Campground

Swan Lake Campsites

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

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

Weekend availability at Swan Lake Campsites

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 12, 10:15 PM PT

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

  • Fri, Sep 18
    Sold out
  • 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 Swan Lake Campsites?

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 Swan Lake Campsites and hear the instant one opens for their dates. Even weekdays are booked.

Weekends (Saturday night)

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

Weekdays (Wednesday night)

Sep 16Sold out
Sep 30Sold out
Oct 14Sold out

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
40 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 these campsites. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters. All campsites on Swan Lake have excellent swimming areas. Swan Lake offers a good fishery for large and smallmouth bass, bluegills and pumpkinseeds. There is a public boat launch to Steuben Lake located near Site 1.  Facilities There are three primitive toilets available, but NO drinking water. Primitive toilets are located at sites 1, 2 and between 3 and 4. If you have site 3 Reserved do not block access road to site 2. Please and thank you. Lake Name: Swan Lake Number of Sites: 4 Max Number of People Per Site: Site 1 (8), Site 2-4 (16) Toilets: Yes Boat Access: Back-In At site 1 Lake Size (acres): 169 Number of Horses Allowed: Site 1 (2), Site 2 (2), Site 3 (4), Site 4 (6) Natural Features Swan Lake is the most popular lake in the designated campsite program, so getting a permit to camp here can be quite competitive. All four campsites are located on the non-motorized Pine Marten Run Trail and horse camping is allowed. Site 1 is located on a small hill overlooking the west shore of the lake and is isolated from the other three campsites on the lake. This site is 60 ft x 30 ft, and is suitable for one family. Trailers are NOT recommended unless they are set up in the parking area at the base of the knoll. The public boat launch to the lake is located near this site, so campers may have boaters accessing the lake. Site 2 is on the southwest side of the lake and is 65 ft x 50 ft. This site is level and suitable for two families and small trailers. Turn-around space is very limited. Site 3 is a nice level area, 65 ft x 35 ft, that can accomodate two families and trailers.  Site 4 is 80 ft x 70 ft and suitable for two families.  Sites 3 and 4 are adjacent to one another and can be reserved together to accomodate larger groups. Nearby Attractions All sites on Swan Lake have access to the Pine Marten Run trail system.  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. 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): drive north 19 miles on Highway 13 to CR 440.  Turn right (east) and drive 2.7 miles to FR 2258.  Turn left (north) on 2258 and drive 0.25 mile to FR 2725. To reach sites 2-4: Turn left (east) onto FR 2725. Drive about 0.75 mile on FR 2725 to reach the sites. To reach site 1: Drive about 1.3 miles north on FR 2258 to FR 2013. Turn right (east) on FR 2013 and drive about 0.7 mile to the site.

Elevation
788 ft
Contact
1111111111
Hiawatha National Forest office

Activities

  • CAMPING
  • BOATING
  • FISHING
  • HIKING
  • HORSE CAMPING
  • HORSEBACK RIDING
  • SWIMMING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at Swan Lake Campsites

Popular Michigan campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Swan 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.

Not ready to subscribe? Get a free weekend heads-up.

We'll email you if Swan Lake Campsites opens up for a weekend you pick. No account needed.

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.