Buttercup Campground
A small, quiet campground, this site is primarily used by river paddlers. Located in stands of mixed hardwoods and pine, campers may be surprised by a wildlife visitor or two while enjoying close-up views of the river. Brochure with map: This brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller.
More like this: first-come in Michigan · free in Michigan · tent only in Michigan
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No Fee |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May 1 to November 30 |
| Forest | Huron-Manistee National Forests |
| Fees | No Fee |
| Rules | As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you on-line or at any office of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forests. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 44.6408° N, 83.9138° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedWelcome Lake South Rx
20 mi from the campground · 35 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 11.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Rose City RV Center ↗ | 19.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Lincoln Outdoors ↗ | 24.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
A Video Tour of Buttercup Campground & Boat Launch in Lake Cascade State Park
Worth a stop
- 14.1 miLoon Lake Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 1.3 miOscoda Smt McKinley Dnr965 ↗16.2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.4 miMack - McKinley Trail ↗4.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 3.6 miRuffed Grouse Walk0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.9 miHoist, 6-7 West Park Spur0.9 mi trail · hiking, snowshoe, ski
- 4.3 miAlcona ATV Trail ↗29.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 4.9 miHoist, 10-1-5 Byron Lake Spur2.6 mi trail · hiking, snowshoe, ski
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Huron-Manistee National Forest.
- inHuron-Manistee National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,028,484 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Oscoda County CourthouseBuilding · Mio · 10.5 mi
Guidebooks for Michigan
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Buttercup Campground?
Nothing. Buttercup Campground is listed as free. No Fee
Source: Forest Service
Is Buttercup Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season May 1 to November 30.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Buttercup Campground?
Buttercup Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Buttercup Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bear Island Campground (1.1 mi, first-come), Gabions Campground (3.6 mi), and Cathedral Pines Campground (4.6 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby