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East Lake Campsites

Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan

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As of October 2026, East Lake Campsites is a campground in Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan with 3 campsites. East Lake Campsites is booked through Recreation.gov.

PermitSnag checks East Lake Campsites for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
East Lake Campsites is located at 46.1786° N, 86.4133° W.

people allowed on 2 of 3 sites: 8
people allowed on the largest site: 24

East Lake Campsites reservations and next available dates

October 2026

November 2026

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

Next Available Dates

Oct 4 (2 sites)Oct 8 (1 site)

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

As of 30 September 2026, 01:14 UTC.

Stay and booking rules

Tribal discount available

Published by Recreation.gov for East Lake Campsites, read on September 28, 2026.

Campsites at East Lake Campsites

123

Standard 3

What an RV fits

24 ft2 sites
40 ft1 site

Amenities

restrooms
potable water

At a glance: Setting: Forest.

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

All sites at East Lake Campsites, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the EAST LAKE CAMPSITE loop.

Site	Type	Sleeps	Max RV
001	Standard	24	40 ft
002	Standard	8	24 ft
003	Standard	8	24 ft

About East Lake Campsites

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 these dispersed campsites. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters.

East Lake has fishing for largemouth bass, perch, bluegill and bullheads. Boat access is located just past site 1. It is unimproved, shallow and sandy. Carry-in access is recommended.

Swimming at Site 3 is excellent, but is not recommended at sites 1 and 2.

Facilities

There is NO drinking water at this location. There are primitive toilets located at sites 1 and 2.

Lake Name: East Lake

Number of Sites: 3

Max Number of People per site: Site 1 (24), Site 2 and 3 (8)

Toilets: Sites 1 and 2

Boat Access: Back-In launch just past site 1 down FR2650

Lake Size (acres): 53

Natural Features

There are 3 campsites located on different shores of the 53-acre East Lake:

Site 1 is located in a wooded area, on a hill, overlooking East Lake. It is located on the western shore of the lake. The site is 100 ft. x 75 ft. and is suitable for up to three families.
Site 2 is located on wooded site on the northeast side of the lake. It is 45 ft. x 35 ft. and would be suitable for one family. The access road to this site is narrow and winding, but can be traversed by small trailers.
Site 3 is located at an open area the extends into East Lake. It is 55 ft. x 50 ft. and is suitable for one family. Trailers are NOT recommended due to the very narrow and winding access road.

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.

Gasoline, groceries, fishing and camping supplies, boat rentals, ice and MDNR licenses are availalbe at Steuben, approximately two miles northwest, on County Road 437.

Contact Info

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

Rules and notices at East Lake Campsites

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 28, 2026. Check East Lake Campsites 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.

Recreation.gov permit and campground cancellations →

East Lake Campsites FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at East Lake Campsites?

East Lake Campsites 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 East Lake Campsites?

Cancellations happen frequently at East Lake Campsites, 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 East Lake Campsites have?

East Lake Campsites has 3 campsites.