Gabions Campground
Gabions Campground is a national forest campground in Michigan. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- Michigan
- Coordinates
- 44.62105, -83.84706
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Non-motorized Boating, Off Highway Vehicle Trails, Off Road Vehicle Trails, Paddling, River Trips, Snowmobile Trails, Tubing
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 989-826-3252
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Gabions Campground
Overview Gabions Campground offers camping on the National Scenic stretch of the Au Sable River. Natural springs are common on this section of the river, including a small one at the river's edge near the gabions. Gabions are rock-filled wire baskets that are placed along the riverbank to help reduce erosion. The Shore-to-Shore Trail passes near the campground; however, Gabions is not a designated horse camp and horse camping is not permitted. Wildlife and waterfowl viewing opportunities exist; please respect wildlife and observe from a distance. Recreation • Water Activites: Anglers can boat, wade, and fish from shore. Fish species found in the Au Sable River include bass, pike, brown trout, walleye, perch, sunfish, steelhead, and salmon. The water flows at a speed of 2 mph. The Au Sable River provides opportunities for non-motorized boating using watercraft such as canoes, kayaks, and rafts. 4001 Canoe Access is a short drive and provides developed access to the Au Sable river. Alcona Canoe Rental in nearby Glennie and Hinchman's Acres Resort in Mio provide watercraft rentals for canoes, kayaks, and tubes. • Hiking: Visitors can walk the Shore-to-Shore Horse Trail which passes through the campground. This trail is open to hiking and horseback riding. Hikers should be aware this is not a loop trail. Additionally, hikers can drive southwest on Au Sable River road to reach the Ruffed Grouse trail head for a short leasurely 0.6 mile loop through the forest. • OHV Ridin
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources · 32 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- Foster Blue Water Oil · 14 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 289 designated routes (359 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabions Campground | Private campground | under 0.1 mi | $10 | — |
| Gabions Campground | National forest campground | under 0.1 mi | — | — |
| Bear Island Backcountry Campsites | National forest camping area | 2.3 mi | — | — |
| Bear Island Primitive Campsite | Free campsite | 2.4 mi | Free | — |
| Buttercup Campground | Private campground | 3.6 mi | — | — |
| Buttercup Backcountry Campsites | National forest camping area | 3.7 mi | — | — |
Open Gabions Campground in DryRig
Save it offline, check your rig's clearance on the drive in, and see what's nearby on the map.
Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.