Bear 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 | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Pull-through | 24 | Partial | No / No | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
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 |
There is NO drinking water available at these sites. There are NO toilets. Lake Name: Bear Lake Number of Sites: 1 Maximum Number of People per Sites: 8 Toilets: No Boat Access: Carry in ONLY Boat Access to the South of the site. There is a Boat Launch on the East side of the lake down FR 2633. Lake Size (acres): 21
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 |
| Booking | Reserve Bear Lake and view an interactive map at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/273341 |
| Fees | Camping fee is $8 per night per site. Federal Recreation Passes (Golden/America the Beautiful) are accepted. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Cooks (about 12 miles west of Manistique or 24 miles east of Rapid River on US-2): drive north 4.4 miles on County Road 442 to CR 437. Turn left (north) on CR 437 and drive 8.7 miles to FR 2217. Turn left (northwest) on FR 2217 and drive 2.4 miles to FR 2696. Turn left (south) on 2696 and drive 0.5 mile to the campsite
| Nearest town | Rapid River, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 46.0706° N, 86.4983° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 27.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Hilltop RV Superstore ↗ | 34.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Bear Lake Campground - San Isabel National Forest
Trails nearby
- 1.4 miMurphy Creek Trail ↗16.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 2.8 miVan Winkle Trail2.2 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
This campground sits inside Hiawatha National Forest.
- inHiawatha National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,300,321 acres
- 8.6 miBig Island Lake Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,268 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
On the National Register nearby
- Manistique Pumping StationStructure · Manistique · 14 mi
- Manistique East Breakwater LightStructure · Manistique · 14.8 mi
Natural features
The Bear Lake campsite is situated on the gorgeous 21- acre Bear Lake, high upon a hill overlooking the lake. The site is surrounded by spectacular paper birch, aspen and oak tree species.
Recreation
Visitors will be able to enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing at the designated campsites located on the Hiawatha National Forest. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters. There is a carry - in boat launch at the day use area on the south end of the lake. This is intended to prevent the overfishing of this excellent brook trout fishery, which is maintained by annual stocking. Swimming is marginal with a thin layer of sand covering a mucky bottom.
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. Groceries, gasoline, fishing and camping supplies, ice and deli are available five miles northeast on County Road 437 in the Thunder Lake Area.
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 Bear Lake Campsite?
Sites at Bear Lake Campsite are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reserve Bear Lake and view an interactive map at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/273341 Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Bear 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 Bear Lake Campsite?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Bear 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 Bear Lake Campsite have?
1 site, including 1 standard site without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Bear 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 Bear Lake Campsite?
Yes, pets are allowed at Bear Lake Campsite. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Bear Lake Campsite?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Bear Lake Campsite?
Visitors will be able to enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing at the designated campsites located on the Hiawatha National Forest. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Bear 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 Bear Lake Campsite is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Carr Lake Campsite (0.7 mi), Jackpine Lake Campsites (1.4 mi), and Lyman Lake Campsites (1.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby