Staying at Island Lake Campground in Hiawatha National Forest

If you like camping in peace and solitude, off the beaten path but still close to a multitude of things to do, Island Lake Campground is the perfect place for you.

Located 13 miles from Munising, Michigan in Hiawatha National Forest, Island Lake Campground provides a quiet place to spend the evening after hiking in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Or after spending the day fishing or kayaking/canoeing on the 32.5-acre Island Lake. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation at this beautiful hidden gem.

The campground is open from May to September every year. There are 11 campsites that are heavily wooded and many of them overlook the lake. We stayed at site #6 which had a small path down to the lake.

Amenities include drinking water and a vault toilet – which was closed during our visit and we had to use a porta-potty.

What I Liked

Camp site 6 at Island Lake Campground

This campground is beautiful. It is tucked away in the forest with plenty of trees, and beautiful views of the lake.

It is isolated from the overwhelming crowds that now visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore but it is still nearby.

In addition to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the campground is very close to the North Country Trail, providing another outlet for those looking for decent hikes.

The sites are large enough to hold multiple tents without feeling crowded. Most of the sites also appeared to be excellent for hammock camping. Site 6 that I stayed in was especially perfect.

Despite having other campers at the campground, it was very quiet. The people that stay here are here to enjoy the outdoors.

What I Didn’t Like

As I mentioned, the vault toilet was closed and the only option was a porta-potty. Not my favorite.

Despite having large sites, our site and the site next to us didn’t have a lot of privacy.

More Information

For more information about Island Lake Campground or to make reservations, visit Hiawatha National Forest.

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