Hi there!

 

You should camp at Twelvemile Beach Campground when visiting Pictured Rocks!

I think this is the best Pictured Rocks campground, of the 3 regular campgrounds anyway.

Twelvemile Beach is the best campground in Pictured Rocks because it’s the only regular campground where you’ll be able to see Lake Superior from your campsite!

If you are doing backcountry camping in Pictured Rocks, then there are also some backcountry campgrounds that come with Lake Superior views!

No matter which type of camping you are doing, you cannot camp for free in Pictured Rocks.

 

So you’re planning a camping trip in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore!

There are 3 regular campgrounds in Pictured Rocks, and the Twelvemile Beach campground near Twelvemile Beach and Lake Superior is one of them.

And if you think that camping with views of Lake Superior makes for a perfect camping trip… then the Twelvemile Beach Campground is the best campground in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore out of the 3 main Pictured Rocks campgrounds!

 

Twelvemile beach campground. car camping. tent camping. rv camping. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping great lakes. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping great lakes. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. car camping. tent camping. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping great lakes. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. rv camping. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping great lakes. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. car camping. tent camping. rv camping. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping great lakes. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping. twelve mile beach camping. sand dunes. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

 

More for your trip to the UP beyond Twelvemile Beach campground

If you’re interested in camping at Twelvemile Beach campground in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, then you may also be interested in these things around the UP:

 

First, some quick things to know about the Twelvemile Beach campground that’s located in Pictured Rocks.

Then, a bit on how to make camping reservations.

 

 

Things to know about camping at Twelvemile Beach Campground in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Twelvemile Beach campground info. Pictured Rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

 

 

1. The Twelvemile Beach Campground is located on the Grand Marais side (eastern side) of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Grand Marais MI can be thought of as one of the gateway towns of Pictured Rocks.

 

 

2. The campground is right near Twelvemile Beach.

Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

 

Lake Superior does tend to be cold for most people, but people do go swimming at Lake Superior beaches. And although it is a lake, in many ways Lake Superior can act like an ocean, so take care! (There is a reason there are areas of the Lake Superior shoreline that have been called shipwreck coast of the graveyard of Lake Superior.)

 

Lake Superior swimming near Twelvemile Beach campground. can you swim in lake superior. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

 

 

3. The campground is perched above the beach.

Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

 

 

4. There are paths to the beach directly from the campground.

Lake Superior beach trail from Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Lake Superior beach trail from Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Lake Superior beach trail from Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Lake Superior beach trail from Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Lake Superior beach trail from Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

 

 

5. You can get a campsite with views of Lake Superior at Twelvemile Beach campground!

Twelvemile beach campground. tent camping. great lakes camping. lakefront camping. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping great lakes. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

 

 

6. There is a trail that goes along the campground so you can go for a leisurely walk with views of Lake Superior!

Lake Superior trail along Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog
👆 Spot the tent!

 

Lake Superior trail along Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog
👆 Spot the tent!

 

Lake Superior trail along Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Lake Superior trail along Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Lake Superior trail along Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Lake Superior trail along Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Lake Superior trail along Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior beach campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

 

 

7. You can watch a Lake Superior sunset right near your campsite!

Lake Superior beach sunset from Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Lake Superior beach sunset from Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

Lake Superior beach sunset from Twelvemile Beach campground. Lake Superior campground. Pictured Rocks beach camping. up michigan travel blog

 

 

8. The Twelvemile Beach campground is at the eastern end of Twelvemile Beach.

This eastern end of Twelvemile Beach is also the main public access for Twelvemile Beach.

And, being called Twelvemile Beach, this beach is something like 12 miles long!

There are also a number of backcountry campsites along Twelvemile Beach.

At the western end of Twelvemile Beach is also another regular (drive-in) campground, the Little Beaver Lake campground. This one isn’t directly along Lake Superior, and it’s requires a hike to get to Lake Superior from the campground.

 

 

9. You can search for colorful rocks at Twelvemile Beach.

find color rocks near Twelvemile Beach campground. up michigan travel blog

find color rocks near Twelvemile Beach campground. up michigan travel blog

find color rocks near Twelvemile Beach campground. up michigan travel blog

find color rocks near Twelvemile Beach campground. up michigan travel blog

 

You can look for the colorful rocks that Lake Superior is famous for. Just look, don’t take the rocks, though! As a national lakeshore, all nature, including the rocks are protected.

