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State Park

Photo: USDA BWCPublic domainRecreation.gov

Bowman Bridge Campground

Manistee National Forest · Baldwin, MI

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State parks set their own rules and reservation systems. Fire bans, road closures, and operating dates change seasonally — check the state park website before traveling.

Directions

17

Total Sites

0.0

0 Reviews

13 RV4 Group

Official sources & verification

Managed by State Park

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Source of truth

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We display cached information from agency feeds. Hours, fees, permits, closures, fire restrictions, and conditions change without notice. Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Confirm current conditions for this campground using the links above before you go — you are responsible for compliance. Last verified by us: Jul 10, 2026. Our copy is more than a month old — please reconfirm with the agency before relying on it.Spot an error in our data?

Live availability

via Recreation.gov
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Availability is a recent snapshot, not a live hold — you always complete the booking on recreation.gov.

About

Overview Bowman Bridge Campground is perfect for true nature immersion. Campers come here for easy access to the Pere Marquette National Scenic River and for the delightful views of the great outdoors. Recreation The top three activities for campers at Bowman Bridge are canoeing, fishing and hiking. Anglers cast for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout. Watercraft rentals are available at two nearby liveries in Baldwin. A permit is required to float the river from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Monday of Labor Day weekend. Watercraft hours during the permit season are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hikers can head up the campground's connector trail to the North Country National Scenic Trail. This "north country" trail weaves through many scenic, historic and cultural areas across seven states, measuring 4,600 miles end-to-end. Facilities Campsites are in a wooded setting, but due to a tornado that passed through in 2005, tall trees and shade are less dense than in neighboring campgrounds. The campground has a single loop 16 paved family campsites. There are also 4 walk-in family campsites and 4 tent-only group sites that can accommodate up to 20 people each. Natural Features The campground is situated along the Pere Marquette National Scenic River, a 66-mile stretch of clear, unspoiled waters within the Huron-Manistee National Forests in Michigan. Large blocks of public land offering opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, photography, and hunting can be found in the surrounding area. Nearby Attractions Visitors enjoy exploring the extent of the Pere Marquette National Scenic River. Other nearby attractions include the Bowman Lake Foot Travel Area and the historic community of Idlewild.

Reviews

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How busy it gets

Recreation.gov
Well reviewed4.3

43 camper reviews on Recreation.gov

Amenities

Flush Toilets
Potable Water
Firewood
Accessible
Picnic Tables
Fire Rings
Trash Service

Cell reception

Camper reports · checked Sep 29, 2026

Some Coverage

Average 1.5 of 4 bars · 35 reports across 3 carriers

Phone calls may occasionally drop; text messages may be delayed. Data service may be unusable. Drop-outs are common and it may be necessary to search for signal. Social media likely unusable.

  • Verizon

    Some Coverage

    1.9/4

    23 reports

  • AT&T

    Major Issues

    0.8/4

    5 reports

  • T-Mobile

    Major Issues

    1.0/4

    7 reports

Reported by campers on Recreation.gov, not measured by us. Reception varies by handset, weather, and where you stand in the campground. Recreation.gov

Campground Rules

  • Campfires generally permitted — verify current fire restrictions before lighting

Reservations

This campground accepts reservations. Book early for popular dates.

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Individual Sites (17)

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