Marion Lake Group Site
The sparkling Marion Lake offers breathtaking and exciting camping for your next family trip. Live it up on the water with your jet skis or wake board, or tone down the pace with a full day of fishing. The Marion Lake Group Site is an ideal way to spend time with friends and family for all the water activities you can imagine. Marion Lake is in the Ottawa National Forest, a protected area in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It stretches from the Lake Superior shoreline to the Wisconsin border, and attracts deer and many types of migrating birds.
More like this: reservable in Michigan · group sites in Michigan
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| group standard area nonelectric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| marion group | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 100 / – | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | There is a day use fee associated with the boat landing from May 15 – October 15, of $5 per day per vehicle, or an annual pass for $30 per vehicle. The annual pass covers Lake Ottawa Recreation Area, Black River Harbor Recreation Area, Marion Lake boat landing, Bobcat Lake day use and boat landing… |
A convenient path leads to the lake and boat launch.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | May 17 to September 30 |
| Forest | Ottawa National Forest |
| Fees | $25 a night per campsite, $100 a night for the group campsite, the group campsite must be reserved through the Recreation.gov at 1-888-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov. |
| Rules | Fees shown are for the summer recreation period when full services are provided. During the early spring and late fall when no services are provided the fees at some areas are not charged. Camping in a developed recreation site is allowed for a period not longer than 14 days, except as otherwise posted. After this time, you must move to another campground or dispersed site for at least 24 hours. |
Weather by month
Getting there
Marion Lake Group Camping site is accessed most easily from U.S. Highway 2. Turn north from US-2 onto Marion Lake Road, also known as Forest Road 3980. Travel approximately 1.5 miles north and then turn right onto Forest Road 3985. Travel until road makes a Y, where a location map is located there to show you the layout of the campground.
| Coordinates | 46.2681° N, 89.0864° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Water is not available on-site, but is a short walk away.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedPinto Rx
35 mi from the campground · 27 acres
- WildfireBlack River
42 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- WildfireBlack River
42 mi from the campground · 382 acres · 60% contained
- WildfireBog
43 mi from the campground · 94 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 11.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Eagle Sports ↗ | 25.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miNfst-3985-D1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.7 miNfst-39860.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.8 miNfst-3980-D0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.8 miNfst-3986-B0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.9 miNfst-3986-A0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1 miNfst-3986-A11 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Ottawa National Forest.
- inOttawa National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,562,423 acres
- 7.9 miSylvania Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 15,237 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Forest Route 157–Tamarack River BridgeStructure · Stambaugh Township · 5.4 mi
- Van Platen-Fox Lumber Camp Historic ComplexHistoric district · Stambaugh · 11.4 mi
Natural features
The campground is in a large, grassy field surrounded by hemlock and hardwood trees with an opening to Marion Lake. The altitude is 1,627 feet, with lightly rolling hills stretched between the many other lakes in the area.
Recreation
A swim beach is adjacent to the group site.
Nearby
Hiking enthusiasts will find scenic trails throughout the Sylvania Wilderness area, a region to the west with old-growth forests and 34 named lakes. On the way, stop by the Ottawa Visitor Center in Watersmeet for some interesting exhibits.
Guidebooks for Michigan
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Marion Lake Group Site?
Sites at Marion Lake Group Site are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Marion Lake Group Site?
There is a day use fee associated with the boat landing from May 15 – October 15, of $5 per day per vehicle, or an annual pass for $30 per vehicle. The annual pass covers Lake Ottawa Recreation Area, Black River Harbor Recreation Area, Marion Lake boat landing, Bobcat Lake day use and boat landing…
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Marion Lake Group Site?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Marion Lake Group Site open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 17 to September 30.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Marion Lake Group Site have?
1 site, including 1 group standard area nonelectric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Marion Lake Group Site?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Fees shown are for the summer recreation period when full services are provided.
Source: Fire nearby
What if Marion Lake Group Site is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Imp Lake Campground (3.6 mi, first-come), Lac Vieux Desert Campground (9.6 mi), and Sylvania Campground (10.8 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby