State Forest · Michigan
Goose Creek State Forest Campground
State Forest · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 12
- Hookups
- 12 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
- 1,158 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)
- Phone
- 989-348-7068
About
Nestled beneath a red pine and hardwood forest, this quaint, rustic campground sits on the shore of the Upper Manistee River. The campground provides excellent opportunities for paddle sports and fishing. There are many places throughout the campground to access the river. The Goose Creek Trail Camp is attached to this campground and to get to the Goose Creek State Forest Campground you must drive through the Trail Camp. Both campgrounds are accessed through the same entrance off Manistee River Road.
There are nine sites for tent and small trailer use, all of which have a view of the river. The campground is located 5.5 miles west of Frederic via County Road 612 and Manistee River Road.
12 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 Hartwick Pines State Park (989-348-7068).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 12° | -17° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 26° | 11° | -14° | 47° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 22° | 2° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 52° | 33° | 8° | 81° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 67° | 45° | 28° | 82° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 73° | 53° | 42° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 61° | 54° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 77° | 60° | 53° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 72° | 55° | 41° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 54° | 42° | 30° | 74° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 40° | 30° | 5° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 31° | 20° | -5° | 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
- Goose Creek Trail Camp · State Forest · 0 mi
- Upper Manistee State Forest Campground · State Forest · 1 mi · 30 sites
- Manistee River Bridge State Forest Campground · State Forest · 4 mi · 23 sites
- Pickerel Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 7 mi · 13 sites
- Lake Margrethe State Forest Campground · State Forest · 7 mi · 37 sites
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.