Pine Lake Recreation Area Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. Opens May 7, 2026 and operates through September 12, 2026.

About

Pine Lake Recreation Area Campground is located on the scenic shores of Pine Lake in the Manistee National Forest, 17 miles east of Manistee. The campground offers a beautiful lakefront setting with a shallow, gravel-bottomed beach that extends far out into the water, making it an excellent spot for swimming and wading. The east side of Pine Lake is mostly privately owned with numerous cabins, while the west side features federally-owned wetlands that have served as habitat for bald eagles over the years. The campground provides access to a variety of recreational activities including fishing, motorized and non-motorized boating, and ice fishing in winter months when the lake freezes. The adjacent day use area offers picnic facilities with lakefront access. The campground is located near other attractions including Udell Hills, the Pine River National Scenic River, and Dorner Lake Day Use Area. This is an established Forest Service campground with basic amenities including vault toilets and a hand pump for drinking water. Sites are equipped with tables and fire pits. The campground operates seasonally from May through September and offers both reservable and first-come, first-served camping.

Directions

From Manistee, travel east on M-55 for 17 miles. Turn right and travel south on Bosschem Rd./CR-F669 for 1 mile. Turn right and travel west on Pine Lake Rd. for 3 miles. Road terminates at the site.

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