← National forest campgrounds

Island Lake

Hiawatha NF, near Munising · Hiawatha National Forest

Reserve on recreation.gov

Eleven sites on a 32.5-acre inland lake in Hiawatha National Forest, mostly pine, well spaced with trees between you and the next pad. Rustic: vault toilets, a hand pump, no hookups, no showers. Carry-in boat and kayak launch, and fish in the lake. Level ground, real privacy. Quiet is the whole point.

Aerial view of Island LakeFrom above. USDA NAIP, public domain.

The vibe

Steps from Cherry LakeDark skies (Bortle ~3)Wooded

Works for hammock, tent, RV, van / car. Measured dark skies, a real one for stargazing.

Hanging a hammock?

Hammocks are fine in Michigan state parks. There's no rule against them. The rule is about the tree: use wide, tree-friendly straps, no nails or wire, and don't tear the bark. The state sets no strap or tree-size requirement, so when in doubt, ask the park. We'll point you at sites that likely have trees worth hanging from, but we can't see the trunks, so eyeball it on arrival.

The facts

  • 11 reservable sites.
  • Has accessible sites.
  • Reserved through recreation.gov, not us. We don't track openings here yet.

About 13 miles south of Munising on the Lake Superior side of the UP.

Reserve at recreation.gov →

Thicket is not the Forest Service and not affiliated with it. The facts come from the federal RIDB (public domain); the vibe read is our estimate from open data (OpenStreetMap, USGS elevation, NASA Black Marble nighttime light). Sites, fees, and access can change. Confirm and book at recreation.gov, and leave no trace.