Weekend availability at Bowman Bridge
Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 19, 1:45 PM PTSold out 2 of the next 4 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.
- Fri, Sep 18Sold out
- Fri, Sep 25Sold out
- Fri, Oct 2Limited2/11 sites
- Fri, Oct 9Open8/11 sites
Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.
How booked is Bowman Bridge?
as of September 19Weekends book out well ahead here — 1 of the 3 Saturdays we sampled, as far out as Oct, are already sold out. When a site frees up it's gone again within minutes, so people watch Bowman Bridge and hear the instant one opens for their dates. Weekdays still have room — for now.
Weekends (Saturday night)
Weekdays (Wednesday night)
Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.
Campsites & amenities
Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.
- Campsites
- 17
- Max rig length
- 50 ft
About this campground
Overview Bowman Bridge Campground is perfect for true nature immersion. Campers come here for easy access to the Pere Marquette National Scenic River and for the delightful views of the great outdoors.Recreation The top three activities for campers at Bowman Bridge are canoeing, fishing and hiking. Anglers cast for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout. Watercraft rentals are available at two nearby liveries in Baldwin. A permit is required to float the river from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Monday of Labor Day weekend. Watercraft hours during the permit season are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hikers can head up the campground's connector trail to the North Country National Scenic Trail. This "north country" trail weaves through many scenic, historic and cultural areas across seven states, measuring 4,600 miles end-to-end.Facilities Campsites are in a wooded setting, but due to a tornado that passed through in 2005, tall trees and shade are less dense than in neighboring campgrounds. The campground has a single loop 16 paved family campsites. There are also 4 walk-in family campsites and 4 tent-only group sites that can accommodate up to 20 people each.Natural Features The campground is situated along the Pere Marquette National Scenic River, a 66-mile stretch of clear, unspoiled waters within the Huron-Manistee National Forests in Michigan. Large blocks of public land offering opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, photography, and hunting can be found in the surrounding area. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564. Nearby Attractions Visitors enjoy exploring the extent of the Pere Marquette National Scenic River. Other nearby attractions include the Bowman Lake Foot Travel Area and the historic community of Idlewild.
Getting there
From Baldwin, turn west on 7th Street, then left onto Cherry Street. Take the first right, W 52nd Street, and drive 5 miles. Look for signs into the campground.
Activities
- FISHING
- CAMPING
- WATER ACTIVITIES
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Bowman Lake AreaHuron-Manistee National Forests0 mi
- Gleasons LandingHuron-Manistee National Forests2 mi
- Condon Lakes WestHuron-Manistee National Forests9 mi
- M-37: White Cloud to BaldwinHuron-Manistee National Forests11 mi
- Nichols Lake South CampgroundHuron-Manistee National Forests12 mi
- Sand Lake CampgroundHuron-Manistee National Forests19 mi
Never miss an opening at Bowman Bridge
Popular Michigan campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Bowman Bridge around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.
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Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.