Elk Canoe Campground
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Elk Canoe Campground
This campground is located in the middle of the 66-mile Scenic portion of the river. The camps are set back from the river in openings within a forested setting. As paddlers travel down the river they will see many meadows and locations to fish. Some campers will park at Upper Branch Bridge and walk to the campsites from there. This is a very popular fishing area. Brochure with Map : This brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller. Flickr Photo Album
Before you go
Season
May 1 – October 31
Fees
Recreation Enhancement Act Fee - Watercraft Permits - • Reservations are not required, but are recommended. Visit the Passes and Permits section for more information.
Hours
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week unless otherwise posted. Forest quiet hours apply.
Restrictions
As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you on-line or at any office of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forests. Applicable Orders - • Motorized Vehicle Use of Roads, Trails and Off-road Areas; R904-14-02 • Occupancy and Use - Developed Recreation Areas, Dispersed Areas, Being Publicly Nude, Marine Prohibitions, Parking and Sanitation; R904-14-03 • Pere Marquette National Scenic River Corridor; R904-14-14 Highlights - Camping is prohibited, except at designated campgrounds or campsites.
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.