Seaton Creek Campground

Seaton Creek Campground adjoins Seaton Creek and is at the upper end of the backwater of Hodenpyl Dam Pond on the Big Manistee River. The forest surrounding the campground is mostly pine and the sites are rustic. The closest town is Mesick. The surrounding waters offer excellent fishing opportunities for both panfish (perch, bluegill, crappie, sunfish) and game fish (trout, bass, pike, salmon). Kayakers may access the campground by traveling up the very shallow Seaton Creek, however canoeing is not recommended unless you are putting in at the Hodenpyl Backwaters; from there, you can canoe the Big Manistee. There is a connector trail to the Manistee River Trail from this site, whose trailhead is within the campground, and the North Country National Scenic Trail can be reached by crossing the suspension bridge over the Manistee River. The Upper Branch Trailhead is also nearby. Two group sites and 17 family sites are situated near a picnic area on the Hodenpyl Backwater of the Manistee River. Sites have fire rings and picnic tables, drinking water is available, and there are two vault restroom buildings. The terrain surrounding Hodenpyl Dam Pond is characterized as hilly with a mix of hardwoods and conifers. Briar Hill, which has the second-highest elevation in the lower peninsula, is located about five miles east of Hodenpyl Dam Pond. A number of other tributaries enter the pond from the east, flowing off the slopes of Briar Hill, including Seaton Creek, Small Creek, Preston Creek, Cripple Creek and several unnamed streams. These streams are characterized by very high gradient and cold temperatures, and mostly host a mix of brown and brook trout, although a few have only brook trout.