Ripple through Michigan’s iconic Chain of Lakes on a trip full of camping near Bellaire.
Head to Bellaire in Northern Michigan to explore serene lakeside camping retreats and the humbling majesty of old-growth forests. Torch Lake, just west of town, is the largest body of water in the state’s 75-mile-long Chain of Lakes. Stay nearby at Barnes County Park on Grand Traverse Bay, which offers convenient access to Torch Lake for canoeing and smallmouth bass fishing. The campground features powered RV sites with amenities like modern bathhouses, picnic tables, fire rings, and water stations. For more amenities, book a spot at a private RV park in the area with cable TV and wifi. About 45 miles southeast of Bellaire, Hartwick Pines State Park offers another modern campground surrounded by old-growth pine forest along AuSable River. Pull-through RV sites offer access to a children’s playground, a volleyball court, picnic areas, and a sanitation station. Campers interested in history can gain insight into the area at the Logging Museum, or dive into the park’s nature on forested trails—look out for evening grosbeaks, scarlet tanagers, and ruby-throated hummingbirds.