Vanderbilt, Michigan: Pigeon River State Forest Campground

October 2024, weekend - weekdays, 3 nights, campsite #1

View of campsite #1 in Pigeon River State Forest from hiking trail across river

We stayed in this campground April 2023, and you can find more information about the area in that post. I am sharing just a few photos in this post, as there was not much that was new this trip.

Campsite #1 in Pigeon River State Forest
Below: river behind campsite 1

Campsite 1

We again chose campsite 1, as it was the best river site available when we arrived on a Saturday. The campsite view to the river was a bit more overgrown that it had been in spring 2023. Other than that, and the rocks someone had piled up in the river, this campsite was pretty much the same as it had been then. 

Recreation: Discovery Center, hiking, kayaking, elk viewing

The Discovery Center next to park headquarters has a lot of great information inside. This is a short hike from the campground, and is also along the southern loop of ShingleMill Pathway. You can find hiking photos and a map in my previous post. The center had not been open last time we camped here. Fresh water is available at the ranger station, and we observed people filling their jugs when we passed by. A large portion of the trail on the west side of the river had been updated with new boardwalk since our last visit.

Above: Beaver Pond in Pigeon River State Forest
Below: pathway signage in Pigeon River State Forest

Vanderbilt Michigan: Pigeon River State forest Campground

April 2023, campsite #1, weekdays-weekend, 4 nights

Picnic area in Pigeon River State Forest Campground

Arrival and registration

This campground could not be found on google maps or on our GPS, although the Pigeon Bridge State Forest campground showed up. We arrived from the south, and entered the Discovery Center/ranger station (both in the same location; next to each other) into our GPS. The river state forest campground signs were visible after we passed the ranger station. This campground is about 5 miles down a dirt road after passing Pigeon Bridge Campground. It is a state forest campground with self-registration and payment by cash or check. The cost was $20 per night.

Campsite 1 in Pigeon River State Forest Campground

Campsite #1

Two riverfront campsites were occupied when we arrived on a Wednesday. We gladly snagged spacious and grassy campsite #1 on the river. The two occupied sites have a bit more open river view than site #1; however, campsite 1 is the only roomy site. All of the other riverfront sites are very shallow, and the trailers were parked parallel next to the road.

Campsite #1 in Pigeon River State Forest Campground from across the river
Below: The beavers were busy behind campsite #1!

When you enter the campground, campsite 1 is straight ahead, and most of the other sites are down the road to the left. There are only three campsites to the right at the bottom of the entrance road--one shallow site on the river, and two across the road. We observed many beaver downed trees, although we never saw any beavers.

Artesian well in Pigeon River State Forest Campground