Rec and Roll: Autumn Camping

The crisp cool air, the multitude of colors and the majesty of an autumn sunset are just a couple of reasons that fall is one of the best seasons to go camping in Michigan. 

It’s nice not having to worry about bugs, or those summer mornings where you wake up in your tent being baked alive by the morning sun. Fall camping is definitely a different beast, and a beauteous one at that.

Brighton residents are lucky to have so many options to choose from when it comes to camping locally.  

The has a variety of campgrounds with rustic campsites, which generally means there are no electrical hookups. I love camping here because there are tons of activities to keep you busy.

Hiking and mountain bike trails are abundant at the Brighton Recreation Area, and they can be a fun way to spend your day. Many of the trails are interspersed with small and large lakes and swimming holes that are great for fishing, so bring a pole and some tackle along.

My all-time favorite campground in the area is the Crooked Lake Rustic Campground in Pinckney for its beautiful views of Crooked Lake, with many of its sites backing right up to the water. In the summer, the bugs can get bad since the sites are so close to the water, but that shouldn’t be an issue this time of the year. 

There is great fishing in Crooked Lake, as well. Last time I was there camping with friends we witnessed one man pull a 16-inch largemouth bass out of the water just off the dock that is in the center of the campground. I vividly remember watching him walk back to his campsite, chest puffed out, with a satisfied look on his face that said, “I just caught my dinner.”

The best campsites at Crooked Lake are near the back of the campground that are on the water. These are the best places to watch the sunset at Crooked Lake, as that giant tangerine orb sinks into the tree line on the opposite side of the lake from the campground.

All campsites at Crooked Lake have a fire ring for a fire, so bring some hot dogs to roast, and definitely remember to bring all the fixings to make s'mores. Camping just isn’t camping without s'mores.

One other thing to consider with autumn camping is making sure that you are warm and comfortable when you sleep. The farther off the ground you are, the warmer you will be. Sleeping directly on the ground will draw your body heat out of you, leaving you cold and shivering. Try sleeping on a couple layers of blankets, or even an air mattress or a hammock. Being just a couple of inches off the ground makes a huge difference.

So as the weather continues to cool off, and the days continue to grow shorter, I find that the best way to prepare for a long winter is to spend as much time as possible outside enjoying the magical Michigan autumn.