Island lake (MI)
Campground · Michigan · 17 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Huron National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 17
- Bookable sites
- 70 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 8
- People per site
- 1,300 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Island Lake Campground is a popular campground and picnic area featuring a swimming beach marked with buoys on the 58-acre Island Lake. Located on the southern edge of the Mio Ranger District of the Huron-Manistee National Forest, this site is a short drive North on M-33 from Rose City, MI. This site is gated in the off-season. Island Lake Brochure and Map.
Recreation
- Water Activities: Island Lake is a popular location for swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating. The water tempurate is cold with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Anglers can expect to catch sunfish, perch, and bass. Visitors can carry-in kayaks, canoes, and other non-motorized watercraft a short distance from the day use parking area to day use beach.
- Hiking: There is a 1.25 mile loop trail that departs from the campground. A spur trail off the main loop connects Island Lake Campground with Loon Lake Day Use Area.
- OHV Riding: Nearby M-33 trailhead provides OHV riders with access to the Mack Lake Motorized Trail System and the Bull Gap Hill Climb Area . Additionally, a large majority of Forest Service roads are open to OHV use. Please refer to the motor vehicle use map (MVUM) to understand which roads are open to OHV use.
Facilities
The campground provides handpump wells for drinking water, several vault toilets, and trash collection services. The embedded day use area also provides visitors with picnic tables and grills. Campsites at Island Lake have paved parking pads, picnic tables, campfire rings, and lantern posts.
Natural Features
Island Lake is a small, sheltered lake. It's namesake Island is visable from the day use area. Several of the campsites offer views of Island Lake through the trees. The forest around the campground is mixed hardwoods with many wildlife and waterfowl viewing opportunites.
Island Lake and the surrounding landscape are the result of glacial retreat and showcases some of Michigan's geologic history. While retreating from Michigan, glaciers left behind a pattern of broad ridges, called moraines. A chaotic arragnement of deep circular depressions and winding ridges, the Island Lake campground and Island Lake nature trail takes visitors through part of the West Branch Morraine.
Contact Info
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (989) 826-3252.Charges & Cancellations
All reservation changes, cancellations, and refunds are managed through Recreation.gov.
The facts
- Season: May 1 – September 30 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 17 bookable sites
- Vehicles up to 70 ft
- Up to 8 people per site
- Loops: Island Lake
Site types
- 17 Standard Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, grills, shade.
17 campsites at Island lake (MI)
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Lakefront | 60 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 10 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 11 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 12 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 13 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 55 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 14 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 15 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 16 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 60 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 17 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 2 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Lakefront | 70 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 3 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Lakefront | 50 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 4 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Lakefront | 55 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 5 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 55 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 6 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 60 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 7 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 65 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 8 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 50 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 9 | Island Lake | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From West Branch:
- Travel east on M-55 for 5 miles.
- Turn left and travel north on M-33 for 16 miles.
- Turn left and travel west on Loon Lake Loop Rd. for 1 mile.
- The site is located on the left.
44.51000, -84.14167 · 44°30'36.0"N 84°8'30.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 81°F in Jul, down to 27°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 27 | 31 | 41 | 54 | 68 | 77 | 81 | 79 | 72 | 58 | 44 | 33 |
| Low °F | 10 | 9 | 17 | 29 | 40 | 50 | 54 | 52 | 45 | 35 | 26 | 18 |
| Precip in | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 2.1 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8.5 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 Island lake (MI)
- Can you reserve a site at Island lake (MI)?
- Yes, Island lake (MI) is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Island lake (MI) have?
- 17 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Island lake (MI)?
- 70 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Island lake (MI)?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Island lake (MI).
- Does Island lake (MI) have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
- Are campfires allowed at Island lake (MI)?
- Campfires are allowed at Island lake (MI). Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Island lake (MI) also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Island lake (MI)'s operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Day: $5.00
- Week: $15.00
- Single site: $15.00
Restrictions:
- Motorized Vehicle Use of Roads, Trails and Off-road Areas; R904-14-02
- Occupancy and Use - Developed Recreation Areas, Dispersed Areas, Being Publicly Nude, Marine Prohibitions, Parking and Sanitation; R904-14-03
Camping near Island lake (MI)
- Wagner Lake (MI) 3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Chimney Loop Campground 3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Mack Lake ORV Campground 6.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Meadows ORV Campground 8.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Au Sable Loop Campground 10 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Ausable River Camping 10 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Loon Lake Day Use Area 0.4 mi · Facility
- River Dune Campground 9.9 mi · Campground
- Meadow Springs Campground 10.7 mi · Campground
- Cathedral Pines Campground 12.1 mi · Campground
- Buttercup Campground 14.4 mi · Campground
- Bear Island Campground 14.8 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 989-826-3252
- Email sm.fs.hmnf@usda.gov
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-06-30.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
Comments