Weekend availability at Chicago Lake Campsites
Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 12, 5:54 PM PTSold out 2 of the next 4 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.
- Fri, Sep 18Sold out
- Fri, Sep 25Sold out
- Fri, Oct 2Limited2/3 sites
- Fri, Oct 9Limited1/3 sites
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 Chicago Lake Campsites?
as of September 13Weekends book out well ahead here — 2 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 Chicago Lake Campsites and hear the instant one opens for their dates. Weekdays still have room — for now.
Weekends (Saturday night)
Weekdays (Wednesday night)
Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.
Campsites & amenities
Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.
- Campsites
- 4
- Pull-through
- 4
- Max rig length
- 32 ft
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 these campsites. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters. Swimming conditions vary by site. Conditions are the best at sites 3 and 4. Conditions at site 2 are considered fair. The road leading to sites 3 and 4 are shared by anglers using the public boat launch into Chicago Lake. This boat launch is located adjacent to Site 4 and features an improved gravel ramp for accessing the abundant population of northern pike and bluegills. Largemouth bass and perch are present in smaller quanities. Facilities There are primitive toilets available at site 2 and between sites 3 and 4. There is NO drinking water. Lake Name: Chicago Lake Number of Sites: 3 Maximum Number of People Per Site: 16 Toilets: Yes Boat Access: Back - In Lake Size (acres): 188 Natural Features Chicago Lake (188 acres) hosts four campsites and an improved boat launch, all clustered around its north end. Site #1 is Decomissioned Site #2 is a larger site in an open area, measuring 55 ft. by 45 ft. It can accommodate 2 families and trailers. There is a primitive toilet at this site. Site #3 is a larger site surrounded by tall pines and is near the lakeshore. It measures 60 ft. by 50 ft. and is suitable for two families. However, trailer access is difficult because of limited turning area. Site #4 is a semi-open area that measures 55 ft. by 50 ft. It can accommodate two families and trailers. A primitive toilet is shared with site #4. There is a boat launch located adjacent to site #4 and features an improved gravel ramp for accessing Chicago Lake. Nearby Attractions There are a number of horse, bike, and hiking trails within minutes of several of the sites. Within 20 miles 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. Contact Info For local information, please call (906) 474-6442 or call (906) 387-2512 for general information.
Getting there
From the Intersection of US-2 and Forest Highway 13 (about 14 miles east of Rapid River or 22 miles west of Manistique): drive north 8.4 miles on Highway 13 to CR 442. Turn right (east) and drive 5 miles to County Road N-3. Turn left (north) on N-3 and drive 0.1 mile to FR 2422 turning left (northwest) on to 2422 and continuing about 0.25 mile to the campsites.
Activities
- CAMPING
- BOATING
- FISHING
- SWIMMING
Nearby federal campgrounds
Never miss an opening at Chicago Lake Campsites
Popular Michigan campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Chicago Lake Campsites 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.