Campsite #1 at Hardwood Campsite On Grand Island, MI

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Tent Site #1

9 reviews
Walk-In 6 people
0 fair
1
Campsite #1 Features: Walk-In access, Back-In parking, Food Storage Locker, Tent Site, Pets Allowed

Campsite Reviews (9)

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@AaronH2375180 · Camped on Aug 27, 2023 at Campsite #1
We stayed at Hardwood for two nights. We had plenty of firewood provided by the Forest Service, water was from the well and very decent and the sunsets were amazing. All of the West side sites are awesome.
@AllyR806 · Camped on Oct 1, 2021 at Campsite #1
Loved it!!
@AllyR3379468 · Camped on Oct 1, 2021 at Campsite #1
Loved it!!
@FrankS243 · Camped on Jun 13, 2021 at Campsite #1
One of my favorite things about this campsite was the privacy you have. The site is set a good ways back in the woods. The second thing I really appreciated was that they was a basic toilet at the site, this wasn’t mentioned on the app. The free fire wool was also a good touch.
@FrankS4577331 · Camped on Jun 13, 2021 at Campsite #1
One of my favorite things about this campsite was the privacy you have. The site is set a good ways back in the woods. The second thing I really appreciated was that they was a basic toilet at the site, this wasn’t mentioned on the app. The free fire wool was also a good touch.
@TerriF931 · Camped on Jun 11, 2021 at Campsite #1
Very nice spot. Metal bear locker as well as a pole. The walk to potable water was less that half a mile. The beach is very close as well.
@TerriF5998844 · Camped on Jun 11, 2021 at Campsite #1
Very nice spot. Metal bear locker as well as a pole. The walk to potable water was less that half a mile. The beach is very close as well.
@NathanG6451658 · Camped on Jun 26, 2020 at Campsite #1
A truly wondrous locale. Hardwood campsite is about a 1/4 mi hike up and inland from waterfall beach. I was there in early July and very glad I bought the $4.99 bug hat from the Ferry Office; it was extremely buggy at the campsite, but it's manageable once you get to the shore, where I spent most of my time.

I put my Old Town Dirigio Kayak in the water behind the Ferry Office about 1pm on Friday, there were gentle winds and minimal wave action. Loaded up with just enough gear for one night/day, I paddled off toward Waterfall Beach, had a late lunch on the water. The views of the cliffs were phenomenal and I was taken with how similar the sandstone lake bottom was to the sandy shores of Lake Michigan further south, with the exception of being rock. I beached my kayak on the north end of Waterfall Beach, and made off for Hardwood Campsite. It's a delightful little spot, the first campsite heading north on the main trail from the beach after you pass the cabin trail. It boasts a food locker and bear pole so it's very convenient to store your items out of animal's reach (as is required by law on the island).
Back to the water for an evening paddle amidst the circling Island Tour boats and pontooning families. Unsurprisingly, the water was chilly - actually colder than when I swam the day before at Black River State Park further west. I would guess the breeze from the NW was pulling up cold water from the depths this time. Gorgeous sunset over one of the smaller islands. Luckily I had my phone and service to check the wave action (highly recommended if your kayaking) and saw that waves were growing past 3' by the following noon - that's a hefty swell for a recreational kayaker without a spray skirt (dry bags of course). So I packed up camp and hit the water around 7am and had a blast teaming up with the growing swells to race back to the Ferry Office. On the road by 9am. Just a brilliant roadtrip layover location.
@NathanG799 · Camped on Jun 26, 2020 at Campsite #1
A truly wondrous locale. Hardwood campsite is about a 1/4 mi hike up and inland from waterfall beach. I was there in early July and very glad I bought the $4.99 bug hat from the Ferry Office; it was extremely buggy at the campsite, but it's manageable once you get to the shore, where I spent most of my time.

I put my Old Town Dirigio Kayak in the water behind the Ferry Office about 1pm on Friday, there were gentle winds and minimal wave action. Loaded up with just enough gear for one night/day, I paddled off toward Waterfall Beach, had a late lunch on the water. The views of the cliffs were phenomenal and I was taken with how similar the sandstone lake bottom was to the sandy shores of Lake Michigan further south, with the exception of being rock. I beached my kayak on the north end of Waterfall Beach, and made off for Hardwood Campsite. It's a delightful little spot, the first campsite heading north on the main trail from the beach after you pass the cabin trail. It boasts a food locker and bear pole so it's very convenient to store your items out of animal's reach (as is required by law on the island).
Back to the water for an evening paddle amidst the circling Island Tour boats and pontooning families. Unsurprisingly, the water was chilly - actually colder than when I swam the day before at Black River State Park further west. I would guess the breeze from the NW was pulling up cold water from the depths this time. Gorgeous sunset over one of the smaller islands. Luckily I had my phone and service to check the wave action (highly recommended if your kayaking) and saw that waves were growing past 3' by the following noon - that's a hefty swell for a recreational kayaker without a spray skirt (dry bags of course). So I packed up camp and hit the water around 7am and had a blast teaming up with the growing swells to race back to the Ferry Office. On the road by 9am. Just a brilliant roadtrip layover location.

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