1 site · RV, Tent40 acres · Empire, MINote for 2024: Date are currently blocked to reduce overuse. If you would like to stay certain dates, please message me.
Echo Valley Forest Reserve is a backcountry tent site located deep within hardwood forest near the center of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, ten minutes from Empire Beach, Glen Haven, and Glen Arbor, and just a mile south of Big Glen Lake. This site is completely private, with only one site rented at a time, in the center of a 40-acre parcel, surrounded by thousands of acres of National Lakeshore and private forested land. It is abundant with wildlife; listen for thrush, barred owls, ravens, and coyotes. Walk the trails on the property, cook dinner over a wood fire and watch the stars come out, or enjoy fine dining La Becasse or Funistrada, just 2 miles from the site, or a burger at the Friendly Tavern in Empire or Art's Bar in Glen Arbor, both about 5 miles away. Swim at Old Settler's Park on Big Glen or drive to several Lake Michigan beaches in 5 minutes. The camp site is unmaintained and there is no water, but it is a spot to pitch a tent and experience the northern forest without the filter of a busy campground.
We have installed a graveled drive up the steep hill that leads up to the camp site, so you no longer have to walk up (YEY!). We ask that you please stay on the gravel, and do not drive around the camp in order to keep it as wild as possible. There is room for 4 cars to park next to camp on the gravel.
We also just put in a pit toilet (YEY YEY!). It has a little motion-sensor solar light that will light up if you use it at night. There is also a mirrored medicine cabinet with (usually) a basic first aid kit and hand sanitizer. A bucket of sawdust is provided to put into pit after use. You will want to bring TP. No trash in pit please!
There are solar lights around the tent site in the woods. When on, they will turn on automatically when it gets dark and turn off automatically in the day time. They are probably turned off when you arrive. The controller is in a ziplock the tub (which is sometimes stored in the outhouse). There are also buttons on the back of the solar panel, one for on/off and one for mode. The battery usually lasts a few hours, but you can bring a back up external battery to plug in if it's been cloudy. The solar lights have a USB-C power input plug.
You can explore the property by hiking west from the camp. There is a rough trail from the camp site that runs up a valley to the hill top with treed views of Big Glen Lake and evening sunshine. The trails are being developed (your foot traffic helps!) so keep an eye out for the pink flagging tape. There is also a big kettle hole formed by glacial ice deposits across the road from the driveway, about 150 feet to the north (no trail).
RULES - We only have 4 simple rules:
1) Leave no trace. Do not leave garbage at camp or in the pit toilet. Also, do not burn garbage, we cook in that fire pit!
2) Absolutely NO cutting into the live trees. You will get a 0-star review, 100% of the time.
3) Keep cars on the gravel so that we can get our grass going again.
4) Put out all fires completely and respect any Burn Bans that may be active at the time of your stay (you will get a notification from HipCamp if there is a burn ban). Note: I do not issue the burn bans, they come from the local fire departments.
ACTIVITIES - There are a ton of great activities close to the camp. Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore has great beaches, swimming, and hiking. Empire Beach is 6 miles and Glen Haven is 8 miles away. The Heritage Trail in Glen Arbor is a road bike trail that runs from Empire to Bohemian Rd. There are a few mountain bike trails in the area as well (Palmer Woods in Glen Arbor, Arcadia Bluffs trail south of Frankfort, etc). Big Glen access is just a couple miles from the camp at Old Settler Park or at then end of Agnew St (by Funistrada). There isn't a good public beach on Big Glen but you can swim or hand-launch a boat. There are two nearby restaurants, La Becasse (French) and Trattoria Funistrada (Italian), as well as bar food in Empire and Glen Arbor.
VEHICLE ACCESS - Welcome to Northern Michigan! The camp is accessed off Echo Valley Road, which is a rough, seasonal, unmaintained two-track road that can be sandy, rocky, and rutted. If you have 2-wheel drive, I recommend accessing Echo Valley Road from Benzonia Trail end. Most vehicles are fine on Echo Valley Rd if you drive mindfully (I used to use my 1992 Honda Civic). RV's and fifth wheels will not get up the driveway to the camp site.
FIRES AND WOODS - Keep fires in the pit or ring, and always put out completely before leaving the site. We have had some very dry summers lately, as well as wildfires - if you get a Fire Ban notification from HipCamp, because the local Fire Department has issued it due to high risk of wildfire.
Please do not bring wood from home. Moving firewood is one of the main ways tree pests and diseases are introduced to a region, resulting in a huge loss for our forests (emerald ash borer, beech bark disease). If you would like pre-cut firewood there are several roadside stands on Benzonia Trail and Plowman Road.
SAFETY - We have BLACK BEAR, porcupine, and other curious critters. Practice bear-safe camping by storing food and anything "smelly" in a bear can, by hanging it, or in your car when you are sleeping or not on site. Do not store food in your tent or the critters will come scratching around. Leelanau County also has deer ticks, which carry Lyme disease. Check for ticks daily!
CONTACT - Please TEXT, or message me on HipCamp, if you have any questions of if you need directions or recommendations.
