Imp Lake Campground
Imp Lake Campground, located 6 miles southeast of Watersmeet, Michigan, provides visitors with a unique camping experience. Lakeside sites offer a quaint view of a small island populated with nesting loons, while off-lake sites are perched beside towering hemlocks. Visitors are free to roam the nearby Imp Lake Interpretive Trail, canoe or fish the quiet wake free lake. This campground consists of two camping loops, with a total of 22 campsites, and provides drive-in sites that can accommodate tents, trailers and motor homes. All sites are spaced with natural vegetation for screening. Each site offers a wood table, fire ring and parking spur. Three sets of vault toilets and two hand pumps for drinking water are located within the camping loops. A picnic area and boat landing are located adjacent to the campground.
Reservations
No reservations; first come, first served.
General Information
Seasonal Information
The campground is scheduled to open with full services the Friday before Memorial Day. This date is subject to change; please contact the Watersmeet/Iron River Ranger District for additional information.
- No. of Sites: 22
- Fire Information: Fire ring in each campsite
- No. of Accessible Sites: 0
- Sleeping Shelter: No
- Best Season: July-September
- Difficulty Level: Easy to intermediate
May 15 – October 15
- Loop 1 - Gate will close on October 15, 2026.
- Loop 2 - Reduced services begin October 15, 2026; no water or garbage services will be provided. Visitors can use the facility until snow conditions reduce access or January 1, whichever is sooner.
24 hours - self pay
Fees shown are for the summer recreation period when full services are provided. During the early spring and late fall, when no services are provided, the fees at some areas are not charged.
Camping in a developed recreation site is allowed for a period not longer than 14 days, except as otherwise posted. After this time, you must move to another campground or dispersed site for at least 24 hours. Campers must occupy the site the first night. Eight people and two motorized vehicles are allowed per campsite with a maximum of one RV or camper trailer and two tents per camping site or three tents per camping site.
Golden Age/Interagency Senior and Access Passes are accepted.
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $22 per night
Contact Name: Camp Host, LLC
Contact Phone: (906) 661-8870
Address: E23979 US 2 East Watersmeet, MI 49969
Phone: 906-358-4551
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (CT) (Closed on federal holidays)
Getting There
Latitude / Longitude
Latitude: 46.21766654
Longitude: -89.070557
Directions
From Watersmeet, MI, travel east on US 2 about 5 miles, turn right onto FR 3978 and travel about 1 mile to the campground.
From Iron River, MI, travel west on US 2 about 25 miles, turn left onto FR 3978 and travel about 1 mile to the campground.
Parking
Parking is available for trail and boat ramp.
Facility and Amenity Information
Restrooms
3 sets of vault toilets located in the camping loopsWater
Potable water is available at this site.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are available at this site.
One is available in each campsite.
Recreation Opportunities
Day Hikes Info
Imp Lake Trail is about 1 mile and is a loop trail. It is a nice trail and wheelchair accessible. Part of the trail is boardwalk, and, at the halfway point, there is decking with wooden chairs. It is particularly pretty with fall colors. The entrance is across from the Imp Lake Campground.
- Difficulty Description: Trail is mostly level.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to intermediate
Fishing - Lake & PondFishing - Lake & Pond Info
Imp Lake, located within the Watersmeet Ranger District, is a favorite destination for fishermen and outdoorsmen alike. This 111-acre lake features a boat ramp that will give you access to trout and panfish. Imp Lake is a no wake lake.
- Fish Species: Trout and Panfish
- Special Designations: Boat ramp
- Fishing Platform: No
- Cleaning Station: No
- Accessible Platform: No
- Water Temperature: Cold
- Water/Flow Level: 80 feet
- Difficulty Level: Easy to intermediate
Boating - Motorized Info
- Launch Ramps: Yes, concrete base; no charge to launch boat
- Trailer Parking: Yes
- Class of Rapids: None
- Size Restrictions: No wake lake
- Motor Type: N/A
- Fuel Availability: No
- Fees: None
- Difficulty Level: Easy to intermediate
Boating - Non-Motorized Info
- Launch Ramps: No
- Trailer Parking: Yes
- Type of Craft: Canoe/Kayak
- Fuel Availability: No
- Marina/Mooring: No
- Status: Open
- Difficulty Level: Easy
Viewing Wildlife Info
In the middle of Imp Lake, Loons nest on an island that can be viewed from the shoreline. There are also opportunities to view whitetail deer, bears, eagles, wolves and many more.
Species: Loons, whitetail deer, bears, eagles and wolves
Difficulty Level: Easy