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Wildcat Swamp

Hosted by Chelsea · Wellston, Michigan

6 guests max

100%

·

2 reviews

C

Nomadic camping

Best for self-contained campers. There are no toilets, showers, or potable water at this Hipcamp.

🌌 First Light Pines Primitive Tent Site • Private Forest Clearing • State Land Access The night before we signed the papers for this homestead, our family camped right here — beneath the tall pines and an indigo sky like the one in our photo. This place holds deep meaning for us, and now we’re opening it up for others seeking solitude, stillness, and the magic of the woods. First Light Pines sits on the backside of our 146-acre off-grid property, in a quiet clearing near the base of a wooded hill that borders state land. A seasonal dirt road and two-track lead you in — rustic, but passable by any vehicle with decent clearance. (If your car handles like a Chevy Equinox, you’ll be just fine.) ⸻ 🏕️ What’s Included: • Secluded forest clearing for 1–2 tents (up to 6 guests) • Fire ring • Access to state land right behind your site • Trail nearby that leads toward the Pine River • Quiet, minimal traffic — though a local vehicle may pass on the two-track ⸻ 💡 Optional Add-Ons: • 🔥 Firewood bundle – $5 • 💧 5-gallon water jug with hand pump – $5 • 🪣 Bucket toilet w/ pine shavings, TP, and sanitizer – $10 • 🗑️ Trash disposal – $5 • 🥚 Fresh eggs (when available) – $5 Comfort Bundle – $25 (includes firewood, water, trash disposal, and bucket toilet) ⸻ 🚙 Know Before You Come: • Accessed by seasonal dirt road with a steep hill — SUVs or vehicles like a Chevy Equinox or better recommended • Not suitable for trailers or very low-clearance vehicles • Primitive camping — no built toilet or water unless you choose upgrades • Bring your own shovel or rent a toilet • Pack out trash or purchase pickup ⸻ This is more than a campsite — it’s a beginning. We hope this sacred corner of the woods gives you the same sense of possibility and peace it gave us. If you have any questions, concerns, or need accommodations beyond what is mentioned in the description, please let us know and we will do what we can to meet your needs.🏕️ Camp Smudgealot Smudge it, don’t judge it. Welcome to Camp Smudgealot — a sacred-ish, off-grid forest retreat where the trees are tall, the vibes are grounded, and the bathroom is (almost) officially a structure. We’re a Native family living about half a mile away, tending 146 acres of Northern Michigan woods — a place we fell in love with the night before we signed the deed. Now we’re honored to share it with kind and curious guests. This is a space for slow mornings, soul-deep breaths, barefoot wanders, and campfire thoughts. Come reconnect with the land — and maybe yourself. ⸻ 🌿 What You’ll Find Here: • A quiet campsite tucked beneath whispering pines • A fire pit for meals, warmth, and marshmallow therapy • A picnic table is coming soon — until then, bring camp chairs or eat forest-floor style • Optional smudging sessions using traditional sacred herbs • Cell service available (AT&T works best!) • No Wi-Fi — your signal here is spiritual • No running water — please bring your own, or we’ll leave filled jugs on request • Peace, presence, and just enough dirt to feel human again ⸻ 🚽 About That Toilet… We’ve officially retired the bucket (may it rest in composted peace). A real cedar outhouse is in the works — and by “in the works,” we mean my husband will build it immediately upon your booking. If, for any reason, nature or toddlers delay that process, we’ll have a clean, private bucket toilet set up with pine shavings, TP, and hand sanitizer. Either way, you’ll have what you need — just don’t forget your flashlight. 💫 Included with your stay 🌲 Surrounded by trees 🛠️ Outhouse ETA: as soon as someone gives us a reason to finish it ⸻ 🪶 Smudging (Optional but Meaningful) We are a Native family and offer gentle, respectful smudging sessions using herbs like sage, cedar, or sweetgrass to cleanse energy, honor transitions, or help you land more fully in your body and this land. Whether you’re releasing something, calling something in, or just curious — you’re welcome to ask. Whether you’re here to stargaze, smudge, hunt, heal, cry quietly in a tent, or just grill something over a fire while contemplating your entire life — Camp Smudgealot welcomes you. Come smudge. Come breathe. Come stay a while.

Rig suitability

Vehicles under 20 feet allowed

We do not recommend anything bigger than a pop up camper or small travel trailer.

