Goose Lake State Forest Campground
Northern Lower Peninsula · Missaukee County
Thirty sites on the Goose Lake shore in mixed evergreen and hardwood. Launch in the campground, pike and bass in the lake, and no ORV routes listed, a genuinely tranquil one for this part of the state.
From above. USDA NAIP, public domain.The vibe
Works for tent, hammock, van, and a smaller rig. 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
- 30 rustic sites.
- Vault toilets and hand-pump water. No hookups, no showers.
- No reservation exists. Drive in, take an open post, self-register ($20 a night). Summer Fridays fill early; have a second pick down the road.
- Boat launch on site.
2.
Thicket is not affiliated with the Michigan DNR. The facts come from the DNR's open GIS data (a public record); the vibe read and the words are ours, estimated from open data (OpenStreetMap, USGS elevation, NASA Black Marble nighttime light). Sites, fees, and access can change, and first come, first served means no promises. Confirm on the DNR page, and pack out what you pack in.