Campfire Cabins sits right in the heart of Northern Michigan — minutes from Gaylord and a short drive from Grayling — so you're perfectly placed for golf, lakes, trout rivers, endless trails, and true up-north adventure. Here's our local guide to the best of the area.
Whether you're here to ride the trails, cast for trout, chase fall colors, or just slow down by the fire, there's more to do around Gaylord and Grayling than you can fit into one visit. We've grouped our favorites below — most are within a short, scenic drive of the cabins.
Gaylord is famous as the Golf Mecca of the Midwest, with more championship courses packed into one area than almost anywhere in the country. Tee times are minutes away.
Multiple acclaimed courses with dramatic Northern Michigan elevation. Map →
Classic up-north golf and stunning valley views. Map →
The Loon, Black Forest, Marsh Ridge, Michaywé and more — all nearby. See all →
Summer and fall-color weekends fill up fast — reserve tee times when you book your cabin.
Northern Michigan is lake country, and you're surrounded by it. Swim, paddle, fish, or just soak up a sandy beach day.
~10–15 min
Sandy swimming beach, boat launch, and picnic areas on a beautiful lake. Map →
under a mile
Public access is right around the corner from the on-site cabins — perfect for a quick paddle or cast. Map →
Big Bear, Bluegill, and dozens more dot the map — launch, paddle, and cruise. Explore →
Right by the Tiny Home at Hankerd's Horseshoe Lake Campground near Frederic.
This is some of the finest cold-water fishing in the Midwest. Fly anglers travel from all over for these blue-ribbon streams.
~25–30 min (near Grayling)
World-famous trout water and the birthplace of Trout Unlimited. Legendary fly fishing. Map →
Fast, cold, and full of trout — classic Northern Michigan streams within reach.
Bass, pike, and panfish on the many nearby lakes — great for the whole family.
Grab a Michigan fishing license online, and local shops in Gaylord & Grayling can set you up with bait and advice.
The Au Sable River near Grayling is one of the most storied paddling rivers in America — home of the grueling Au Sable River Canoe Marathon each July. Local liveries rent canoes, kayaks, and tubes for lazy floats or longer trips.
Gentle current, sandy bottom, and cedar-lined banks. Find a livery →
Bring your own kayak (there's room to store it) and launch on Heart Lake or any of the area lakes.
~30 min (Grayling)
Walk among towering old-growth white pines — some over 300 years old — plus a fascinating Logging Museum. A must-do. Map →
~30–40 min
“The Big Wild” — vast forest, quiet two-tracks, and Michigan's wild elk herd. Map →
Easy walking and mountain-bike trails right around Gaylord. Explore →
Late September through October, the hardwoods light up. Take the back roads and bring a camera.
Pigeon River Country is home to one of the largest wild elk herds east of the Mississippi. Dawn and dusk in fall (bugling season) are unforgettable.
The jack-pine forests near Grayling are the primary nesting ground of this once-endangered songbird — guided tours run in late spring.
Deer, eagles, herons, loons, and more — often right from your fire pit or hammock.
Wetlands, lakes, and forest edges make for excellent birding year-round. Find spots →
One of the best parts of staying with us: you can ride right from the cabins. Hundreds of miles of ORV and snowmobile trails connect to the property — no trailering required.
Hop onto the North Branch and Kalkaska trail systems and the wider Northern Michigan network. There's even an outdoor spigot to rinse the mud off your machine.
Gaylord and Grayling are snowmobiling hubs with well-groomed trails once the snow flies. Trail map →
Ride straight from the cabin onto groomed trails — this is snow country.
Downhill at Treetops and the Otsego Club; tubing, Nordic skiing, and fat biking at Hanson Hills near Grayling. Map →
Quiet, snow-blanketed old-growth forest — magical in winter.
Back to the cabin for the fire pit, and at Fireside, the hot tub under the stars.
Downtown Gaylord — the “Alpine Village” — is full of Bavarian charm, restaurants, cafés, and shops. Grayling brings classic river-town diners and eats.
Local BBQ favorite — our guests rave about it. Map →
Gaylord's own brewpub — burgers and house-brewed beer. Map →
Coffee shops, breakfast spots, and dinner in the Alpine Village. Explore →
Riverside diners and pubs — perfect after a day on the water. Explore →
A Gaylord classic — lifelike wildlife dioramas the kids love. Map →
Step back into Michigan's logging era in the pines.
A living-history 1930s farm near Grayling. Map →
Cornhole, horseshoes, and the hammock are always waiting back at the cabins.
One of Michigan's biggest festivals, right in downtown Gaylord.
Watch North America's toughest canoe race launch from Grayling.
Spectacular hardwood color and crisp campfire nights.
Snowmobile capital energy, skiing, and cozy cabin nights.
Make it your basecamp for all of it.
Book a cabin at Campfire Cabins and explore Gaylord & Grayling from a cozy up-north home.
See the Cabins & Book →Campfire Cabins • 9411 Old US 27, Gaylord, MI 49735 • 989-494-8038