Crystal Mountain

Find four seasons of adventure while camping in Crystal Mountain.

Find & reserve the best domes near Crystal Mountain, Michigan. Tent, cabin & RV camp on private & State Parks, on local farms, vineyards & nature preserves.

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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Grand Haven State Park

Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Indiana Dunes State Park

Starved Rock State Park

Warren Dunes State Park

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

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Woods & Stars: For Now.

Watch spring and summer unfold here! Close to protected lands for hiking & mountain biking. Sip fair-trade french press coffee & enjoy homemade muffins. A chance to live close to nature while remaining close to Frankfort, Elberta, beaches,& more. Guests have explored Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City, Empire, etc. from here. Experience tiny house living! 125 sq ft!! A perfect place to celebrate your anniversary & birthday!Learn more about this land:We want to make sure each guest has an awesome experience so please be sure to thoroughly review the listing to make sure this is the experience you are excited about! We have another tiny house on the property. Each tiny house has its own privacy. They are located approx. 40 yards apart, separated by a piece of forest. You will have the whole tiny house to yourselves. Enjoy the hammock, relax by a bonfire, enjoy the stars. We live on the property, not far away so are available if you have any questions, etc. We have a two night minimum stay. There is a book in the house full of info on our favorites...favorite place for breakfast, favorite beach, mt. bike, etc. Other things to note: We have a french press for making coffee and provide fair-trade coffee.   I haven't been able to update the caption on our "outdoor shower-like structure"-this is a rinse station-perfect for cooling down on a hot day!  We have an indoor shower and flush toilet.  We are pet-friendly and have hosted many groups with dogs. There is a $20/per pet/per night fee, which will not be included in your total. Please leave this money before departure. We require pet owners to follow our pet policy. Inquire for a copy of it. We built our family home in the woods behind the tiny house.  When leafed out, the trees protect the view but just want to make sure you are aware of this before you arrive.   Before the leaves are out, you will see the house behind the tiny house.We recently had to have some excavation work done so the area around the tiny house is in need of landscaping and time to re-grow vegetation.  I will be working on this as soon as I can but just wanted to make sure you were aware before your arrival. 

This sign is usually outside of the tiny house.  We respect all people, all races, all sexual orientations, all genders, and so forth and ask our guests to do the same.  

The driveway covered in spring wildflowers in May

Echo Valley Forest Reserve

Echo Valley Forest Reserve is a backcountry tent site located deep within hardwood forest near the center of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, five minutes from Empire Beach, Glen Haven, and Glen Arbor, and just a mile south of Big Glen Lake. This site is completely private, with only one site rented at a time, in the center of a 40-acre parcel, by thousands of acres of National Lakeshore and private forested land. It is abundant with wildlife; listen for thrush, barred owls, ravens, and coyotes. Walk the trails on the property, cook dinner over a wood fire and watch the stars come out, or enjoy fine dining La Becasse or Funistrada, just 2 miles from the site, or a burger at the Friendly Tavern in Empire or Art's Bar in Glen Arbor, both about 5 miles away. Swim at Old Settler's Park on Big Glen or drive to several Lake Michigan beaches in 5 minutes.

The camp site is unmaintained and there is no water or toilet, but it is a spot to pitch a tent and experience the northern forest without the filter of a busy campground. We have just finished installing a graveled drive up the steep hill that leads up to the camp site, so you no longer have to walk up (YEY!). We ask that you please stay on the gravel, and do not drive around the camp in order to keep it as wild as possible. There is room for 2 or 3 cars to park next to camp. Keep in mind it is deep in the woods, so bring a flashlight and perhaps some LED lanterns. 

You can explore the property by hiking west from the camp. There is a rough trail from the camp site that runs up a valley to the hill top with treed views of Big Glen Lake and evening sunshine. The trails are being developed (your foot traffic helps!) so keep an eye out for the pink flagging tape. There is also a big kettle hole formed by glacial ice deposits across the road from the driveway, about 150 feet to the north (no trail). 

There are a ton of great activities close to the camp. Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore has great beaches, swimming, and hiking. Empire Beach is six miles and Glen Haven is 8 miles away. The Heritage Trail in Glen Arbor is a road bike trail that runs from Empire to Bohemian Rd. There are a few mountain bike trails in the area as well (Palmer Woods in Glen Arbor, Arcadia Bluffs trail south of Frankfort, etc). Big Glen access is just a couple miles from the camp at Old Settler Park or at then end of Agnew St (by Funistrada). There isn't a beach on Big Glen but you can swim or hand-launch a boat. There are two nearby restaurants, La Becasse (French) and Trattoria Funistrada (Italian), as well as bar food in Empire and Glen Arbor.

VEHICLE ACCESS - Welcome to Northern Michigan! The camp is accessed off Echo Valley Road, which is a rough, seasonal, unmaintained two-track road that can be sandy, rocky, and rutted. If you have 2-wheel drive, I recommend accessing Echo Valley Road from Benzonia Trail end. Most vehicles are fine on Echo Valley Rd if you drive mindfully. I do not recommend driving an RV or towing a fifth-wheel down Echo Valley Road. 

