Camp at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park at the north end of the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Fort Wilkins was built in 1844 after the acquisition of what is part of the western UP by the US Army. It served to protect the copper mining area.
The army abandoned the fort in 1870. Michigan turned it into a state park in 1923. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. During the summer, costumed personnel portray mid-19th-century army life on the northern frontier.
Fort Wilkins Camping
The state park has 155 campsites over two campgrounds. Camping is available from May to mid-October.
All sites are electric and have a fire ring and picnic table. The West Campground has some 50 Amp pull-through sites.
The East campground is great for multiple families to camp together, especially in the interior sites.
The West Campground has foliage between sites, so sites seem open. It has more shade. The West side is better for larger RVs.
Make sure to have leveling blocks, as site many sites are uneven. Two sites share power poles, so a longer cord is best.
The park store sells various RV and camping supplies, snacks, sub sandwiches, ice cream, and souvenirs.
The registration station sells firewood.
The campground often has campsites available, including several first-come, first-serve sites. Make reservations if you want a particular site or sites together.
The East campground has a beautiful historic building that houses bathrooms and a laundry room. The wood interior is gorgeous!
Wi-Fi is available near the bathroom, but the strength of connectivity fluctuates. No cell service is available.
Things to do in and around Fort Wilkins HSP
- Visit the fort
- Paddle on Lake Fanny Hooe (great launch point on the west campground) or in the Lake Superior harbor
- See the lighthouse
- Look for glowdalites (yoopers) and agate stones
- Watch the sunset over Lake Superior
- Swim (if you can stand cold water)
- Hike
- Bike (see below)
- Go to the top of Brockway Drive We recommend driving up from Copper Harbor and turning around at the top. The western part is rough.
- Restaurants and Shops in Copper Harbor
- Picnic along the inlet there are several access points on the north end of town
- Hike around
- Tour a Copper mine
- Visit a Keweenaw National Historic Site, of which Fort Wilkins is part of
Copper Harbor Mountain Biking
The area has several excellent mountain bike trails ranging from blue to double black diamond. The Copper Harbor Trails Club built them. The trails are well-maintained and marked.
Several are bidirectional, but most bikers like to shuttle up and bike down. Keweenaw Adventure Company has a shuttle that runs daily in the summer months. The cost is $12 per run or $48 for the day.
Fort Wilkins is quite remote out at the top of the Keweenaw Peninsula. It is worth the drive out, but do it during daylight.
We drove Hwy 41 up and back via M26 through Eagle Harbor. Take it slowly and stop at the roadside parks along the way. You will enjoy pretty views of waterfalls and Lake Superior.
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park 15223 US Hwy 41, Copper Harbor, MI 49918
More Lake Superior Camping
- Tahquamenon Falls State Park, MI
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, MN
- Cascade Falls State Park, MN
- Lake Superior USA Itinerary
- Upper Peninsula Camping Itinerary
