Monocle Lake
Monocle Lake Campground offers a relaxing place to fish, swim and hike along the shores of scenic Monocle Lake just off Lake Superior. It is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the northeastern corner of the Hiawatha National Forest. The campground is centrally located among many recreational opportunities in the Sault Ste. Marie area, including the Whitefish Bay National Scenic Byway and Tahquamenon Falls.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Michigan · reservable in Michigan · big rigs in Michigan · pets allowed in Michigan
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 41 |
| Tent-only | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 80 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
42 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Standard | Pull-through | 75 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 02 | Standard | Pull-through | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 03 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 04 | Standard | Pull-through | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 05 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 06 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 07 | Standard | Pull-through | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 08 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 09 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 10 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | 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 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 80 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Check-in time is anytime after 2 pm. Early arrivals will be charged for the previous day. |
The campground offers heavily shaded single-family sites for tent and RV camping. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Hookups are not available. A day-use picnic area, adjacent to a fairly large parking area at the campground, provides easy access to a swimming beach. The picnic area is equipped with tables, grills and drinking water, as well as accessible vault toilets. A paved boat launch with a parking lot big enough to accommodate vehicles and trailers provides easy access to the beautiful all sports lake.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May 23 to September 14 |
| Forest | Hiawatha National Forest |
| Booking | You can reserve some camping sites for Monocle Lake Campground on the National Recreation Reservation System (NRRS). To check availability or to make a reservation go to: Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Site Fee $22 - Federal Recreation Passes (Golden/America the Beautiful) are accepted. Day Use: Free Boat Launch: Free |
Weather by month
Getting there
12600 E Lakeshore Drive Brimley Michigan 49715. From Bay Mills, travel west on County Road 42 (Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway) for approximately half a mile, then turn south on Forest Road 3699 to the campground entrance.
| Nearest town | St. Ignace, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 46.4725° N, 84.6392° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Please cancel 7 days in advance if you need to cancel your reservation. Reservation sites cannot be traded for walk-in sites.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 5.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Bird's Eye Outfitters ↗ | 14.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Monocle Lake: Michigan National Forest Campground Overview
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miMonocle Lake Interp ↗2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miBinnobin0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miPt Iroquois Boardwalk ↗0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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
Delirium Wilderness begins about 9.8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 9.8 miDelirium Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 11,951 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
The campground surrounds the south end of 172-acre Monocle Lake, and is less than two miles from the historic Point Iroquois Lighthouse. It is nestled in a mixed hardwood forest of aspen, maple, birch and pine trees, providing scenic lake and forest views from anywhere in the campground. Private residences also surround the inland lake.
Recreation
Monocle Lake is populated with walleye, smallmouth bass, pike and perch. Two man-made reefs lie just off the eastern shore next to the campground, where anglers typically have good luck. Swimming and boating are popular activities in the area. Visitors also enjoy hiking the 14.5-mile Monocle Lake Trail. Two miles of the trail have interpretive displays, and the first 1100 feet of the trail are along an elevated, accessible boardwalk. Additional trails are found in the surrounding area.
Nearby
The nearest town is Bay Mills, which is about 6 miles from Monocle Lake. The United States-Canada border, at Sault Ste. Marie, is about 25 miles from the campground. Tahquamenon Falls, a series of beautifully brown-colored waterfalls on the Tahquamenon River, is located about 35 miles from Monocle Lake.
Guidebooks for Hiawatha National Forest and Michigan
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Field Guide Hiawatha National Forest Ecological Classification SystemGreg Kudray, 2019Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Monocle Lake?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Monocle Lake?
Check-in time is anytime after 2 pm. Early arrivals will be charged for the previous day.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Monocle Lake?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Monocle Lake open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 23 to September 14.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Monocle Lake have?
42 sites, including 41 standard sites without power and 1 tent-only site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Monocle Lake?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Monocle Lake?
Yes, pets are allowed at Monocle Lake. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Monocle Lake?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Monocle Lake?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Monocle Lake?
Monocle Lake is populated with walleye, smallmouth bass, pike and perch. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Monocle Lake?
St. Ignace, Michigan. The nearest town is Bay Mills, which is about 6 miles from Monocle Lake.
Source: Getting there
What if Monocle Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bay View (6.7 mi, partly first-come), Soldier Lake (13.8 mi, partly first-come), and Three Lakes (19.3 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby