USDA Forest Service · Michigan

Ironjaw Lake Campsite

USDA Forest Service · Michigan, United States

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Sites
1
Hookups
1 no hookups
Season
May 15 to October 15
Max RV length
24 ft
Drinking water
No
Restrooms
No
Pets
Yes
Elevation
814 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 1
Cell coverage
AT&T weak · T-Mobile none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Access road
IRONJAW LAKE (NFSR 2733) · crushed aggregate or gravel · high clearance vehicles
Lake
Hiawatha National Forest
Nearest town
Rapid River
Address
RAPID RIVER/MANISTIQUE RANGER DISTRICT, Rapid River, MI, 49878
Phone
906-474-6442 OR 906-387-2512
Activities
Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking

1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.

About

Overview

The Munising and Rapid River/Manistique Ranger Districts of the Hiawatha National Forest offer a variety of camping experiences. Many are located on inland lakes in a rustic forest environment with no drinking water. The rustic environment offers a wonderfully serene and peaceful setting for your next camping experience.

Recreation

Visitors will be able to enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing at these campsites. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters.

Our management efforts seek to provide for quiet, peaceful recreation opportunities in a semi-primiitve setting. The campsite is located on the non-motorized Pine Marten Run Trail, which is open to hiking, mountain biking, and horse back riding.

The swimming area at this site is in poor condition.

Horse camping is allowed at Ironjaw Lake.

Ironjaw Lake is one of the better fishing lakes in the area. Crappie fishing is excellent in the spring. The lake contains northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill and bullheads.

Boat access is dow a steep hill but the surface is firm. Turn-around and back-in space at the base of the hill is very limited. 4 wheel drive vehicles are highly recommended. Parking is restricted to a small area located at the top of the hill.

Boat access is open to the public, Keep the road clear and expect to have people using the boat launch.

Facilities

There is NO drinking water available.

There is a primitive toilet located across the road from the parking area.

Lake Name: Ironjaw Lake

Number of Sites: 1

Maximum Number of People Per Site: 8

Maximum Number of Horses Allowed: 2

Toilets: Yes

Boat Access: Back-In

Lake Size (acres): 62

Natural Features

Ironjaw Lake (62 acres) is located in the heart of the Ironjaw Semi-Primitive Area, which is managed for both motorized and non-motorized uses.

The campsite at Ironjaw is a pull through site that features a tent pad situated on a hill overlooking Lake Nineteen. The site is suitable for only one family with a small trailer. There is limitied turnaround space.

Nearby Attractions

There are a number of horse, bike, and hiking trails within minutes of several of the sites. In over a mile from these campsites, visitors can expect to find: bait shops, general and grocery stores, gas, a pay phone, trailheads, a fishing pier, biking, and kayak/canoe rentals.

Groceries, gasoline, fishing and camping supplies, boat rentals, ice, MDNR licenses, deli, and restaurants are available approximately six miles west on Forest Highway 13.

Contact Info

For local information, please call (906) 474-6442 or call (906) 387-2512 for general information.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January23°11°-16°38°11 of 11
February25°12°-9°50°11 of 11
March35°22°4°58°11 of 11
April45°31°12°74°9 of 11
May62°41°29°78°2 of 11
June70°50°39°85°0 of 11
July78°59°48°96°0 of 11
August76°60°51°87°0 of 11
September70°55°42°82°0 of 11
October52°42°29°72°2 of 10
November38°31°8°55°9 of 10
December30°19°-4°51°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

All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.