D.H. Day Campground

D.H. Day Campground is a rustic, wooded campground off M-109, about a mile and a half west of Glen Arbor. Stay here for the walk down to Sleeping Bear Bay, the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail through camp, and an easy base for Glen Haven and the Dune Climb. The loops feel tucked among the trees, though the sites vary in privacy and some neighbors are close.

A path leads from the campground down to a Lake Michigan beach, with a packed-stone slope followed by a boardwalk to the sand. The descent is relatively steep, so remember that the walk back climbs uphill. The boardwalk reaches an accessible bench; there is also one accessible campsite with an adjacent accessible vault toilet.

The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail passes through the campground, so you can set off on foot or by bike without driving to a separate trailhead. Camp roads form several loops, and most are one-way; follow the signs when you head to your site and watch for cyclists and children sharing the drives.

The historic log cabin beside the beach path was built by D.H. Day in 1923–24 as a place for gatherings. Day had donated 32 acres on Glen Arbor Bay in 1920 for Michigan's first state park commission park, a predecessor to the national lakeshore. The one-room cabin still serves educational programs and events, and its porches make it easy to recognize as you pass on the trail.

Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, tent pad, and parking pad. Expect a rustic setup: vault toilets rather than flush toilets, no showers or utility hookups, and shared water spigots that operate seasonally. Firewood is available seasonally, but there is no camp store or ice sales, so pick up food and supplies in nearby Glen Arbor. Every vehicle using the campground must display a park pass. Generators are restricted to sites 1–31 and daytime hours. Camping is seasonal, with a winter closure.