F.J. McLain State Park Field Report: Camping, Beach Sunsets and Exploring the Keweenaw
McLain State Park is the perfect home base for exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula and beyond.
Disclosure: State Park Buddy contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Top things to know about McLain
The TLDR on F.J. McLain State Park
- Breathtaking sunsets overlooking Lake Superior
- Perfect base for exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula and other U.P destinations.
- Unexpected amenities, like Adirondack chairs along the shore, an outdoor fireplace, and more.
- Spacious, private sites (sites 100-135 specifically)
- Great hiking tails and very decent beaches
Want to know more? Keep reading.
McLain State Park is situated between Houghton and Calumet, a perfect jumping off point for exploring the Keweenaw.
Located on Lake Superior between Houghton/Hancock and Calumet, F. J. McLain is the perfect home base for exploring the Keweenau Peninsula, Porcupine Mountains and Marquette area. Add in fantastic views and beaches, and you've got an all-around great park to visit, whether its just for one night or the maximum-allowed 15 days.
After visiting McLain for the first time in mid-July, it became an instant favorite of ours. We spent hours relaxing in the common area overlooking Lake Superior, enjoyed our roomy campsites and had a great time exploring Houghton and Calumet.
Let's get into it:
The scenery and amenities at F.J. McLain State Park on Lake Superior are legit
The lowdown on F.J. McLain State Park
Are there beaches?
Yes, there are beaches and they're fairly nice, if a bit rocky. And since it's Lake Superior the water is usually pretty frigid.
The water between the pier and the breaker wall was warmer, but the beach was also rockier and more crowded.
- The dog beach area was cleaner, less rocky and less busy, and that's where we relaxed on the afternoon we went to the beach.
- All told, there are 2 miles of sandy beach within the park to explore.
How's the park store?
Sundae in the Park is located in the day use area. Great ice cream, a limited amount of souvenirs and supplies, not much else.
Is there a playground?
Yes, there is a large, newer playground in the day-use area
Where to get firewood
Within the campground next to the bathrooms, there is a shed full of firewood, with a cash box and QR code. Cost was $5 at the time of our visit.
Note: Please source firewood locally to prevent the spread of invasive insects and plant disease.
The bathroom situation
The bathrooms at McLain State Park were quite clean and seemed new.
Likely due to the fact that 75% of the sites were out of commission, the bathroom situation at the campground was ideal during our visit.
- Zero wait time for showers, stalls, etc.
- Probably the cleanest bathrooms we've seen in a state park. 9.5/10
- Cleaned before we were awake (as opposed to during peak traffic times)
- 5-minute walk from the furthest site
- Minor quibble: in the family/accessible bathroom, the towel hook was right above the trash can.
- Of course, there are also pit toilets in camp, if that's your jam.
The day use area at McLain also seemed to have modern, clean bathrooms.
How far off the grid are we talking?
Mobile service isn't great at McLain State Park.
- Our mobile service (Verizon) was mostly non-existent.
- Anecdotally, AT&T and T-Mobile also weren't great.
- Best spots for cell service & WiFi:
- Toward the end of the lighthouse pier
- Drive into Houghton/Hancock or Calumet (15 minutes)
- You can increase your chances of decent mobiles service with cell signal boosters like weBoost Drive Reach Overland.
Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
What to do at McLain
Catch a sunset (and maybe some Northern Lights)
The campground is located right on a bluff overlooking Lake Superior, with strategically placed chairs to take in the view.
Take a hike
Within the McLain State Park are the 4-mile McLain-Bear Lake Trail and the 1-Mile McLain trail, but that's just the beginning. Check out more hiking in the Keweenau area here.
Go to the beach & walk the pier
There are two beautiful miles of beaches along the length of the park, including a special area for dogs. The beaches are rocky and the Lake Superior water is cold.
- The most popular beach is in the day-use area, between the breakwaters where the water is a bit warmer, but also a bit murkier.
- The dog beach (northeast of the breakwaters) was cleaner, less rocky and had a more unobstructed view of the lake.
- The lighthouse (or the Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance Light) is...underwhelming. But you can walk down the concrete breakwater most of the way for a cool view of the shore. Just be careful not to get washed away on windy, wavy days.
