USDA Forest Service · Michigan

Swan Lake Campsites

USDA Forest Service · Michigan, United States

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Sites
4
Hookups
4 no hookups
Season
May 15 to October 15
Max RV length
40 ft
Drinking water
No
Restrooms
No
Pets
Yes
Elevation
774 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
SWAN LAKE (NFSR 2725) · 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
Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Horse Camping, Horseback Riding, Swimming

4 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.

All campsites on Swan Lake have excellent swimming areas.

Swan Lake offers a good fishery for large and smallmouth bass, bluegills and pumpkinseeds. There is a public boat launch to Steuben Lake located near Site 1.

Facilities

There are three primitive toilets available, but NO drinking water.

Primitive toilets are located at sites 1, 2 and between 3 and 4.

If you have site 3 Reserved do not block access road to site 2. Please and thank you.

Lake Name: Swan Lake

Number of Sites: 4

Max Number of People Per Site: Site 1 (8), Site 2-4 (16)

Toilets: Yes

Boat Access: Back-In At site 1

Lake Size (acres): 169

Number of Horses Allowed: Site 1 (2), Site 2 (2), Site 3 (4), Site 4 (6)

Natural Features

Swan Lake is the most popular lake in the designated campsite program, so getting a permit to camp here can be quite competitive. All four campsites are located on the non-motorized Pine Marten Run Trail and horse camping is allowed.

Site 1 is located on a small hill overlooking the west shore of the lake and is isolated from the other three campsites on the lake. This site is 60 ft x 30 ft, and is suitable for one family. Trailers are NOT recommended unless they are set up in the parking area at the base of the knoll. The public boat launch to the lake is located near this site, so campers may have boaters accessing the lake.

Site 2 is on the southwest side of the lake and is 65 ft x 50 ft. This site is level and suitable for two families and small trailers. Turn-around space is very limited.

Site 3 is a nice level area, 65 ft x 35 ft, that can accomodate two families and trailers.

Site 4 is 80 ft x 70 ft and suitable for two families.

Sites 3 and 4 are adjacent to one another and can be reserved together to accomodate larger groups.

Nearby Attractions

All sites on Swan Lake have access to the Pine Marten Run trail system.

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.

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°-15°39°11 of 11
February25°12°-8°50°11 of 11
March36°22°4°59°11 of 11
April45°31°12°76°9 of 11
May61°41°29°79°2 of 11
June70°50°39°86°0 of 11
July78°59°48°97°0 of 11
August76°60°51°87°0 of 11
September70°56°42°82°0 of 11
October53°42°29°73°2 of 10
November39°31°8°56°8 of 10
December30°20°-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.