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Recreation Region: Bessemer Ranger District

Moosehead Lake Campground

Located in Gogebic County, 10 miles southeast of the town of Marenisco, Mi, on the Bessemer Ranger District in the southern half of the Ottawa National Forest. Moosehead Lake Campground consists of one camping loop with 8 campsites. All sites are spaced with natural vegetation for screening, providing an excellent chance for privacy. This campground provides drive-in sites that can accommodate tents, trailers, and motorhomes. Each site offers a tent pad, accessible wood table, fire ring, and parking spur. Two vault toilets are located in the camping loop, drinking water is provided at a centrally located pressurized faucet. Adjacent to the campground is a boat landing, which provides fishing opportunities for a variety of game fish.

Current Conditions
No water or garbage services are provided. Visitors can use the facility until snow conditions reduce access. Gates get closed as soon as snow starts to accumulate.

Reservations

No reservations - first come, first serve.

General Information

Campground Camping

Located in Gogebic County 10 miles southeast of the town of Marenisco on the Bessemer Ranger District in the southern half of the Ottawa National Forest. Moosehead Lake campground consists of one camping loop with 8 campsites. All sites are widely spaced with natural vegetation for screening, providing an excellent chance for privacy. This campground provides drive-in sites that can accommodate tents, trailers, and motorhomes. Each site offers a tent pad, picnic table, fire ring, and parking spur. Two vault toilet facilities are located in the camping loop, drinking water is provided at a centrally located pressurized faucet. Adjacent to the campground is a boat landing which provides fishing opportunities for a variety of game fish.

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 Bessemer Ranger District for additional information.

  • No. of Sites: 8
  • Fire Information: Fire ring in each campsite
  • No. of Accessible sites: None
  • Sleeping Shelter: None
  • Best Season: June-September
  • Difficulty Level: Easy to Intermediate

May 24 - September 30

24 hours - self pay

Golden Age/Interagency Access and Senior Passes accepted

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 2 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. Generators are not permitted during quiet hours (10pm-6am).

Overnight Use:
Single Site: $13 per night

Offices: SO and Bessemer

Address: E6248 US HWY 2 Ironwood, MI 49938
Phone: 906-932-1330
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (CT) (Closed on federal holidays)

Getting There

Latitude / Longitude

Latitude: 46.24162668

Longitude: -89.60435854

Directions

From Bessemer, Mi., travel east on US 2 approximately 19 miles, turn right onto M 64, travel approximately 6 ½ miles to FR 8220, turn left onto FR 8220 and travel approximately 5 ½ miles to FR 6860, continue on FR 6860 approximately 4 miles to FR 6862, turn right onto FR 6862 and travel approximately 1 ½ miles to the campground.

From Watersmeet, Mi., travel west on US 2 approximately 24 miles, turn left onto M 64, travel approximately 6 ½ miles to FR 8220, turn left onto FR 8220 and travel approximately 5 ½ miles to FR 6860, continue on FR 6860 approximately 4 miles to FR 6862, turn right onto FR 6862 and travel approximately 1 ½ miles to the campground.

Closest Towns: Marenisco, Mi., is 10 miles to the Northwest. Larger towns include Ironwood, Mi., 36 miles to the west and Watermeet, Mi., is 34 miles to the east.

Parking

At boat landing.

Facility and Amenity Information

Restrooms

Restrooms are available at this site.

Water

Potable water is available at this site.

Picnic Tables

Picnic tables are available at this site.

Recreation Opportunities

Fishing - Lake & Pond Info

This lake is nestled in along the Wisconsin border with a channel large enough to allow boats to travel between Moosehead Lake and Little Preque Isle Lake in Wisconsin. The boat landing provides access to this fairly deep mixed cold/warm water lake. Next to the boat ramp is a vault toilet and parking for your vehicle and trailer.

  • Fish Species: Northern Pike, Bass, Muskellunge, Crappie and Bluegill
  • Fishing Mode: Boat, Canoe or Bank
  • Special Designations: Boat Ramp - No Fee - Concrete
  • Fishing Platform: No
  • Cleaning Station: No
  • Water Temperature: Mixed Cold/warm
  • Water/Flow Level: 27 Feet
  • Fees: No Fee
  • Difficulty Level: Easy to Intermediate

Boating - Motorized Info

This border lake is nestled in along the Wisconsin border and provides a good variety of species to keep everyone happy. The boat landing provides access to this fairly deep mixed cold/warm water lake. There is plenty of parking for your trailers.

  • Trailer Parking: Yes
  • Launch Ramps: Yes, Concrete Base, no charge to launch boat
  • Class of rapids: None
  • Motor Type: No Restrictions
  • Fuel availability: No
  • Difficulty Level: Easy to Intermediate

Last updated March 26th, 2025