Crooked Lake Campsite
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.
More like this: reservable in Michigan · pets allowed in Michigan
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 24 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Pull-through | 24 | Partial | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Basic |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 24 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Lake Name: Crooked Lake Number of Sites: 1 Maximum Number of People Per Site: 8 Toilets: No Boat Access: Carry-In Lake Size (acres): 190
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | May 15 to Columbus Day |
| Forest | Hiawatha National Forest |
| Fees | Camping fee is $8 per night per site. Federal Recreation Passes (Golden/America the Beautiful) are accepted. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Manistique, MI: drive north 25 miles on M-94 to FR 2246 (Clear Lake Road). Turn right (east) and drive 0.15 mile to FR 2661. Turn right (southeast) and drive 0.25 mile south of Forest Road 2246 on the hard-pack, sandy road.
| Nearest town | Rapid River, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 46.2167° N, 86.4317° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- There are no toilets or drinking water at this site.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 20.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Hilltop RV Superstore ↗ | 43.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Hidden Gem Alert! Crooked River State Park Campground Review (Georgia Coast RV)
Trails nearby
- 0.6 miColwell Lake Trail ↗2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.3 miClear Lake Interpretive Trail2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.4 miBil - Twilight-Byers Hike0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.5 miBil - Haywire Byer Portage2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.9 miBil - Twilight-Byers Portage0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.1 miBil - Vance Hiking1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
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 Hiawatha National Forest.
- inHiawatha National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,300,321 acres
- 2.1 miBig Island Lake Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,268 acres
- 8.5 miSeney Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Fish and Wildlife Service · 25,150 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
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Natural features
There is only one campsite on Crooked Lake. It is small (35ft. by 35ft.), level and suitable for one family and a trailer. Although there is only one campsite on Crooked Lake, the lake is busy with a private resort and many private homes and cabins dotting its lengthy shoreline.
Recreation
Visitors will be able to enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing at these campsites. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters. Some of these campsites offer only one site on these inland lakes allowing for a very peaceful and wilderness-like experience. Crooked Lake offers a good fishery for bluegill, crappie, and northern pike. Occasionally, you may catch smallmouth bass. Boat access to lake is by carry-in only, which can be found at the campsite. Keep in mind that the boat access is shared with the public, meaning anglers may pass through your site to access the lake. Swimming is considered to be poor.
Nearby
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. Gasoline, groceries, fishing and camping supplies, boat rentals, ice and MDNR licenses are available at Steuben, approximately four miles southwest on County Road 437.
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 Crooked Lake Campsite?
Sites at Crooked Lake Campsite 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 Crooked Lake Campsite?
Camping fee is $8 per night per site. Federal Recreation Passes (Golden/America the Beautiful) are accepted.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Crooked Lake Campsite?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Crooked Lake Campsite open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 15 to Columbus Day.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Crooked Lake Campsite have?
1 site, including 1 standard site without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Crooked Lake Campsite?
The longest site here provides 24 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Crooked Lake Campsite?
Yes, pets are allowed at Crooked Lake Campsite. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Crooked Lake Campsite?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Crooked Lake Campsite?
Visitors will be able to enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing at these campsites. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Crooked Lake Campsite?
Rapid River, Michigan. There are a number of horse, bike, and hiking trails within minutes of several of the sites.
Source: Getting there
What if Crooked Lake Campsite is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Colwell Lake Campground (0.4 mi, partly first-come), Steuben Lake Campsites (1.2 mi), and Clear Lake Campsite (2.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby