Lake Ottawa Pavilion
Closed — Closed for the 2026 season due to rehabilitation work needed to the interior and exterior of the building.
From Recreation.gov
**The Lake Ottawa Pavilion will be closed for the 2026 season due to rehabilitation work needed to the interior and exterior of the building.** Please check back for updates and the status of this facility. We are sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
Flood Watch issued April 12 at 2:10AM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Heavy rain may fall on a deep primed snowpack leading to the melt increasing. Flows in rivers may increase quickly and reach critical levels. * WHAT...Flooding caused by rain and snowmelt continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of central Upper and western Upper Michigan, including the following areas, in central Upper Michigan, Alger, Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Iron, Luce, Marquette, Menominee, Northern Schoolcraft and Southern Schoolcraft. In western Upper Michigan, Gogebic, Keweenaw, Northern Houghton, Ontonagon and Southern Houghton. * WHEN...Through Wednesday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:16PM CDT by NWS Marquette MI
...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Michigan... Paint River at Crystal Falls (Paint) affecting Iron County. .Warming temperatures will accelerate snowmelt over the weekend into early next week. Flows in rivers will increase quickly and reach critical levels. Rainfall is also likely during this time period which could result in rivers rising above the current forecast. * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Paint River at Crystal Falls (Paint). * WHEN...From Tuesday afternoon until further notice. * IMPACTS...At 5.0 feet, At 5 feet the lowest portions of the Robert Olson Walking Trail begin to flood At 5.5 feet, 3500 - cfs - River exceeds bankfull stage At 7.0 feet, 5600 - cfs - Waterfront park areas near the M-69 bridge and low lying areas along the river in Crystal Falls become inundated. At 8.0 feet, Parking lot of roadside park upstream of M-69 begins to flood * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 8:10 PM CDT Saturday the stage was 3.9 feet. - Bankfull stage is 5.5 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage Tuesday afternoon and continue rising to a crest of 7.5 feet early Wednesday afternoon. - Flood stage is 7.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 6.7 feet on 04/30/2020. - www.weather.gov/safety/flood
About
The Lake Ottawa Pavilion sits in a beautiful north woods setting along the shore of Lake Ottawa within the Ottawa National Forest. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s, this historic pavilion provides a large indoor gathering area complete with picnic tables, limited seating, and a fireplace. The facility includes co-located flush toilets and change rooms. Surrounding the pavilion is a large outdoor picnic area with water bubblers, picnic tables, grills, a sandy swimming beach, and an athletic field. Lake Ottawa is a clear, deep cold-water lake with a natural sandy bottom, almost completely surrounded by National Forest System land. The pavilion is just a short walk from the Lake Ottawa campground and the trailhead for the Ge Che hiking trail, which provides approximately nine miles of hiking opportunities through the campground, day-use area, and surrounding northern hardwood forest. The boat landing offers ample parking and provides anglers access to fish for trout, bass, walleye, and pan-fish. This day-use area is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and is available for group reservations.
Directions
From Iron River, Michigan, travel west on US Highway 2 to M 73. Turn left (south) on M 73 and travel approximately 3/4 mile to Lake Ottawa Road. Turn right (west) on Lake Ottawa Road and travel approximately 4 miles to the Lake Ottawa Recreation Area. Follow the signs to the day use area.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $100 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| mdsimpson@fs.fed.us | |
| Phone | +1 (906) 358-4724 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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