Horseshoe Bay

Michigan dnr > wildlife viewing guide > upper peninsula > horseshoe

Photo: © Ray Rustem

36 Horseshoe Bay

wildlife viewing | directions and facility information

Horseshoe Bay is a broad embayment of Lake Huron that lies north of St. Ignace and the Straits of Mackinac. The U.S. Forest Service administers much of the land along this bay, and their Foley Creek Forest Campground is a scenic place to sample the area’s wildlife. The campground is nestled among large white pine trees, providing an attractive appearance. A hiking trail on the site connects the campground with a sandy beach on Lake Huron. This campground is generally open from the end of May through the beginning of September. Call ahead for details.

Wildlife Viewing

White-tailed deer have grown accustomed to
humans in the Horseshoe Bay area, and
often provide excellent photo opportunities.

This scenic, wooded camping area is home to white-tailed deer, raccoons, red squirrels, and many forest bird species. Local residents commonly use the campground roads for walking and outdoor exercising. Because of this regular "foot traffic," deer have become accustomed to people and are often easy to observe up close.

Raccoons are common residents of many of Michigan’s natural areas. Though much smaller in size, these clever campsite raiders are closely related to bears.

The one-mile hiking trail begins at the north end of the campground and winds through a northern white cedar swamp on its way to a sandy beach on Lake Huron. This trail is wood-chipped and dry, offering a unique opportunity to walk "in" a typical northern white cedar swamp habitat, (normally full of deadfalls and thick vegetation), and experience its moist and cool microclimate, and see and hear the songbirds that live there. Bald eagles are sometimes seen perching in the tall white pines that face the shore. Waterfowl and great blue herons are common on Horseshoe Bay and on the small ponds adjacent to the hiking trail. The trail provides foot access to the 3,787-acre Horseshoe Bay Wilderness.

Portions of this area are open to public hunting. Contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for affected seasons and locations.

Directions

From St. Ignace, travel north on I-75 about 7 miles to the M-123 exit. Turn right (south) onto Mackinac Trail Road and continue about 1.5 miles to the entrance to foley Creek Campground on the left side of the road.

Ownership: U.S. Forest Service, St. Ignace Ranger District, (906) 643-7900

Size: 5 acre campground

Closest Town: St. Ignace

Weather and Driving Directions for St. Ignace

Plan Your Trip with travel.michigan.org!

Facilities and Opportunities

Restrooms – 6 vault toilets.
Trails – one-mile hiking trail.
Camping – 44 primitive campsites.
Drinking Water – water system, 6 drinking fountains/faucets.
Hunting – no hunting in campground, but this site offers hunting access to a roadless wilderness area.

top

* learn more about the symbols