Michigan / Iron County / Ottawa National Forest - Iron River Ranger District

Lake Ottawa Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground gate closed at 12:00 p.m. CT on September 30, 2025. Reopens May 24, 2026. Day use area and boat launch remain open year-round, but winter access may be limited due to snow. The Lake Ottawa Pavilion will be closed for the 2026 season due to rehabilitation work.

About

Lake Ottawa Campground is situated in a beautiful forested northwoods setting on the Iron River Ranger District of the Ottawa National Forest, just 5 miles southwest of Iron River, Michigan. The campground is 95% surrounded by National Forest System lands and features 32 wooded campsites, with 16 available for reservation and 15 first-come, first-served sites. The facility showcases historic structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s, including two log toilet buildings with flush toilets and a pavilion featuring two stone fireplaces and original log picnic tables. The campground provides pressurized water from hydrants near sites and includes a sewage dump station for RV campers. Located adjacent to the campground is Lake Ottawa, a deep cold-water lake that offers excellent fishing opportunities for lake trout, walleye, northern pike, panfish, and bass (catch and release only). A boat ramp with ample trailer parking provides easy lake access. The nearby day use area features a CCC-era building with flush toilets and a fireplace, outdoor picnic areas with tables and grills, and an athletic field. Recreational opportunities abound with the 9-mile Ge-Che Trail accessible from the campground and boat landing, providing scenic hiking through primarily hardwood forest. The area also offers access to nearby Brule Lake, Hagerman Lake, Bass Lake, the Brule River, and the historic Mile Post Zero/Treaty Tree marking the Michigan-Wisconsin border. The campground operates from late May through September, with the day use area and boat launch open year-round, though winter access may be limited due to snow.

Directions

From Iron River, travel west on US 2, turn south on M 73, travel approximately 3/4 mile, turn west on Lake Ottawa Road and travel approximately 4 miles to the campground. From Watersmeet, travel 28 miles east on US 2, turn south on M 73, travel approximately 3/4 mile, turn west on Lake Ottawa Road and travel approximately 4 miles to the campground.

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