Campground

Bear Lake Campsite

Hiawatha National Forest · Rapid River · Michigan — managed by USDA Forest Service

Books out fast — 3 of 4 weekends we sampled are sold out
Bear Lake Campsite campground
Photo: Recreation.gov · USFS - Hiawatha National Forest

Weekend availability at Bear Lake Campsite

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 12, 10:34 PM PT

Sold out 3 of the next 4 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.

  • Fri, Sep 18
    Limited
    1/1 sites
  • Fri, Sep 25
    Sold out
  • Fri, Oct 2
    Sold out
  • Fri, Oct 9
    Sold out

Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.

How booked is Bear Lake Campsite?

as of September 13

Weekends book out well ahead here — 3 of the 4 Saturdays we sampled, as far out as Oct, are already sold out. When a site frees up it's gone again within minutes, so people watch Bear Lake Campsite and hear the instant one opens for their dates. Even midweek is filling — 1 of the 3 weekdays we checked are gone.

Weekends (Saturday night)

Sep 19Open
Sep 26Sold out
Oct 3Sold out
Oct 10Sold out

Weekdays (Wednesday night)

Sep 16Open
Sep 30Sold out
Oct 14Open

Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.

Campsites & amenities

Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.

Campsites
1
Pull-through
1
Max rig length
24 ft
Standard No Hookup

About this campground

Overview The Munising and Rapid River/Manistique Ranger Districts of the Hiawatha National Forest offer a variety of camping experiences. Many are located on inland lakes in a rustic forest environment with no drinking water. The rustic environment offers a wonderfully serene and peaceful setting for your next camping experience.   Recreation Visitors will be able to enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing at the designated campsites located on the Hiawatha National Forest. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters.   There is a carry - in boat launch at the day use area on the south end of the lake. This is intended to prevent the overfishing of this excellent brook trout fishery, which is maintained by annual stocking.  Swimming is marginal with a thin layer of sand covering a mucky bottom. Facilities There is NO drinking water available at these sites. There are NO toilets. Lake Name: Bear Lake Number of Sites: 1 Maximum Number of People per Sites: 8 Toilets: No Boat Access: Carry in ONLY Boat Access to the South of the site. There is a Boat Launch on the East side of the lake down FR 2633. Lake Size (acres): 21 Natural Features The Bear Lake campsite is situated on the gorgeous 21- acre Bear Lake, high upon a hill overlooking the lake. The site is surrounded by spectacular paper birch, aspen and oak tree species. Nearby Attractions There are a number of horse, bike, and hiking trails within minutes of several of the sites. In over a mile from these campsites, visitors can expect to find: bait shops, general and grocery stores, gas, a pay phone, trailheads, a fishing pier, biking, and kayak/canoe rentals. Groceries, gasoline, fishing and camping supplies, ice and deli are available five miles northeast on County Road 437 in the Thunder Lake Area. Contact Info For local information, please call (906) 474-6442 or call (906) 387-2512 for general information.

Getting there

From Cooks (about 12 miles west of Manistique or 24 miles east of Rapid River on US-2): drive north 4.4 miles on County Road 442 to CR 437.  Turn left (north) on CR 437 and drive 8.7 miles to FR 2217.  Turn left (northwest) on FR 2217 and drive 2.4 miles to FR 2696. Turn left (south) on 2696 and drive 0.5 mile to the campsite

Elevation
699 ft
Contact
1111111111
Hiawatha National Forest office

Activities

  • CAMPING
  • FISHING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at Bear Lake Campsite

Popular Michigan campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Bear Lake Campsite around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.

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Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.