Recreation

Great Lakeshores, Great Lighthouses, Great Islands!

When you first enter the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, you will experience a forest with abundant wildlife, miles of rivers and streams, and dozens of waterfalls.

The Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan's Upper Peninsula touches the scenic shorelines and beaches of three Great Lakes, and is home to six historic Michigan lighthouses.

There are also Great Lakes islands, including Grand Island and Round Island. Other attractions in the Hiawatha National Forest include historical structures, archaeological sites, and prehistoric Native American artifacts that are a window to our past and are being preserved for our future. (Read more about Hiawatha National Forest attractions in the Upper Peninsula)

Plan Your Trip to the Hiawatha National Forest

Get started by exploring the activities in the Select an Activity menu. Can't find what you're looking for? Choose the Find an Area button for suggested locations within each Ranger District.

Know Before You Go

Find a map Find a pass Find an office Find a lighthouse

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Current Recreation Conditions

Area Name	Status	Area Conditions
Au Train Lake Campground	Closed
Bass Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Bay Furnace Campground	Closed
Bay View Campground	Closed	Opening date TBD
Bear Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Bermuda Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
Brevoort Lake Campground	Closed	Opening date TBD
Camp 7 Lake Campground	Closed	Pier is closed until further notice due to high water and pending repairs. Reservations. Opens May 15. Closes September 30.
Camp Cook Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Carp River Campground	Closed	Opening date TBD
Carr Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Channel Marker Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
Chicago Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Clear Lake Campsite	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Colwell Lake Campground	Closed	Reservations. Opens May 15. Closes October 8.
Cookson Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations May 15 through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Corner Lake Campground	Closed	Reservations. Opens May 13. Closes September 3.
Council Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations May 15 through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Driftwood Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
Duck Lake Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
East Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Ewing Point Campsite	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Flowing Well Campground	Closed	Reservations required. Opens May 15. Closes October 7.
Gamefence Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
Gooseneck Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Grand Island National Recreation Area	None	Campsites/campgrounds open Friday before Memorial Day and require reservations.
Hardwood Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
Haymeadow Creek Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Hemlock Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
Hovey Lake Campsites	Open	Not maintained Columbus Day through May 15.
Indian River Campground	Closed	Reservations required. Opens May 15. Closes September 18.
Ironjaw Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Island Lake Campground	Closed	Reservations. Open May 15. Closes September 3.
Jackpine Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Juniper Flats Group Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
Lake Michigan Campground	Closed	Reservations through Recreation.gov.
Lake Nineteen Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Leg Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Little Bass Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Little Bay De Noc Campground	Closed	Reservations. Opens May 15. Closes September 9.
Little Duck Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
Little Dune 1 Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations reqquired.
Little Dune 2 Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
Loon Call Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
Lyman Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
McKeever Cabin	Open
Minerva Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Monocle Lake Campground	Closed	First come first served this season.
Mowe Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Murray Bay Group Campsite on Grand Island	Closed	Reservations required.
Pete's Lake Campground	Closed	Pier is inaccessible due to high water. Reservations. Opens May 24. Closes September 29.
Point Iroquois Lighthouse	Open	Lighthouse operating season is Friday May 26th through October 15th
Soldier Lake Campground	Closed	Opening date TBD
Steuben Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Swan Lake Campsites	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Three Lakes Campground	Open	Opens May 15. Closes October 31.
Toms Lake Cabin	Open	Reservations Required.
Triangle Lake Campsite	Open	Reservations through Columbus Day. No services/no reservations/no fees after that time Columbus Day through May 15.
Widewaters Campground	Closed	Reservations. Opens May 24. Closes September 29.

Spotlights

Clear Lake Education Center

Clear Lake Education Center near Shingleton, Michigan, is a place where everyone (all abilities, ages and backgrounds) can visit to connect with their natural world through integrated educational and recreational programs.

Visit http://www.clearlakeinfo.org for more information about what the Education Center has to offer. You will also find information about rentals, school groups, and how you can get involved as a steward.

Public Days - Take a Tour
Throughout the year, the Clear Lake Education and Stewards Group host Public Days where everyone is invited to take a tour of the Education Center and Clear Lake and have fun trying some of the recreation programs that are available. Visit their website for upcoming dates.

The camp is located near Shingleton, Michigan in the middle of the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula.

Christmas/Grand Island West Channel Range Light

Take a self-guided tour of our Lighthouses via the Hiawatha's OnCell App!

During the hey-day of water transportation on Lake Superior, mariners used a of "range lights," to guide them on a safe course through dangerous shallows of the island's west channel.

Located near Christmas, Michigan, off Highway M-28, visitors are welcome to view the range lights.

Christmas/Grand Island West Channel

Click the image to view the Christmas/Grand Island West Channel Range Lights photo album.

See for yourself

Grand Island National Recreation Area

Bring the family, friends or yourself and check out Grand Island National Recreation Area!

Grand Island is located in Lake Superior, about one-half mile from the mainland community of Munising, Michigan. Munising is about 43 miles from Marquette and 55 miles from Manistique.

Grand Island is the perfect place to spend a day or even just a few hours biking, exploring, and appreciating nature. Please be aware that, in keeping with agency interim direction, the non-motorized trails (e.g. all bike trails) are not open to eBikes. The island is an exciting and secluded destination that offers:

Breathtaking overlooks
Pristine sandy beaches
Fascinating cultural sites
Deep hardwoods
Inland lakes

Online maps are available: Grand Island Recreation Area Map.

How to Reach Grand Island:

Visitors can reach the island via passenger ferry or private watercraft.

The ferry departs from Grand Island Landing on the mainland, located on M-28 about 2.5 miles west of the Munising's blinking light. Look for the Grand Island National Recreation Area signs.

Some campsites are conveniently located for kayakers.