FIRES AND WOODS - Keep fires in the pit or ring, and always put out completely before leaving the site. We have had some very dry summers lately, as well as wildfires - if you get a Fire Ban notification from HipCamp, because the local Fire Department has issued it due to high risk of wildfire. 

Please do not bring wood from home. Moving firewood is one of the main ways tree pests and diseases are introduced to a region, resulting in a huge loss for our forests (emerald ash borer, beech bark disease). If you would like pre-cut firewood there are several roadside stands on Benzonia Trail and Plowman Road. Please do not cut into live trees! 

SAFETY - We have BLACK BEAR and other curious critters. Practice bear-safe camping by storing food and anything "smelly" in a bear can, by hanging it, or in your car when you are sleeping or not on site. Do not store food in your tent or the critters will come scratching around. Leelanau County also has deer ticks, which carry Lyme disease. Check for ticks daily!

CONTACT - Please TEXT, or message me on HipCamp, if you have any questions of if you need directions or recommendations.

Main fire ring with camping platform looking southeast, towards the meadow, in July

The stone fire pit with platform, looking south in early spring.

View from the camp site looking west towards the trails, in spring.

Meadow fire ring looking east, in early spring

The trail to the car, looking north from the stone fire ring. 

Steep part of the trail up to the camp site - soon to be improved!

Park at the end of the short driveway. There is room for three cars before you start parking each other in. 

You will be camping in the beautiful, peaceful pine forest! 

Leelanau LOVE!

You CAN have campfires! The site is having issues letting me change this. You will LOVE being smack dab in the middle of gorgeous Leelanau County,Michigan in the rustic spot all to yourselves! I also can personally give you some great local spots to visit if you ask!

 Come stay on our 7 acres in your rustic cabin &lt;3 Please bring your own pillows, sleeping bags and towels for the beds! ***THIS LISTING IS ONLY AVAILABLE MAY 23 through OCTOBER 30 as there is no heat *** We want our rustic guests comfy xo xo

Learn more about this land:

Come camp privately in our pine forest at our 1885 Leelanau County, Michigan rustic farm in beautiful northern Michigan &lt;3 We can't wait to see you!  You will have a private camp spot all to yourself near our 1885 Shop Haus &lt;3 Looking forward to having you at the farm - We are just 6 miles to Good Harbor Beach, Lake Michigan on Country Rd 669 - We are just 1 1/2 miles to the Lime Lake public boat launch! Need a place quickly? We may be able to accomodate, just reach out! See you soon! Angela - We are open May 1 - October 30th References available by request --- The CORRECT address location is 7139 S. Stachnik Rd. Maple City, Michigan 49664

Llama Meadows Eco Farm BaseCamp

Llama Meadows Farm is a sixteen acre organic fruit and vegetable farm. Located in Beautiful Benzie Country, in Northwestern Lower Michigan. We are one mile south of Crystal Lake and six miles east of Lake Michigan. Our-house is super insulated and passive solar. We had llamas for their wool and manure. 

 We retired from raising llamas, we had 12 they got old and moved on. We have
around 50 fruit trees. The fruit we grow includes apples, pears, figs and paw paws. We also grow grapes, and kiwis, we also put in filberts, walnuts and pecans. We have a beautiful labyrinth peace garden. Please check Extras for

Pet fees, Campfire Wood and Electric.

Great spot for hammocks at camp under the peace flags. All the amenities made it a restorative stay. The outdoor hot shower was  the best. 

Looking from the back deck to the outside perimeter of the backyard 

Michigan Paradise

Dick and Maxine Alexa lived and worked in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1990, they found their dream home in the beautiful small town of Tustin, MI where they retired and became involved in their new community.  In 2009, Dick and Maxine were diagnosed with different types of lung cancer. Maxine passed in September 2010 and Dick followed in July 2011. Their only child, Marc, could not part with the property ... too many memories and the only thing he had left of his family. Eventually, we prepared to rent it out on Trip Adviser and Airbnb to help cover the costs of the mortgage. As people began renting and sharing their love and bewilderment with this wonder in the woods like Dick and Maxine once did, we knew we had to continue sharing this slice of paradise and, in some way, the legacy of Dick and Maxine now lives on in all the special, lifetime memories made here. Learn more about this land:Set up camp within the outside perimeter of the backyard, within sight of the fire pit and house, or wander farther out into the rolling hills to pitch a tent or utilize an old deer blind for a secluded and more rustic experience. There are two decks, a pond, a swingset and a propane grill where you can lounge, sunbath, cook or play. Turn on the hose in the secluded backyard to wash up or play in the water. 2.5 miles down a winding road that wraps around a lake, you will find an Amish store. Travel another mile and you'll find yourself in the quaint town of Tustin and the trailhead to the White Pine Trail.  

Looking from the driveway toward the house, small main entry deck where the renters for the house enter. 

Looking toward the deck and horseshoe pits, from the driveway

Looking from the house to the back, toward the other side of the year...farther to the left, under the overhang is the gas grill. 

Another look at the tree line, by the pond.  

Looking toward the horseshoe pits, between the bi-level deck and pond.  

Looking into the trees.  the house, backyard and pole barn are nestled on 20 acres of pines.  There are a few hunting blinds that are no longer used and some foot paths throughout.  

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