Sylvania Campground
Sylvania (Clark Lake) Campground is located seven miles southwest of Watersmeet, Michigan, adjacent to the 18,327 acre Sylvania Wilderness Area. This 48-site campground provides a home base for visitors who venture into the wilderness on day outings. Also a great camping area in general or overnight camping just 5 minutes off Highway U.S. 2. Some electrical sites available, pressurized toilet facilities and an RV Dump and Water Station.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: electric hookups in Michigan · 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 | 37 |
| Standard with electric | 10 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 88 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
47 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Partial | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 002 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 70 | Paved | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 003 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 004 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 65 | Paved | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 005 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 006 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 55 | Paved | Partial | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred |
| 007 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred |
| 008 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred |
| 009 | 1 | Electric | Back-in | 43 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 010 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
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 1:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Max vehicle length | 88 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | No daily fee is required unless you leave the campground and park, launch, or use facilities at the Clark Lake Beach and Picnic Area, Clark Lake Canoe Launch, or Crooked Lake Canoe Launch. Use of these locations requires a daily $5.00 per vehicle fee, or a season pass for $30 per vehicle. |
This campground consists of four camping loops with a total of 48 campsites and provides drive-in campsites that can accommodate tents, trailers and motor homes. All sites are spaced with natural vegetation for screening. Each campsite offers a wood table, fire ring, lantern post and parking spur. Drinking water is provided by faucets in loops 2, 3, and 4, while two flush toilet facilities and one accessible vault toilet are evenly spaced throughout the campground. Also located adjacent to the campground is a day use facility that has a picnic area, canoe access landings, trailheads and a swimming beach. Located adjacent to the campground is a water and sewage dump station for RV's.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Watersmeet, MI, take US 2 west approximately 3.5 miles to County Road 535, turn left onto County Road 535 and travel approximately 3.5 miles to the Sylvania Wilderness Recreation Area entrance on left.
| Coordinates | 46.2446° N, 89.3100° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Some sites are reservable on Recreation.gov but other sites are on a first come, first serve basis and typically there is always a site available.
Fire nearby
- WildfireBog
32 mi from the campground · 94 acres
- WildfireBlack River
32 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- WildfireBlack River
32 mi from the campground · 382 acres · 60% contained
- WildfireCamp 4 Grade
38 mi from the campground · 16 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 ↗ | 0.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Hawks Nest Outfitters ↗ | 23 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Sylvania Wilderness Area - Camping Guide
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miKatherine Lake0.3 mi trail · hiking, snowshoe, ski
- 0.3 miThompson Lodge2.5 mi trail · hiking, snowshoe, ski
- 0.5 miPorcupine Campsite0.3 mi trail · hiking, snowshoe, ski
- 0.9 miCorey Lake0.2 mi trail · hiking, snowshoe, ski
- 1 miCrooked/Corey Lake Portage0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, snowshoe, ski
- 1 miClark Lake ↗8.6 mi trail · hiking, snowshoe, ski
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 Sylvania Wilderness, which overlaps Ottawa National Forest.
- inSylvania Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 15,237 acres
- inOttawa National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,562,423 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
Natural features
The old-growth forests and pristine lakes in the region provide habitat for a wide range of animal and plant life, including rare orchids, bald eagles, loons and osprey. The wilderness contains 34 named lakes, some with sandy beaches and others surrounded by record-size red and white pines. The Ottawa National Forest is comprised of nearly one million acres and is located in the western reaches of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The forest's rolling, forest covered hills extend from the south shore of Lake Superior to the Wisconsin border. Lakes, rivers and waterfalls are found throughout this beautiful landscape.
Recreation
Sylvania's abundant lakes provide plentiful non-motorized boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing opportunities. Other popular activities include hiking and viewing wildlife.
Nearby
Bond Falls located about 20 minutes North East. Porcupine Mountains located about 1 hour North West. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore located about 2 hours North East. Keweenaw Peninsula is located about 1.5 hours North.
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 Sylvania Campground?
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 Sylvania Campground?
No daily fee is required unless you leave the campground and park, launch, or use facilities at the Clark Lake Beach and Picnic Area, Clark Lake Canoe Launch, or Crooked Lake Canoe Launch. Use of these locations requires a daily $5.00 per vehicle fee, or a season pass for $30 per vehicle.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Sylvania Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 1:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Sylvania Campground have?
48 sites, including 37 standard sites without power and 10 standard sites with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Sylvania Campground?
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
Does Sylvania Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Sylvania Campground?
Drinking water is provided by faucets in loops 2, 3, and 4, while two flush toilet facilities and one accessible vault toilet are evenly spaced throughout the campground.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Sylvania Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Sylvania Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Sylvania Campground?
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.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Sylvania Campground?
Sylvania's abundant lakes provide plentiful non-motorized boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Sylvania Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping (under 0.1 mi, partly first-come), Lac Vieux Desert Campground (10.6 mi), and Marion Lake Group Site (10.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby