USDA Forest Service · Michigan
Island lake (MI)
USDA Forest Service · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 17
- Hookups
- 17 with water, 17 no hookups
- Season
- May 15 to September 30
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,342 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- ISLAND LAKE REC (NFSR 4148) · bituminous surface treatment · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Huron-Manistee National Forests
- Nearest town
- Mio
- Address
- Mio Ranger Station, Mio, MI, 48647
- Phone
- 989-826-3252
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Day Use Area, Fishing, Kayaking, Non-Motorized Boating, Off Highway Vehicle Trails, Off Road Vehicle Trails, Paddle Boating, Paddling, Picnicking
About
Overview
Island Lake Campground is a popular campground and picnic area featuring a swimming beach marked with buoys on the 58-acre Island Lake. Located on the southern edge of the Mio Ranger District of the Huron-Manistee National Forest, this site is a short drive North on M-33 from Rose City, MI. This site is gated in the off-season. Island Lake Brochure and Map.
Recreation
Water Activities: Island Lake is a popular location for swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating. The water tempurate is cold with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Anglers can expect to catch sunfish, perch, and bass. Visitors can carry-in kayaks, canoes, and other non-motorized watercraft a short distance from the day use parking area to day use beach.
Hiking: There is a 1.25 mile loop trail that departs from the campground. A spur trail off the main loop connects Island Lake Campground with Loon Lake Day Use Area.
OHV Riding: Nearby M-33 trailhead provides OHV riders with access to the Mack Lake Motorized Trail System and the Bull Gap Hill Climb Area . Additionally, a large majority of Forest Service roads are open to OHV use. Please refer to the motor vehicle use map (MVUM) to understand which roads are open to OHV use.
Facilities
The campground provides handpump wells for drinking water, several vault toilets, and trash collection services. The embedded day use area also provides visitors with picnic tables and grills. Campsites at Island Lake have paved parking pads, picnic tables, campfire rings, and lantern posts.
Natural Features
Island Lake is a small, sheltered lake. It's namesake Island is visable from the day use area. Several of the campsites offer views of Island Lake through the trees. The forest around the campground is mixed hardwoods with many wildlife and waterfowl viewing opportunites.
Island Lake and the surrounding landscape are the result of glacial retreat and showcases some of Michigan's geologic history. While retreating from Michigan, glaciers left behind a pattern of broad ridges, called moraines. A chaotic arragnement of deep circular depressions and winding ridges, the Island Lake campground and Island Lake nature trail takes visitors through part of the West Branch Morraine.
Contact Info
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (989) 826-3252.
Charges & Cancellations
All reservation changes, cancellations, and refunds are managed through Recreation.gov.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25° | 8° | -12° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 26° | 10° | -16° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 23° | 4° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 52° | 33° | 10° | 81° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 66° | 44° | 26° | 82° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 72° | 52° | 42° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 60° | 52° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 58° | 51° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 72° | 54° | 43° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 41° | 27° | 74° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 39° | 29° | 5° | 61° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 31° | 21° | -1° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Wagner Lake (MI) · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 12 sites
- Chimney Loop Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 1 sites
- Mack Lake ORV Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 42 sites
- Rifle River – Grousehaven Lake · Michigan State Parks · 9 mi
- Meadows ORV Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 13 sites
All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-06-30. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.