I've got a few favorite places I visited frequently in Kalkaska County. A couple old drill sites they were when I was a kid. Like stated, lots of state land, and most of the old drill sites have a bit of a berm built up in the corner. Chances are, you won't be the only one that goes out there on one of those. We had a spot there that some fellas put in a bench. Everyone who went out there used it, but all of us were brought up to be respectful and over the yrs everyone would keep it maintained. I think I met the guy who put it there once in 10 yrs. If the wood was a bit jacked, well, you next trip you'd bring a board or 2 with you, and if someone else didn't do it, you did the repair. The DNR never said nothing because everyone always picked up after themselves and the place was spotless when you were thru.
Like Goldie says, MTC is about an hour or so away, off M-66 just inside the Missaukee County line. Iremember when they first put that in, it's a cool place.