Sugar Maple & Fern Forest

This is a lovely site. Private and wooded with a fire ring and picnic table. The outhouse is a bit of a hike but quite comfortable. We found a zillion mushrooms and went on several hikes at Nature Conservancy properties in the area. Kirsten stopped by and showed us around. All in all, a lovely stay!

This spot was so so so lovely!! Very quiet and tucked away in the woods. Wood was free, and all we had to do was go grab it from various piles along the pathways! The out house was sooo clean. Kirsten was super sweet and shared her vision with us on what she wants to do with the land, and I can't wait to see it come to life! My best friend and I will now be coming here every and bringing others with us :)

Very clean, very rustic and yet hospitable. Was a bit far out of the way of things… more so than I initially thought but if you like rustic this is for you. Super nice outhouse that they built, water is available, there is plenty of firewood and they even left us lighter fluid.

Very nice & private camp site! Kirsten was very accommodating and gave great recommendations about local spots to see. We have family in Cedarville so it was an easy 20 minute drive. Would recommend!

Response from Kirsten, the Host, on July 23rd, 2021

It was so nice to meet you both! Thank you for visiting, it's great you were able to join your family!

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When looking for a place to stay during those precious few getaway days, I will always seek those that offer solitude, nature, quiet, and above all - safe.

Sugar Maple & Fern Forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan checked all of my preferences. I stayed at the beginning of July and experienced the sounds of Loons, Sandhill Cranes, Red-eyed Vireos, Veery, Eastern Wood Peewee, and Yellow-Billed Cuckoos. 

Though the site itself is close to the seasonal road, the recreational users were few.

There is ample room, a much-appreciated picnic table, a fire ring, and a level tent area/parking space. The privy is a minimum four-minute walk from Site 1, so be prepared.

Host Kirsten was very responsive to messages and met me on arrival with a packet of information on the area and to acclimate me to her property. 

To experience the wild places, I walked along the seasonal road and a snowmobile trail that is also used by horse riders and bears. Close by on Caribou Lake Road, there is a state boat launch site where kayak put-in was extremely easy for a lovely evening paddle. A Recreation Passport is required for this boat launch.

As a Verizon customer, I was able to get enough of a 3G signal to send a text msg to let others know I had arrived and to request weather updates. Off-line maps should be downloaded before leaving home.

For a nature-infused primitive camping experience in the Upper Peninsula, I thank Kirsten for her thoughtfulness in providing this space.

Site was quiet, secluded, and very pretty. Composting toilet was clean and pleasant. Host was attentive without being intrusive. Many, many birds could be seen and heard (Loons, Cranes, Owls, Flycatchers, Thrushes, Geese). Cons? If owner eventually has 3 sites with up to 6 people at each site, the single toilet would probably not be sufficient. For us (in our 60s), the walk to the toilet was a bit much (not bad from site 2). Sometimes we would drive to the toilet, but low hanging branches did scratch our vehicle in some spots. You would probably be OK in a car, but we had a truck. Would be nice to have a removable step in the toilet for kids or short folks like us. Had we not had a slip at the local harbor, garbage disposal would likely have been a problem. Overall, pluses outweighed the minuses, especially when you compare this site to more commercial operations. We would stay again, but it may be too rustic for some.

If you’re looking for a private setting with an immaculately maintained and eco-friendly outhouse, this is your place. We made our decision to book this spot while already on our way to the UP from lower Michigan. Kirsten was a great communicator and delightful to work with. She hooked us up with firewood and having rainwater for washing up was a nice feature. The camping space is dry and wooded, located off a narrow, tree-lined dirt road that saw minimal traffic. We made this base-camp for day excursions around the eastern UP. My favorite part about this site are the variety of bird calls you can hear; we heard loons, sandhill cranes, geese, barred owls, eastern screech owls, and of course a cacophony of song birds.

A lovely little site that was everything we hoped for! In addition to the fire ring and picnic table, the outhouse was clean and had rainwater basins for use. Although just off the road, the site felt secluded and we had plenty of privacy. The road is quiet, with only the occasional neighbor passing by. The land is serene and peaceful. Kirsten provided a map with plenty of hiking trails near the property. She also shared her ongoing plans for the property and we’d love to come back as she adds new touches. This was the perfect socially-distant getaway from the city!

Fucking great

Response from Kirsten, the Host, on August 24th, 2020

Wonderful campers!

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