- Look along the rocky areas of the shore for agates and Thomsonite, especially after a storm.
Explore the Keweenaw (and beyond)
McLain state park is perfectly situated to explore Keweenaw. The Porcupine Mountains are about an hour away, and Marquette is about 2 hours away.
Stay a while, and use McLain State Park as your home base for day trips.
Left: Jacob's Falls next to the Jampot; Right: Buddy tries his luck with a lady in Calumet
*For a full list of available activities, check out the official McLain State Park site. *
Who is this park for?
Yes, Michigan parks are for everyone. But here's who might get the most out of Fayette:
Nature lovers
Duh, you're saying, it's a state park, of course there's nature. And you'd be right. But this state park and the Keweenau area in general is especially nature-y. No matter what you like to do in the outdoors—relax, bike, hike, kayak, forage, run naked through the forest—there's plenty of opportunity to do it here.
Rock Hunters
McLain and the Keweenaw area are world-famous for Lake Superior Agates and Yooperlites (UV-reactive sodalite-bearing syenite). Look along the pebble-strewn sections of the beach (especially after a storm or strong west wind) for agates and Thomsonite. At night, hunt for glowing Yooperlites along the shore with a dedicated 365nm filtered UV flashlight.
People with Big RVs
Most of the sites between 100-135 where quite large, and able to accommodate a larger RV. Furthermore, the sites were level (many of them were paved) and easy to get in and out of.
Dog owners
The roominess of this park, the trails and the special dog beach make it an ideal place to bring your dog.
Introverts, recluses and the anti-social
This park has plenty of space to be alone if you're so inclined. That's especially true if you're able to score a spot in sites 100-135, where it doesn't feel like you were sharing a yard with your neighbors like at a lot of state parks.
When to go
Late-May/early-June
Peak introvert season. The campground is open but the summer crowds haven't arrived. Water's too cold for swimming, but you can beachcomb, search for agate, relax and watch the weather roll over the lake.
Late-June thru mid-August
This is the busiest season, particularly on the weekends, but still, the crowds aren't too bad when you're this far north. Long days, epic sunsets and good swimming if you don't mind the fridgid Lake Superior water. Be ready to sway lots of mosquitos and flies, though.
After Labor Day through mid October
Things get a lot less busy, flies and mosquitos die off and the leaves change. It's a beautiful, chill time.
Mid-October-Mid May
The campground shuts down until Spring, but the park stays open all winter for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. You'll want to check out the beautiful ice formations on Lake Superior.
The best time to visit McLain might be just after labor day
Much less crowded but it still feels like summer and the water hasn't gotten too cold yet.
Note: There a quite a few festivals and events happening in the Keweenaw throughout the year. Check out this list of festivals to help you decide when to go.
Visiting McLain State Park for the day
Hours and dates
- The park is open year round for sunset viewing, hiking, metal detecting, fishing, and winter ice-formation sightseeing.
- Park hours are 9am to 10pm.
What to expect
- Day-use parking is on the southwest side of the park (turn left at the T intersection after you enter the park).
- Sundae in the Park offers ice cream, souvenirs and a limited amount of camping supplies and food.
- There are also modern bathrooms at the park store
- A large playground is located near the day-use parking lot.
- Follow the signs for the dog beach, which is to the right of the concrete breakwater that leads to the Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance Light.
- The park auxiliary entrance stays plowed in the winter for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and viewing frozen Lake Superior ice mounds along the shore.
Camping at McLain
Dates & rates
- Open for camping May 15 - Oct 14
- Reserve up to six months in advance
- 135 modern campsites
- $41/night for 30-amp sites
- $46/night for 50-amp sites
- Cabins with electricity also available at $80 & $120/night.
Note: The cabins don't have indoor plumbing, meaning you'll need to use a nearby pit toilet or walk further for a modern restroom
Campsite intel
McLain State Park has 135, but sites 1-99 and all of the cabins were closed during our visit due to electrical updates, so for the time being we only have intel on sites 101-135.
- Sites 100-119 are even and very spacious, but unpaved.
- Sites 120-135 are paved, even and still spacious.
