State Forest · Michigan
Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground
State Forest · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 25
- Hookups
- 25 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Cost
- $20 per night; a Recreation Passport is required on the vehicle
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Elevation
- 1,312 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 989-473-2258
About
This quaint, rustic campground is nestled on the shore of Ambrose Lake and offers excellent fishing and paddling opportunities. The campground offers 25 sites for tents and RVs, including accessible sites #6 and #8. The campground is moderately shaded, and the campsites are large and spacious with generous room between each site.
There's a boat launch on the south side and carry-in access for kayaks and canoes on the north. The Ogemaw Hills Pathway offers trails for hiking and biking, and is 5.5 miles northwest from the campground.
The campground is located 11 miles north of West Branch via South Fairview and Houghton Creek roads.
25 rustic campsites, $20 a night. Open all year; the road may not be plowed in winter. First come, first served; register at the campground kiosk on the day you arrive. Vault toilets and a hand-pump well for drinking water; no electricity or hookups. One camping unit and six people per site, 15 nights at most. Managed from Rifle River Recreation Area (989-473-2258).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 9° | -11° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 26° | 11° | -14° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 24° | 6° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 53° | 34° | 12° | 80° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 66° | 45° | 27° | 82° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 73° | 53° | 42° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 61° | 52° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 60° | 52° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 55° | 44° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 41° | 29° | 74° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 39° | 30° | 6° | 60° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 32° | 22° | 0° | 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
- Island lake (MI) · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 17 sites
- Meadows ORV Campground · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 13 sites
- Rifle River – Rustic Campgrounds · Michigan State Parks · 11 mi
- Chimney Loop Campground · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 1 sites
- Rifle River – Grousehaven Lake · Michigan State Parks · 11 mi
All public campgrounds in Michigan · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-17. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.