State Forest · Michigan
Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground
State Forest · Michigan, United States
- Sites
- 25
- Hookups
- 25 no hookups
- Season
- April 1 to November 30
- Cost
- $20 per night; a Recreation Passport is required on the vehicle
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Boat launch
- Yes
- Elevation
- 856 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 989-733-8279
About
Shoepac Lake (52 acres) is a prime spot for fishing and paddling. This campground offers 25 sites for tents and trailers (all sizes), with an undeveloped boat launch for paddlers. Explore nearby limestone sinkholes via the Sinkhole Pathway, or enjoy 70 miles of trails on the High Country Pathway. The area is known for excellent hunting and fishing, with abundant wildlife. ORVs are not allowed in this campground.
The campground is located 12 miles southeast of Onaway via M-33 South and Tomahawk Lake Highway.
25 rustic campsites, $20 a night. Closed November 30 to April 1. 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 Onaway State Park (989-733-8279).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 11° | -10° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 26° | 11° | -18° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 22° | 4° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 52° | 33° | 10° | 84° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 65° | 44° | 27° | 85° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 73° | 53° | 44° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 61° | 52° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 60° | 53° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 55° | 42° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 42° | 31° | 75° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 40° | 31° | 9° | 62° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 22° | -3° | 60° | 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
- Tomahawk Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 1 mi · 25 sites
- Tomahawk Creek Flooding State Forest Campground · State Forest · 1 mi · 47 sites
- Clear Lake – Upper and Lower Campgrounds · Michigan State Parks · 7 mi
- Jackson Lake State Forest Campground · State Forest · 10 mi · 18 sites
- Ocqueoc Falls State Forest Campground · State Forest · 12 mi · 13 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.