State Forest · Michigan
Ross Lake State Forest Campground
State Forest · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 10
- Hookups
- 10 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Cost
- $20 per night; a Recreation Passport is required on the vehicle
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Boat launch
- Yes
- Elevation
- 945 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 906-341-2355
About
This rustic campground offers 10 sites for tents and trailers, perfect for fishing and paddling. Known for bluegill, pike and bass, Ross Lake is accessible via steep, narrow paths from some sites, including one between sites 3 and 4. Note: the forested campground doesn't offer direct lake views. The campground is fewer than 10 miles from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. A boating access site is less than 1/4 mile north of the campground where kayaks and canoes can be launched easily.
The campground is located 22 miles northeast of Shingleton via H-15, H-58 and Russ Lake Road.
10 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 Indian Lake State Park (906-341-2355).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23° | 15° | -6° | 38° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 25° | 14° | -2° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 34° | 22° | 7° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 42° | 32° | 13° | 72° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 56° | 39° | 29° | 73° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 66° | 48° | 38° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 74° | 57° | 47° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 73° | 60° | 51° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 56° | 45° | 80° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 51° | 43° | 31° | 70° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 37° | 32° | 14° | 55° | 7 of 10 |
| December | 29° | 23° | 3° | 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
- Cusino Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 2 mi · 6 sites
- South Gemini Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 2 mi · 8 sites
- North Gemini Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 2 mi · 17 sites
- Canoe Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 2 mi · 4 sites
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Camping Permit · National Park Service · 6 mi · 72 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.