Allowed rigs: travel trailers, toy haulers, pop-up campers, class B RVs, campervans, cars, truck campers, and rooftop tents

Pull-in site

Surface type: Grass or field

Surface levelness: Requires leveling

No class A RVs, class C RVs, and fifth wheels

Doesn't accommodate slideouts

Generators allowed

No electrical hookup

No water hookup

No sewage hookup

No TV hookup

What to expect

4WD recommended

A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended for best access.

RV/tent site

You'll have this Hipcamp all to yourself.

6 guests max

No campfires

No toilet; campers must bring camp toilets

A bucket toilet with

No pets

No potable water

No showers

Pack it out

Cooking equipment absent

Picnic table absent

No wifi

Laundry absent

Hot Tub absent

No playground

Things to know

Getting there

Check in: 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Check out: Before 12:00 PM

On arrival: Head straight to site

Cancellation policy:

Minimum nights: 1 night

Accepts bookings: 12 months out

Park at listing

No wheelchair access

Max 2 vehicles

4WD recommended

During your trip

Follow the

Leave it better

Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.

Select a site

RV/tent sites

1 site

Camp Smudgealot

100%

(2)

RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 20 ft

🏕️ Camp Smudgealot Smudge it, don’t judge it. Welcome to Camp Smudgealot — a sacred-ish, off-grid forest retreat where the trees are tall, the vibes are grounded, and the bathroom is (almost) officially a structure. We’re a Native family living about half a mile away, tending 146 acres of Northern Michigan woods — a place we fell in love with the night before we signed the deed. Now we’re honored to share it with kind and curious guests. This is a space for slow mornings, soul-deep breaths, barefoot wanders, and campfire thoughts. Come reconnect with the land — and maybe yourself. ⸻ 🌿 What You’ll Find Here: • A quiet campsite tucked beneath whispering pines • A fire pit for meals, warmth, and marshmallow therapy • A picnic table is coming soon — until then, bring camp chairs or eat forest-floor style • Optional smudging sessions using traditional sacred herbs • Cell service available (AT&T works best!) • No Wi-Fi — your signal here is spiritual • No running water — please bring your own, or we’ll leave filled jugs on request • Peace, presence, and just enough dirt to feel human again ⸻ 🚽 About That Toilet… We’ve officially retired the bucket (may it rest in composted peace). A real cedar outhouse is in the works — and by “in the works,” we mean my husband will build it immediately upon your booking. If, for any reason, nature or toddlers delay that process, we’ll have a clean, private bucket toilet set up with pine shavings, TP, and hand sanitizer. Either way, you’ll have what you need — just don’t forget your flashlight. 💫 Included with your stay 🌲 Surrounded by trees 🛠️ Outhouse ETA: as soon as someone gives us a reason to finish it ⸻ 🪶 Smudging (Optional but Meaningful) We are a Native family and offer gentle, respectful smudging sessions using herbs like sage, cedar, or sweetgrass to cleanse energy, honor transitions, or help you land more fully in your body and this land. Whether you’re releasing something, calling something in, or just curious — you’re welcome to ask. Whether you’re here to stargaze, smudge, hunt, heal, cry quietly in a tent, or just grill something over a fire while contemplating your entire life — Camp Smudgealot welcomes you. Come smudge. Come breathe. Come stay a while.

4WD recommended

No campfires

No toilet

No potable water

No pets

No electrical hookup

Reviews

100% Recommend2 ratings · 2 reviews

Recommends

· August 2026

Quiet setting, Dark skies

Tent

This is a beautiful, small campsite with a nice fire pit. It’s primitive, but we had no problem car camping for a night. The two track roads that connect to the national forest makes for nice, quiet walking. The real highlight was the stargazing, though! With a clear view of the SE sky in one of the darkest parts in the Lower Peninsula, this makes for a truly awe-inspiring view. Thanks for hosting us!

Recommends

· May 2026

Tent

Wonderful spot on a beautiful property. With the National Forest property line about 200ft from camp, this spot is amazing for someone wanting to wander. Will be back again.

Location

Wellston, Manistee County, Michigan, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Wildcat Swamp

Things to know

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RV/tent sites

Camp Smudgealot

Reviews

Location

Hosted by Chelsea L.

Things to do nearby

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