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Hard to BookNational Forest

Colwell Lake Campground

Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan

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As of October 2026, Colwell Lake Campground is a campground in Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan with 20 campsites. Colwell Lake Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

PermitSnag checks Colwell Lake Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
Colwell Lake Campground is located at 46.2217° N, 86.4375° W.

people allowed on 19 of 20 sites: 8
people allowed on the largest site: 24

Colwell Lake Campground reservations and next available dates

October 2026

November 2026

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

Next Available Dates

Oct 4 (11 sites)Oct 5 (15 sites)Oct 6 (17 sites)

11 sites open on Oct 4 at Colwell Lake Campground. Book one now, or pick your dates above and get an alert when a site opens.

As of 30 September 2026, 23:55 UTC.

Stay and booking rules

Taxes apply
Maximum consecutive stay: 14 consecutive nights
Minimum stay: 1 consecutive nights
Tribal discount available

Published by Recreation.gov for Colwell Lake Campground, read on September 30, 2026.

Campsites at Colwell Lake Campground

246891012131415161820232425263031GP

Standard 19
Group 1
Hookups 2

What an RV fits

40 ft19 sites
60 ft1 site

Amenities

restrooms
potable water

At a glance: Setting: Forest.

Things to do: fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, photography.

All sites at Colwell Lake Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Site	Loop	Type	Sleeps	Max RV	Hookups
002	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	Electric
004	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	Electric
006	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
008	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
009	COLW	Standard	8	60 ft	-
010	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
012	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
013	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
014	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
015	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
016	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
018	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
020	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
023	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
024	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
025	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
026	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
030	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
031	COLW	Standard	8	40 ft	-
GP	GRP	Group	24	40 ft	-

About Colwell Lake Campground

Overview

Colwell Lake Campground is situated on Colwell Lake in the center of Michigan's Hiawatha National Forest. Guests of all ages can enjoy nature and the outdoors in this picturesque setting.

The campground has much to offer in terms of recreation, such as swimming, fishing, boating and picnicking, and can accommodate families, individuals, small groups, RV and tent campers with several amenities.

Recreation

With an excellent swimming beach, boat access and an accessible fishing pier, Colwell Lake has plenty to offer families and anglers.

Largemouth bass, northern pike, crappie, pumpkinseed sunfish, perch and bluegill are all available in the lake. The facility also provides a leisurely 2 mile hiking and snowshoeing trail.

Facilities

The campground consists of many individual family sites, as well as a group site that can hold 24 people and two tent-only sites along the lake shore. Sites are equipped with campfire rings, lantern posts and tent pads, with vault toilets and drinking water located throughout the facility.

A picnic area sits adjacent to the sandy swimming beach. Pedestal grills and tables for individual families or small groups are provided.

Boaters will find a boat ramp and launching pier near the campground entrance. There is adequate space for parking and a trailer turn-around.

Natural Features

The campground is situated on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the eastern shore of the 145-acre Colwell Lake. The area is forested with a variety of deciduous and conifer trees, and some campsites overlook the water.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (906) 379-5791.

Nearby Attractions

Big Island, Fish and Straits lakes are all within 25 miles of the campground.

Rules and notices at Colwell Lake Campground

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

Notices from Recreation.gov

No lifeguards present at swim beach; children must be accompanied by an adult at all times

Two pets per site

No switching sites upon arrival

Please Note: One RV with tow vehicle per single site or one vehicle per tent site. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged an $8 per night fee and collected at the campground if you did not pay for the Extra Vehicle Add On. Extra vehicles must fit on the parking spur at your site.

Reserved Sites will be held until checkout time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of the second day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests.

Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

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.

Click here for more information on the Hiawatha National Forest Hiawatha

Hiawatha National Forest - West Day Use Fees:

Day Use $8.00

Day Use Annual Pass $40.00

Check OUT is at 12:00 PM

Check IN is at 2:00 PM

Recreation.gov permit and campground cancellations →

Colwell Lake Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Colwell Lake Campground?

Colwell Lake Campground 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 Colwell Lake Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Colwell Lake Campground, 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 Colwell Lake Campground have?

Colwell Lake Campground has 20 campsites.