Chicago Lake Campsites

Summary

The Hiawatha National Forest offers serene and peaceful campgrounds around inland lakes in a rustic forest environment with few amenities. Visitors can enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing with a license. There are a variety of sites with primitive toilets, boat access, and nearby attractions like trails, bait shops and grocery stores.

Overview

There are many campsites on the Munising and Rapid River/Manistique Ranger Districts of the Hiawatha National Forest. Many are located on inland lakes and are in a rustic forest environment with few to no amenities and no drinking water. The rustic environment offers a wonderfully serene and peaceful setting for your next camping experience. All of these sites are nestled in hardwood trees and pines. All of them are on small inland lakes, which offer a wide variety of fishing opportunities.

Recreation

Visitors will be able to enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing at these campsites. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters. 

Swimming conditions vary by site.

• Conditions are the best at sites 3 and 4. 
• Conditions at site 2 are considered fair.
• Conditions at site 1 are conisdered poor.

The road leading to sites 3 and 4 are shared by anglers using the public boat launch into Chicago Lake. This boat launch is located adjacent to Site 4 and features an improved gravel ramp for accessing the abundant population of northern pike and bluegills. Largemouth bass and perch are present in smaller quanities.

Facilities

There are primitive toilets available at site 2 and between sites 3 and 4.

There is NO drinking water.

Lake Name: Chicago Lake

Number of Sites: 4

Maximum Number of People Per Site: Site 1 (8), Sites 2-4 (16)

Toilets: Yes

Boat Access: Back - In

Lake Size (acres): 188

Natural Features

Chicago Lake (188 acres) hosts four campsites and an improved boat launch, all clustered around its north end. 

• Site #1 is a small site in a heavily wooded area and offers lots of privacy from adjacent sites and campers. It measures 20 ft. x 15 ft and is suitable for one family only. The access road is poor and 4 wheel drive vehicles and tents are recommended.
• Site #2 is a larger site in an open area, measuring 55 ft. by 45 ft. It can accommodate 2 families and trailers. There is a primitive toilet at this site. 
• Site #3 is a larger site surrounded by tall pines and is near the lakeshore. It measures 60 ft. by 50 ft. and is suitable for two families. However, trailer access is difficult because of limited turning area. 
• Site #4 is a semi-open area that measures 55 ft. by 50 ft. It can accommodate two families and trailers. A primitive toilet is shared with site #4. 

There is a boat launch located adjacent to site #4 and features an improved gravel ramp for accessing Chicago Lake.

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 seven miles Northeast on County Road 437 in the Thunder Lake Area.

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