 

 

10. You can see dune grass around Twelvemile Beach.

see dune grass near Twelvemile Beach campground. pictured rocks camping sand dunes. up michigan travel blog

see dune grass near Twelvemile Beach campground. pictured rocks camping sand dunes. up michigan travel blog

 

Dune grass is said to be fragile and an important part of the coastal ecosystem. So take care not to step on it!

 

 

11. The North Country Trail goes through the Twelvemile Beach campground.

North Country Trail near Twelvemile Beach campground. pictured rocks backcountry camping. backpacking pictured rocks. up michigan travel blog

North Country Trail near Twelvemile Beach campground. pictured rocks backcountry camping. backpacking pictured rocks. up michigan travel blog

North Country Trail near Twelvemile Beach campground. pictured rocks backcountry camping. backpacking pictured rocks. up michigan travel blog

 

You can hike the North Country Trail to the east from Twelvemile Beach campground:

  • The Benchmark backcountry campground is around 0.9 miles away.
  • The Lake Superior overlook beach is around 2.1 miles away.
  • The Hurricane River campground is around 3.1 miles away.
  • The Au Sable Lighthouse is around 4.5 miles away.
  • The Au Sable East backcountry campground is around 4.9 miles away.
  • The Log Slide overlook is around 6.8 miles away.

 

You can hike the North Country Trail to the west from Twelvemile Beach campground:

  • The Sevenmile backcountry campground is around 2.8 miles away.
  • The Pine Bluff backcountry campground is around 7 miles away.
  • The Beaver Creek backcountry campground is around 8.3 miles away.
  • The Coves backcountry campground is around 9.8 miles away.

 

 

12. You can hike through a white birch forest on the White Birch Nature Trail directly from the campground.

white birch forest and white birch nature trail in pictured rocks near twelvemile beach campground. up michigan travel blog

white birch forest and white birch nature trail in pictured rocks near twelvemile beach campground. up michigan travel blog

 

A request from the National Park Service:

Please do not peel the birch bark.

It will not grow back and kills the tree.

 

white birch forest and white birch nature trail in pictured rocks near twelvemile beach campground. up michigan travel blog

white birch forest and white birch nature trail in pictured rocks near twelvemile beach campground. up michigan travel blog

white birch forest and white birch nature trail in pictured rocks near twelvemile beach campground. up michigan travel blog

 

 

13. The Twelvemile Beach campground is for tent camping and RV camping.

Twelvemile Beach campground. best lake superior tent camping in pictured rocks. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground. best lake superior tent camping in pictured rocks. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground. best lake superior tent camping in pictured rocks. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground. best lake superior tent camping in pictured rocks. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground. best lake superior car camping in pictured rocks. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground. best lake superior rv camping in pictured rocks. up michigan travel blog

 

 

14. The campsites come with a tent pad.

This will be flat gravel ground to set up your tent.

 

Twelvemile Beach campground. tent camping with tent pad. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground. tent camping with tent pad. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground. tent camping with tent pad. up michigan travel blog

 

 

15. Twelvemile Beach campground is a “rustic” campground.

 

 

16. There is no electricity at the campground.

There is no electricity at Twelvemile Beach Campground, or at any other campgrounds in the national lakeshore park.

 

 

17. There are no showers at the campground.

There are no showers at Twelvemile Beach Campground, or at any other campgrounds in the national lakeshore park.

 

 

18. There are basic no-flush toilets at the campground.

Twelvemile Beach campground toilet bathroom. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground toilet bathroom. up michigan travel blog

 

 

19. There is a faucet at the campground for drinking water.

Twelvemile Beach campground drinking water. up michigan travel blog

 

 

20. There are bears in Pictured Rocks.

bears around Twelvemile Beach campground. bears pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

 

It’s said that a fed bear is a dead bear. This means that once bears start to see humans as a source of food, they can become a threat to humans, and that means a potential threat to you! If a bear is believed to think of humans as a source of food, that bear may be killed.

Currently, bears in Pictured Rocks are generally not seen as a threat to people. But it takes everyone, including all campers, to keep it like that and to keep everyone safe, while you’re camping, and to keep the campers that come after you safe!

Among the things that are noted are to be sure to take care to pick up after yourself after you eat. You want to avoid leaving food in your tent, and be sure to store all food in your car. This also means it would be better if you didn’t eat inside your tent at all.

Another thing is to also try not to keep scented items inside your tent. Scented items can even include things like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and sunscreen.

 

bears around Twelvemile Beach campground. bears pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

bears around Twelvemile Beach campground. bears pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

bears around Twelvemile Beach campground. bears pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

bears around Twelvemile Beach campground. bears pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

 

Before you go camping, you can read up on bears in Pictured Rocks (pdf), you can also read more about hiking and camping with bears in national parks.

