🏔 Wilderness
North Manitou Island Wilderness
About This Permit
North Manitou Island in Lake Michigan is accessible only by ferry from Leland, Michigan — 8 miles offshore and genuinely remote. The island's 15,000 acres are managed as wilderness by the National Lakeshore; backcountry permits are required for all overnight stays. The absence of designated campsites (primitive camping island-wide) and no vehicle traffic make it one of the most remote experiences in the Midwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to North Manitou Island?
The only access is by passenger ferry from Leland, MI via Manitou Island Transit, running late April through October. No advance reservations for camping permits — permits are guaranteed as long as you have ferry tickets and are purchased at check-in on the day of departure.
Are there designated campsites on North Manitou?
No — North Manitou allows primitive camping island-wide in the backcountry. However, camping is prohibited within 300 feet of the Lake Michigan high water mark, inland lakes, streams, ponds, buildings, or other camps. This freedom still makes North Manitou unique among NPS units.
What is there to do on North Manitou Island?
Roughly 26 miles of trails through old fields, beech-maple forest, and Lake Michigan shoreline with views of Sleeping Bear Dunes on the mainland. Wildlife viewing (deer, foxes, eagles) is excellent. No services on the island — bring everything you need.
Key Facts
- State
- MI
- Season
- Late April – October (ferry-dependent; no winter ferry service)
- Quota
- Maximum 10 people per group; fee is $10/night for groups of 1–4, $20/night for groups of 5–10; no site-specific assignments — primitive camping island-wide with buffer rules
- Trailhead
- Leland, MI ferry dock (Manitou Island Transit)
- Entry Point
- North Manitou Island Village dock; Sleeping Bear Dunes NL
- Difficulty
- 2/5(Moderate)
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