Ideal sites
For the best views
126, 124 and 122 come with unobstructed views of Lake Superior (not as much shade though).
For big RVs and/or bad parkers
100 - 104 are pull-thrus with lots of space and privacy.
Our pick for the best site
126. It's a roomy site with a great view.
Sites with potential problems
Out of the sites that were open during our visit, there really weren't any bad ones. If you plan on using the modern restrooms, 111 and 112 are furthest away.
Visiting with a group
If you're planning on camping with a group and taking up adjacent spots, just keep in mind that there's a line of trees between 120-135 and the rest of the sites, so getting sites that back up against each other wouldn't really work.
Reserving your site
Reservations open six months out. Book your site as far in advance as possible to increase your chances of getting a good site (or getting a site at all).
If you're feeling lucky, you can just show up without a reservation, but be warned: the campground tends to fill up fast, especially one the weekends and during the peak summer months.
Reserve your site at Michigan's DNR website
What to bring
This isn't a full camping supply list, but an idea of the extra things you might want to bring to McClain State Park in particular.
Good shoes
* Hiking shoes if you plan on hitting the trails
* Water shoes for walking along the rocky shore.
Beach stuff
Bring your swimsuits, inner tubes, kayaks, paddle boards, etc.
Bug spray
I personally must have killed 64 mosquitos. We kicked dozens of flies out of the RV.
Binoculars
Like ship watching? bird watching? People watching?
Getting groceries
While it's always a good idea to stock up on your favorite camping foods before leaving home, it won't be a big deal if you forget something. There are several decent grocery stores within twenty minutes of McLain. The closest options are:
- Keweekau Co-op if that's your jam (Hancock, 9.5 mile drive)
- Pat's Foods IGA for a standard grocery store (Calumet, 9 miles)
Getting to and into the park
Download your maps
Mobile service is going to be spotty all through the Keweenaw area, but you can still navigate because you downloaded your map for offline use.
Gassing up
On your way to McLain, you'll almost certainly be passing by the Krist Foodmart in Hancock, on MI HWY 203. It's a convenient place to stop and the price is right.
Checking in at McLain
- Stop at the Contact Station (you'll drive past it) to check in, grab a park map and get your parking pass.
- If the station is closed, go ahead and find your campsite. You can check in tomorrow.
Stop at the sanitation station for water if you need it
- If you have an RV and need to fill your tank with potable water, the sanitation station is past the first camping section (sites 120-135). Take the first left toward sites 1-99 and it'll be right there.
Where to eat when you're not cooking at camp
There are actually a lot of great options for dining in the Keweenaw area, including in Calumet and Houghton, which are both twenty minute drives. We didn't eat out too much during our visit, but here are a few place we've tried and can recommend:
The Library
A waterfront alehouse in Houghton with great pub food.
Fitzgerald's
The drive up to Eagle River is a little further (30 minutes) but well worth it. They serve fantastic views of Lake Superior and an unexpected menu that includes real smokehouse BBQ, Asian fusion an more.
5th & Elm Coffee House and Eatery
I enjoyed a fine cappuccino, delicious breakfast burrito and free Wi-Fi at this spot in Hancock that doubles as a concert venue.
What if it rains?
You can only read books, play cards and nap for so long. Here are some activities in the area for rainy days.
- Catch a movie in Houghton
- Tour an underground copper mine
- Learn something at a museum
- Check out a local brewery
- Enjoy coffee & Wi-Fi at a coffee shop
Oh man, McLain State Park was a joy. Lot's of great trails through the woods with new smells, and I loved hanging out on the big grassy area that overlooked the big lake, though I did have to stay on my leash the whole time. Overall I'd come back to McClain anytime, but here are some thigns to keep in mind.
- There's is a dog beach, though it is the only beach where dogs are allowed. Meanwhile, humans are allowed on the dog beach. WTF, man?
- My people scored free poo bags at some stations around camp, though they complained about the lack of corresponding garbage cans.
- The sites were pretty far apart which meant that people didn't really notice me barking at them when they walked by.
- I got to chase around quite a few flies that snuck in to the camper, which was fun until I got yelled at. I was helping what's up wiht that?
Further reading and resources
Important DNR sites
Area Guides
