Thats dissapointing... Why do they have to put the kaibosh on people having a good time? I understand the partying that goes on, but I don't know why they feel they need to stop it? Whats the big deal?
I wonder if that rule extends out to the point, or just around the toilets and ramp??
Basically, the straw that broke the camels back was a BIG fight that broke out there involving rowdy drunks hitting each other with baseball bats, cement blocks and I, believe, a Ford Bronco. Dispersed camping was never "OK" on state land near the lake, but they used to "look the other way"...no more.
Dispersed camping is allowed on Forest service land, ie. Hoosier NF and the Deam Wilderness has trhousands of acres, many with lake frontage, that are open to camping with restrictions on distance to trails and water (100 feet, I think). There are some established campsites right on the beach that will involve about a 6-7 mile hike or access by boat. They are usually full thursday through monday, but it's first com first served.
If you want to camp on forest service land on lake Michigan (forests in Michigan) you are restricted to camping behind the first dune. They do enforce this.
