Northern Sites Campground

Along the Cedar River in Gladwin County's quiet inland lake country, Northern Sites Campground in Beaverton, Michigan provides a river and sandy beach camping experience in the heart of Michigan's Lower Peninsula—a region of wooded uplands, small lakes, and snowmobile trails that has served outdoor enthusiasts from the Midwest's industrial cities for generations. The campground's twin sandy swimming beaches on the Cedar River, tubing access from River Road to the campground, and kayaking on one of the Lower Peninsula's most enjoyable inland rivers give Northern Sites its primary recreational identity as a water-activity destination in a setting that keeps the natural character of Gladwin County's forested terrain front and center. Sites with 30 and 50-amp electrical service accommodate RVs of various sizes, with some sites including water hookups alongside the electric service and access to three on-property drinking water stations. Two distinct sandy beach areas along the Cedar River provide separate spaces for swimming, tubing, kayaking, and bank fishing, and the river's clear, gentle flow supports a tubing route from the River Road Trailhead to the campground that families return for each summer. A well-stocked general store, clean bathhouse with showers, and a small playground serve the practical and recreational support needs of a camping community that values the riverfront setting above resort-style amenities, and a nearby splash park provides an additional water play option for children. The Cedar River's run through Gladwin County provides one of Michigan's most accessible inland tubing and kayaking experiences—a float of moderate length through shaded hardwood bottomland with a gentle current appropriate for all ages. ORV trails on the surrounding state land provide mountain biking and off-road riding access in the upland terrain above the river valley for guests who want land-based exploration to complement the morning on the water. The campground's river position also makes it excellent territory for shore fishing—smallmouth bass, rock bass, and panfish inhabit the shaded pools and riffles throughout the campground's river frontage. The Gladwin County lakes district surrounding Beaverton encompasses dozens of small glacial lakes within a short drive, providing additional fishing, boating, and swimming options for guests who want variety beyond the Cedar River. Sanford Lake, a few miles west in Midland County, represents one of the region's most productive bass fishing destinations, and the surrounding agricultural and forest character of the central Lower Peninsula gives the Beaverton area a genuine north-woods feel that rewards guests who want Michigan without the resort pricing of Traverse City and Petoskey. The town of Beaverton's small-town infrastructure—hardware stores, diners, and farm supply shops—provides the practical services extended-stay campers need. Northern Michigan's warm-season camping aligns with the tubing, swimming, and fishing seasons from late May through early September, with July and August delivering the warmest river temperatures and the most active family camping traffic on the Cedar River. Fall brings excellent fishing conditions and the spectacular Michigan hardwood foliage that the surrounding Gladwin County uplands display in full color from late September through mid-October. Snowmobile access on the regional trail network makes the Beaverton area a viable winter destination for Michigan's enthusiastic snowmobile touring community, extending the campground's useful season beyond the typical Midwest camping window into the snowy months.