Swan Lake Campsites
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 · big rigs in Michigan · pets allowed in Michigan
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 4 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
4 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Pull-through | 20 | Partial | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred |
| 002 | Pull-through | 24 | Partial | Lakefront | 16 / 4 | Yes | Prime |
| 003 | Pull-through | 32 | Lakefront | 16 / 4 | Yes | Prime | |
| 004 | Pull-through | 40 | Partial | Lakefront | 16 / 4 | 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 | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
- There are three primitive toilets available, but NO drinking water.
- Primitive toilets are located at sites 1, 2 and between 3 and 4.
- If you have site 3 Reserved do not block access road to site 2. Please and thank you.
- Lake Name: Swan Lake
- Number of Sites: 4
- Max Number of People Per Site: Site 1 (8), Site 2-4 (16)
- Toilets: Yes
- Boat Access: Back-In At site 1
- Lake Size (acres): 169
- Number of Horses Allowed: Site 1 (2), Site 2 (2), Site 3 (4), Site 4 (6)
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 19 miles on Highway 13 to CR 440. Turn right (east) and drive 2.7 miles to FR 2258. Turn left (north) on 2258 and drive 0.25 mile to FR 2725. To reach sites 2-4: Turn left (east) onto FR 2725. Drive about 0.75 mile on FR 2725 to reach the sites.
| Nearest town | Rapid River, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 46.1625° N, 86.5728° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 20.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Hilltop RV Superstore ↗ | 35.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.6 mi440 Trailhead2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.2 miCamel Riders2.5 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.6 miPine Marten Run ↗25.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.9 miNahma Grade Sno-Mo ↗21.6 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 4 miBil - Vance Hiking1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 4.2 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
- 3.3 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
Natural features
- Swan Lake is the most popular lake in the designated campsite program, so getting a permit to camp here can be quite competitive. All four campsites are located on the non-motorized Pine Marten Run Trail and horse camping is allowed.
- Site 1 is located on a small hill overlooking the west shore of the lake and is isolated from the other three campsites on the lake. This site is 60 ft x 30 ft, and is suitable for one family. Trailers are NOT recommended unless they are set up in the parking area at the base of the knoll. The public boat launch to the lake is located near this site, so campers may have boaters accessing the lake.
- Site 2 is on the southwest side of the lake and is 65 ft x 50 ft. This site is level and suitable for two families and small trailers. Turn-around space is very limited.
- Site 3 is a nice level area, 65 ft x 35 ft, that can accomodate two families and trailers.
- Site 4 is 80 ft x 70 ft and suitable for two families.
- Sites 3 and 4 are adjacent to one another and can be reserved together to accomodate larger groups.
Recreation
Visitors will be able to enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing at these campsites. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters. All campsites on Swan Lake have excellent swimming areas. Swan Lake offers a good fishery for large and smallmouth bass, bluegills and pumpkinseeds. There is a public boat launch to Steuben Lake located near Site 1.
Nearby
All sites on Swan Lake have access to the Pine Marten Run trail system. 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.
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 Swan Lake Campsites?
Sites at Swan Lake Campsites 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 Swan Lake Campsites?
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 Swan Lake Campsites?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Swan Lake Campsites open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 15 to Columbus Day.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Swan Lake Campsites have?
4 sites, including 4 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Swan Lake Campsites?
The longest site here provides 40 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 Swan Lake Campsites?
Yes, pets are allowed at Swan Lake Campsites. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Swan Lake Campsites?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Swan Lake Campsites?
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 Swan Lake Campsites?
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 Swan Lake Campsites?
Rapid River, Michigan. All sites on Swan Lake have access to the Pine Marten Run trail system.
Source: Getting there
What if Swan Lake Campsites is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Mowe Lake Campsites (1.2 mi), Ironjaw Lake Campsite (1.3 mi), and Lake Nineteen Campsite (1.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby