USDA Forest Service · Michigan
Marion Lake Group Site
USDA Forest Service · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- May 22 to September 15
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,660 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- FDR3985-F (NFSR 3985-F) · crushed aggregate or gravel · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Ottawa National Forest
- Nearest town
- Watersmeet Township
- Phone
- 906-358-4724
- Activities
- Biking, Birding, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Swimming, Water Sports, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
The sparkling Marion Lake offers breathtaking and exciting camping for your next family trip. Live it up on the water with your jet skis or wake board, or tone down the pace with a full day of fishing. The Marion Lake Group Site is an ideal way to spend time with friends and family for all the water activities you can imagine.
Marion Lake is in the Ottawa National Forest, a protected area in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It stretches from the Lake Superior shoreline to the Wisconsin border, and attracts deer and many types of migrating birds.
Recreation
A swim beach is adjacent to the group site.
Facilities
A convenient path leads to the lake and boat launch. Water is not available on-site, but is a short walk away.
Natural Features
The campground is in a large, grassy field surrounded by hemlock and hardwood trees with an opening to Marion Lake. The altitude is 1,627 feet, with lightly rolling hills stretched between the many other lakes in the area.
Nearby Attractions
Hiking enthusiasts will find scenic trails throughout the Sylvania Wilderness area, a region to the west with old-growth forests and 34 named lakes. On the way, stop by the Ottawa Visitor Center in Watersmeet for some interesting exhibits.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (906) 661-8870.
Fees
There is a day use fee associated with the boat landing from May 15 – October 15, of $5 per day per vehicle, or an annual pass for $30 per vehicle. The annual pass covers Lake Ottawa Recreation Area, Black River Harbor Recreation Area, Marion Lake boat landing, Bobcat Lake day use and boat landing, Henry Lake, Pomeroy Lake, Norway Lake day use, Perch Lake, Lake Ste Kathryn, and Courtney Lake day use and boat landing. Please plan accordingly to ensure you can pay the daily fee at the self-registration fee tube. If you would like to purchase an annual pass, they are available from the on-site campground host. If you have additional questions, contact Camp Host, LLC at 906-661-8870.
Day use fees will not be charged to those who have already paid for a campground campsite.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20° | 5° | -25° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 23° | 8° | -17° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 36° | 19° | -2° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 46° | 30° | 7° | 75° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 42° | 29° | 80° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 72° | 52° | 41° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 60° | 50° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 58° | 51° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 70° | 53° | 39° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 51° | 39° | 25° | 72° | 4 of 10 |
| November | 35° | 27° | 6° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 27° | 14° | -11° | 54° | 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
- Burned Dam · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Imp Lake Camp · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Lac Vieux Desert Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 32 sites
- Robbins Pond Camp · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi
- Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 50 sites
All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.