Fisherman's Island State Park North Campground

This is our favorite beach to go to! The kids easily find Petoskey stones, Charlevoix stones, and other fossils. The beach is mostly sandy with some stoney areas, and places to sit in the shade of trees. There are 3 parking areas for beach access, and the one at the very end puts you within walking distance to the island. That's the coolest thing to do, too! You can walk right out to the island an... This is our favorite beach to go to! The kids easily find Petoskey stones, Charlevoix stones, and other fossils. The beach is mostly sandy with some stoney areas, and places to sit in the shade of trees. There are 3 parking areas for beach access, and the one at the very end puts you within walking distance to the island. That's the coolest thing to do, too! You can walk right out to the island and then walk around it! The camping is also pretty great, and there are nice/easy trails to hike. No electricity, vault toilets, water available. Good for tents and small trailers, like pop-ups. There is a cement factory nearby that produces a constant humming noise, and small planes frequently fly overhead between Charlevoix and Beaver Island.

My wife and I spent a peaceful morning rock hounding at Fisherman’s Island State Park in Charlevoix, Michigan, and it was a truly rewarding experience. The quiet shoreline, especially in the early hours, offered a perfect setting to search for Charlevoix and Petoskey stones. We found a few beautiful specimens and really enjoyed the simple joy of exploring together. This spot is a hidden gem for an... My wife and I spent a peaceful morning rock hounding at Fisherman’s Island State Park in Charlevoix, Michigan, and it was a truly rewarding experience. The quiet shoreline, especially in the early hours, offered a perfect setting to search for Charlevoix and Petoskey stones. We found a few beautiful specimens and really enjoyed the simple joy of exploring together. This spot is a hidden gem for anyone who appreciates Michigan’s natural beauty and the thrill of uncovering unique rocks along the water’s edge.

I stayed at campsite 80, which is one of the lucrative lakefront campsites that are damn near impossible to reserve on a summer weekend. Unlike the other lakefront campsites, site 80 is not actually a lakefront site. You can only see the lake in the distance and have to walk probably 50 yards down an uneasy path to the lake. For site 80, you have to park along the roadway and walk a very short... I stayed at campsite 80, which is one of the lucrative lakefront campsites that are damn near impossible to reserve on a summer weekend. Unlike the other lakefront campsites, site 80 is not actually a lakefront site. You can only see the lake in the distance and have to walk probably 50 yards down an uneasy path to the lake. For site 80, you have to park along the roadway and walk a very short distance to the campsite—tents only at this site. My only real disappointment came from the fact that the main walkway to the beach for the entire south campground ran right along my campsite, so there was always a constant flow of people walking by. There really was no privacy, but the isolated campsite was much quieter than the rest of the south campground. The park itself is undeveloped and very rustic, which I enjoyed. The beach stretched for miles, and it was very soft and clean; the water was a crystal clear blue, although the water temperature was unseasonable cold for late July. The park is a nice and peaceful place to go rustic camping, and you’re only a few minutes away from Charlevoix. Even though campsite 80 didn’t really meet my expectations, it is definitely a park I will visit again in the future. There are always available campsites here.