Bear Lake Campsite
Campground · Michigan · 1 bookable site ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Hiawatha National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 1
- Bookable site
- 24 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 8
- People per site
- 699 ft
- Elevation
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.The facts
- Season: May 15 – Columbus Day — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 1 bookable site
- Vehicles up to 24 ft
- Up to 8 people per site
- Loops: BEAR LAKE CAMPSITE
Site types
- 1 Standard Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Shade
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
- Sewer hookups — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.
1 campsite at Bear Lake Campsite
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | BEAR LAKE CAMPSITE | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | — | Moderate | Lakefront | 24 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From Cooks (about 12 miles west of Manistique or 24 miles east of Rapid River on US-2): drive north 4.4 miles on County Road 442 to CR 437.
- Turn left (north) on CR 437 and drive 8.7 miles to FR 2217.
- Turn left (northwest) on FR 2217 and drive 2.4 miles to FR 2696.
- Turn left (south) on 2696 and drive 0.5 mile to the campsite
46.07056, -86.49833 · 46°4'14.0"N 86°29'54.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 78°F in Jul, down to 26°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 26 | 28 | 36 | 48 | 62 | 73 | 78 | 77 | 69 | 55 | 41 | 31 |
| Low °F | 8 | 7 | 13 | 28 | 40 | 50 | 54 | 50 | 44 | 35 | 27 | 16 |
| Precip in | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.3 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 12.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Bear Lake Campsite
- Can you reserve a site at Bear Lake Campsite?
- Yes, Bear Lake Campsite is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Bear Lake Campsite have?
- 1 site.
- What is the maximum RV length at Bear Lake Campsite?
- 24 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Bear Lake Campsite?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Bear Lake Campsite.
- Does Bear Lake Campsite have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
- Are campfires allowed at Bear Lake Campsite?
- Campfires are allowed at Bear Lake Campsite. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Bear Lake Campsite also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Bear Lake Campsite's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Camping fee is $8 per night per site. Federal Recreation Passes (Golden/America the Beautiful) are accepted.
Camping near Bear Lake Campsite
- Carr Lake Campsite 0.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Jackpine Lake Campsites 1.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lyman Lake Campsites 1.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Gooseneck Lake Campsites 2.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Camp Seven Lake Campground 2.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Leg Lake Campsites 4.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Camp Cook Campsite 4.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Minerva Lake Campsite 5.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Carr Lake Campsites 0.7 mi · Facility
- Lyman Lake Campsites 2.1 mi · Campground
- Gooseneck Lake Campsites 2.3 mi · Campground
- Jackpine Lake Campsites 3.1 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 906-474-6442 OR 906-387-2512
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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