.

30 inch tree nearly 3 ft off the ground obstructs the path the the toilet. There is a hole at the base of the toilet that drains after a rain.

Fire pit is shallow from mud run off. A stout paddle can dig it deeper, but no one will be willing to dedicate the time to dig it out completely.

Badger 2 is the better site.
Badger 1 has a poor boat landing. The fire pit grate is broken like so many others. The tent sites are small and surrounded by raspberry shoots--great for kids in late July and early August, but also great for mosquitoes.

Beautiful and secluded. Sites were nice.

A great trip with my friend and my two sons, will definitely be back!

Such a peaceful, beautiful place. Almost felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.

Had a very nice time.

Sylvania Wilderness is a favorite. Pristine lakes and towering old-growth forests. Northern lights, loon calls, and wolves howling.