Nichols Lake South Campground
Nichols Lake, near Baldwin · Huron-Manistee National Forests
A Huron-Manistee National Forest campground on the south shore of 160-acre Nichols Lake, around 28 sites on paved spurs that take tents, vans, and RVs. Swimming beach, paved boat launch, and an accessible fishing pier on the water. Flush toilets, showers, and drinking water, but no electric hookups. The North Country Trail runs through near the boat ramp. Sites are roomy but the layout is fairly open, so privacy is thin and it draws a crowd in summer.
From above. USDA NAIP, public domain.The vibe
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
- 28 reservable sites.
- Has accessible sites.
- Reserved through recreation.gov, not us. We don't track openings here yet.
About 20 minutes west of Baldwin, off M-37 south.
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.