We Camped Here on...

06-20-03 thru 06-22-03

Park Description from the State website

Bay City State Recreation Area, situated on the shores of the Saginaw Bay, is home to one of the largest remaining freshwater, coastal wetlands on the Great Lakes - Tobico Marsh. A mile of sandy shoreline and over 2,000 acres of wetland woods, wet meadows, cattail marshlands and oak savannah prairies make it an ideal staging area for migratory birds. The park has long been known for its outstanding variety of bird life and as a haven for wetland wildlife and plants.
Bring your walking shoes.

Campground Info from the State website

Sheltered under a canopy of hardwoods and just a short walk from the Saginaw Bay, the campground features 193 electric-service sites, modern toilet/shower buildings, a sanitary dump station, two mini-cabins, an amphitheater and playground area.

How to get to the Campground

Go north on I-75 to the Bay City exit 164 for M-13. In less than ½ mile, turn right on Wilder Road. Drive east about 1½ miles to Euclid Ave (M-13 business) and turn left. Drive north on Euclid (M-13) for about 3 miles to State Park Drive and turn right into the park. The campground is just a little ways into the park on the right.
About 75 miles from I-75 and Square Lake Road to the park  Just a 15-minute flight for the rocket-propelled motorhomes. Probably an hour and a half drive for the rest of us.
These directions have been verified.

Downloads from the web

Click here to download a nice printable map (Adobe pdf) of the Bay City Recreation Area which you can print.
Click here to display a large version (one that you can actually read) of the Campground map shown below. You can print the map by right-clicking on it and selecting print.

Commentary

This is a very nice campground! Big trees, lots of shade, grassy campsites.  The lakeshore has been reclaimed by mother nature and is now a wetlands with only a tiny bit of crappy beach left on the northern shore in back of the Visitor's Center.  The Visitor's Center is very large with a whole bunch of wildlife exhibits and information.
They constructed new Restroom/Shower buildings in September, 2003.
Avoid camping here in June due to the cotton output from the Poplar trees.
The park is easy to get to with stores close by.

Personal Rating

From Alan: Two thumbs up. This park is great!