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Saturday, May 27, 2023

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