Openings · last 7 days
135
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 135 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234526
When Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping reopens
Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
291
Openings · last 90 days
299
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dNo strong weekday pattern is evident in the openings Campsite Sniper has detected: 299 openings spread across the week.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 09:00 and 13:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 97 of 299 detected openings (32.4%). Hours show when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, in Detroit local time, not when the change was made upstream.
Lead-time profile
Days before stay date · percentilesHalf of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 14 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 10–14 days out. Set an alert if you want Campsite Sniper to monitor future openings.
Highest-churn sites
Most openings · 90d| Site | Openings | Share of all openings |
|---|---|---|
| PIKE-1 | 20 | 6.7% |
| PERCH-2 | 19 | 6.4% |
| DEER-1 | 18 | 6.0% |
| MINK-1 | 18 | 6.0% |
| CEDAR-1 | 18 | 6.0% |
Site PIKE-1 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 20. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027 · of 50 monitored sites
Of the 9,150 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 351 open for online reservation · 299 reserved · 8,500 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Where the open windows are
96.2% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 351 of 9,150 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online96.2%
Open site-nights351 / 9,150
Reserved (of online inventory)299 / 650
Weekday openings242
Weekend openings109
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 242 fall on weekdays and 109 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027October shows no online availability. 0 of 1,550 tracked site-nights are open there — 1,550 on sites not offered online.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 50 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 0 | None open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked night. New Year: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| DEER-1 | 13 |
| DEER-2 | 13 |
| ERMINE-2 | 12 |
| PERCH-2 | 12 |
| PIKE-1 | 12 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateFri · Sep 18
Next open weekendFri · Sep 18
October0 of 1,550 · not offered online
The next bookable night is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
351 open site-nights across 49 sites at Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 75 2-night, 57 3-night, 9 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 18 at site DEER-1.
All 49 sites with current availability
| Site | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEER-1 | None | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| DEER-2 | None | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| ERMINE-2 | None | 12 | 11 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| PERCH-2 | None | 12 | 10 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| PIKE-1 | None | 12 | 11 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| ERMINE-1 | None | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| FOX-1 | None | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| CEDAR-1 | None | 10 | 10 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| MALLARD-2 | None | 10 | 5 nights | Sep 18, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| MINK-2 | None | 10 | 6 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| ASH-2 | None | 9 | 4 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| BEAR-2 | None | 9 | 6 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| FISHER-2 | None | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| FOX-2 | None | 9 | 7 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| MALLARD-1 | None | 9 | 4 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| PERCH-1 | None | 9 | 4 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| PORCUPINE-1 | None | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| WOLF | None | 9 | 4 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| ASH-1 | None | 8 | 6 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| CEDAR-2 | None | 8 | 4 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| CHIPMUNK | None | 8 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| FISHER-1 | None | 8 | 4 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| LYNX-1 | None | 8 | 4 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| MAPLE-1 | None | 8 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| MINK-1 | None | 8 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| BEAR-1 | None | 7 | 4 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| BEAVER-2 | None | 7 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| LYNX-2 | None | 7 | 3 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| SQUIRREL-2 | None | 7 | 4 nights | Sep 18, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| BASS | None | 6 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 30 |
| BEAVER-1 | None | 6 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 28 |
| MAPLE-2 | None | 6 | 3 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 30 |
| PIKE-2 | None | 6 | 3 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| BADGER-1 | None | 5 | 3 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| BOBCAT | None | 5 | 4 nights | Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 30 |
| EAGLE-1 | None | 5 | 3 nights | Sep 18, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 |
| PINE-1 | None | 5 | 3 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 |
| PORCUPINE-2 | None | 5 | 2 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 27, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| RACCOON | None | 5 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| BADGER-2 | None | 4 | 3 nights | Sep 20, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| BALSAM-1 | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| BIRCH | None | 4 | 3 nights | Sep 22, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 |
| BALSAM-2 | None | 3 | 2 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 27 |
| COYOTE | None | 3 | 2 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 28 |
| PINE-2 | None | 3 | 1 night | Sep 20, Sep 22, Sep 27 |
| OSPREY-2 | None | 2 | 1 night | Sep 20, Sep 24 |
| SQUIRREL-1 | None | 2 | 2 nights | Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| LOON | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 22 |
| OSPREY-1 | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 18 |
About Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping
Overview
Planning a trip to the Sylvania Wilderness? Watch for Alerts at the top of the page for any Alerts regarding this facility.
Encompassing one of the largest tracts of remaining old growth forest in the Midwest, the Sylvania Wilderness encompasses 18,327 acres and is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 34 named lakes are within its boundary. Recreation opportunities include canoeing on Sylvania's undeveloped lakes, hiking through its old growth forest, and camping at one of its 50 designated backcountry campsites.
Special rules and regulations are in place to protect the wilderness characteristics of Sylvania. If you are planning a trip, be sure to watch the Sylvania Wilderness Orientation Video and read the "Need to Know" tab on this web page to plan ahead and prepare.
Recreation
Canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and backcountry camping are the most popular activities. Campsites are scattered along 8 lakes within the wilderness. There a nearly 30 miles of hiking and portage trails. 18 lakes have maintained portage trails leading to them.
Special Fishing Regulations apply
Facilities
The Sylvania Wilderness has 50 primitive individual backcountry campsites. Campsites are accessible by paddling or hiking and are not accessible by vehicles. No more than 6 people are allowed per campsite.
Each is marked with a post along the shoreline, has a metal campfire ring, a wilderness style latrine, and most only have room for 2-3 tents.
Campsites are located approximately 200 ft. from the shoreline.
All sites are accessible from the water, but only some have maintained hiking trails that lead to them. Make sure to check the Sylvania Wilderness Map to see which sites are located along hiking trails before planning to hike to your campsite.
Natural Features
Located along the watershed divide between Lake Superior and the Mississippi River, old-growth northern-hardwood forest and undeveloped lakes are the primary features of the Wilderness. They provide habitat for a wide range of animal and plant life, including rare orchids, bald eagles, loons, and osprey. The wilderness contains 34 named lakes, some with sandy beaches and others surrounded by record-size red and white pines. Several lakes support unique fisheries.
50 monitored sitesNo hookups50 shadedMax party 6
Getting there
Backcountry wilderness campsites can be accessed from the Sylvania Recreation Area by parking at the Clark Lake or Crooked Lake Boat Landings, or from entry points on the perimeter of the wilderness ( see map ). To reach the Sylvania Entrance Station and Recreation Area: From Watersmeet, travel approximately 3.5 miles west on US 2 to County Road 535 (Thousand Island Lake Road), then drive south on CR 535 approximately 4 miles to the Sylvania Wilderness and Recreation Area entrance.
Sylvania Wilderness, Watersmeet, MI 49969906-358-4724
BoatingCampingCanoeingCross Country SkiingFishingHikingHuntingPicnickingSnowshoeingSwimmingWinter Sports
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234526 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234526 · Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping · Watersmeet MI12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping?
Reservations for Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping are made through Recreation.gov. 96.2% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 351 of 9,150 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 299 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping?
Campsite Sniper detected 135 site-date openings at Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping in the last 7 days, 291 over 30 days and 299 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping?
57 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 18 at site DEER-1. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping?
September 2026, with 351 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 650.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 14 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 10-14 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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