 

 

21. There’s a bear-proof food storage box at the campground if you don’t have a car.

bear-proof food storage container at Twelvemile Beach campground. backpacking pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

 

 

22. There are “bear-proof” trash cans at the campground.

You will see bear-proof trash cans at the Twelvemile Beach campground and all over the park.

 

bear-proof trash cans at Twelvemile Beach campground. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

 

 

23. Biting flies may be a problem in the area.

Twelvemile Beach campground biting flies in pictured rocks. up michigan travel blog

 

 

24. Mornings may be chilly!

Twelvemile Beach campground. july weather pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog
Mid-July and wearing a beanie?! 

 

Twelvemile Beach campground is open and exposed to the winds that come across Lake Superior so it can make it feel a bit cooler. Early mornings and late evenings may feel cold so be sure to pack some extra layers just in case! Check the low temperatures of Grand Marais MI and pack for cooler weather!

 

 

25. Summer days are long!

In June and July, there are days when sunrise is before 6am and sunset isn’t until after 9:30pm in Grand Marais MI!

That means time for lots of outdoor activities!

 

Twelvemile Beach campground. june. july. pictured rocks camping. summer sunset. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground. june. july. pictured rocks camping. summer sunset. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile Beach campground. june. july. pictured rocks camping. summer sunset. up michigan travel blog

 

 

And finally…

What to do as a day trip (or half day trip) from Twelvemile Beach Campground

How far is the Twelvemile Beach Campground from other Pictured Rocks activities?

  • Log Slide overlook –  20 minute drive
  • Trail to Chapel Falls / Chapel Rock / Chapel Beach / Chapel Mosquito loop (aka the cliffs hike) –  45 minute drive
  • Miners Castle Point overlook – 50 minute drive

For more activities, see:

More around the UP:

 

Read the reviews of the Twelvemile Beach campground.

 

 

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Now…

How to make camping reservations at Twelvemile Beach Campground

Twelvemile beach campground pictured rocks camping reservations. up michigan travel blog

 

The official website for making a Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore camping reservation through the National Park Service is recreation.gov.

You can type in Twelvemile Beach Campground for the search, and then go from there.

You’ll be able to find an updated campground map too. (Check the photos section.)

You can also see the individual campsites that are available. If you click on an individual campsite, it will also give you the basics of the campsite. If you have flexible dates, you can also search the availability by date. This can also help you determine if you should book soon or not, based on the availability of the campsites. If you’re looking to camp in the summer, then book sooner rather than later!

There are also Twelvemile Beach Campground reviews you can read on the camping reservation website.

 

 

Cost of camping at Twelvemile Beach campground

The cost of camping at Twelvemile Beach campground is around $15 per night. See here for updated camping fees.

 

 

Checking in to your campsite

There is no official check-in for camping at the Twelvemile Beach campground. You’ll need to have your camping “permit” printed off before you go. This means printing off your camping reservation confirmation that was e-mailed to you. You’ll get instructions once you book your campsite. And then you’ll stick that on the campsite post when you get to your campsite.

So once you are in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore park and approaching the campground, you’ll start to see signs for the Twelvemile Beach campground. And then off you go to find your individual campsite!

 

Getting to Twelvemile beach campground. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Getting to Twelvemile beach campground. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Getting to Twelvemile beach campground. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Getting to Twelvemile beach campground. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Getting to Twelvemile beach campground. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground pictures. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground pictures. campsite 1. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground pictures. campsite 4. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground pictures. campsite 5. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground pictures. campsite 17. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground pictures. campsite 19. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground pictures. campsite 25. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground pictures. campsite 27. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground pictures. campsite 34. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

Twelvemile beach campground pictures. pictured rocks camping. up michigan travel blog

 

 

And that’s a bit about camping at Twelvemile Beach campground!

 

More in Pictured Rocks:

 

The other national lakeshore in Michigan:

 

See more Michigan campgrounds near Lake Superior!

And more ideas for planning your Upper Peninsula Michigan road trip!

The best of Michigan’s national lakeshore parks.

 

HAPPY CAMPING AT TWELVEMILE BEACH CAMPGROUND!

 

Twelvemile beach campground. car camping. tent camping. rv camping. Best Lake Superior campgrounds in upper peninsula michigan. pictured rocks camping great lakes. twelve mile beach camping. up michigan travel blog

 

 

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