Ironjaw 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 | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Pull-through | 24 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 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 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. There is a primitive toilet located across the road from the parking area. Lake Name: Ironjaw Lake Number of Sites: 1 Maximum Number of People Per Site: 8 Maximum Number of Horses Allowed: 2 Toilets: Yes Boat Access: Back-In Lake Size (acres): 62
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 the Intersection of US-2 and Forest Highway 13 (about 14 miles east of Rapid River): drive north 18.7 miles on Highway 13 to County Road 440. Turn right (east) on CR 440 and drive 4.6 miles to FR 2733. Turn left (north) and drive 1.3 miles to the campsite.
| Nearest town | Rapid River, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 46.1714° N, 86.5483° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- 4 wheel drive vehicles are highly recommended.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 20.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Hilltop RV Superstore ↗ | 37.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 1.6 miPine Marten Run ↗25.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 mi440 Trailhead2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 2.5 miCamel Riders2.5 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 2.8 miBil - Vance Hiking1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.1 miBil - Haywire Byer Portage2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.2 miBil - Neds Lake Portage0.5 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
- 2.2 miBig Island Lake Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,268 acres
- 14.9 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
Ironjaw Lake (62 acres) is located in the heart of the Ironjaw Semi-Primitive Area, which is managed for both motorized and non-motorized uses. The campsite at Ironjaw is a pull through site that features a tent pad situated on a hill overlooking Lake Nineteen. The site is suitable for only one family with a small trailer. There is limitied turnaround space.
Recreation
- Visitors will be able to enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing at these campsites. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters.
- Our management efforts seek to provide for quiet, peaceful recreation opportunities in a semi-primiitve setting. The campsite is located on the non-motorized Pine Marten Run Trail, which is open to hiking, mountain biking, and horse back riding.
- The swimming area at this site is in poor condition.
- Horse camping is allowed at Ironjaw Lake.
- Ironjaw Lake is one of the better fishing lakes in the area. Crappie fishing is excellent in the spring. The lake contains northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill and bullheads.
- Boat access is dow a steep hill but the surface is firm. Turn-around and back-in space at the base of the hill is very limited. 4 wheel drive vehicles are highly recommended. Parking is restricted to a small area located at the top of the hill.
- Boat access is open to the public, Keep the road clear and expect to have people using the boat launch.
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, boat rentals, ice, MDNR licenses, deli, and restaurants are available approximately six miles west on Forest Highway 13.
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 Ironjaw Lake Campsite?
Sites at Ironjaw 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 Ironjaw 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 Ironjaw Lake Campsite?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Ironjaw 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 Ironjaw Lake Campsite have?
1 site, including 1 standard site without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Ironjaw 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 Ironjaw Lake Campsite?
Yes, pets are allowed at Ironjaw Lake Campsite. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Ironjaw Lake Campsite?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Ironjaw Lake Campsite?
Visitors will be able to enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing at these campsites. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Ironjaw 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 Ironjaw Lake Campsite is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Lake Nineteen Campsite (0.2 mi), Swan Lake Campsites (1.3 mi), and Cookson Lake Campsites (1.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby