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Bear Lake Campsite in Michigan
Hard to BookNational Forest

Bear Lake Campsite

Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan

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As of September 2026, Bear Lake Campsite is a campground in Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan with 1 campsite. Bear Lake Campsite is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks Bear Lake Campsite for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • Bear Lake Campsite is located at 46.0706ยฐ N, 86.4983ยฐ W.
people allowed on each site
8

Bear Lake Campsite reservations and next available dates

September 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Stay and booking rules

  • Tribal discount available

Published by Recreation.gov for Bear Lake Campsite, read on September 30, 2026.

Campsites at Bear Lake Campsite

  • Standard 1

What an RV fits

  • 24 ft1 site

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Forest.

Things to do: fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, biking, wildlife, photography, horse riding.

All sites at Bear Lake Campsite, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the BEAR LAKE CAMPSITE loop.

SiteTypeSleepsMax RV
001Standard824 ft

About Bear Lake Campsite

Overview

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.

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.

Facilities

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

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.

Nearby Attractions

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.

Contact Info

For local information, please call (906) 474-6442 or call (906) 387-2512 for general information.

Rules and notices at Bear Lake Campsite

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 30, 2026. Check Bear Lake Campsite on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

Pack-In, Pack-out policy

There is a 14-day stay limit.

No drinking water provided.

Campsite must be occupied the first night.

Campsite cannot be left unattended for more than 24 hours.

You are welcome to collect firewood from the area surrounding your campsite. Just remember that any firewood that you collect must be DEAD AND DOWN

Click here for more information on the Hiawatha National Forest

Don't move firewood: To limit the spread of invasive tree-killing pests, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Some states have quarantines and may confiscate your firewood. Please help protect our forests from invasive species by obtaining your firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more information.

Bear Lake Campsite FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Bear Lake Campsite?

Bear Lake Campsite is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at Bear Lake Campsite?

Cancellations happen frequently at Bear Lake Campsite, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Bear Lake Campsite have?

Bear Lake Campsite has 1 campsites.

More campgrounds in Hiawatha National Forest

Same forest, same drive. Set an alert on any of them alongside this one.

All 37 Hiawatha National Forest campgrounds

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