Is Black Lake Trail Camp first-come first-served or reservation?

Black Lake Trail Camp operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, to secure a spot.

Can I see photos of campsites at Black Lake Trail Camp before I book?

Yes! Black Lake Trail Camp has 4 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

Are there showers at Black Lake Trail Camp?

Black Lake Trail Camp does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

How many campsites does Black Lake Trail Camp have?

Black Lake Trail Camp has 8 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Arrive early for the best site selection.

Are dogs allowed at Black Lake Trail Camp?

Pets are not allowed at Black Lake Trail Camp. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Black Lake Trail Camp?

Black Lake Trail Camp offers: Restrooms, Potable Water. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Black Lake Trail Camp?

Popular activities at Black Lake Trail Camp include Hiking, Biking. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Black Lake Trail Camp

4.54

84 reviews

Top 6% in MISummer

Great Hiking

Featured in:Tent Camping Michigan

Quick Facts

748 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

8 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV Friendly

Check Availability Official Website

Get Directions

Quick Facts

748 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

8 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV Friendly

Check Availability Official Website

Get Directions

Black Lake Trail Camp

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Overnight fees ($20 for most sites) and registration procedures are posted at the information kiosk at each campground.

No paid fee categories listed.

Share this campground

Michigan

Provider

(231) 627-2811

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Black Lake Trail Camp

45.5271, -84.2797

Nearby places

Onaway — 13 miles

Weather at Black Lake Trail Camp

Best Time to Camp at Black Lake Trail Camp

Summer offers the most comfortable riding and camping conditions with warm daytime highs (typically mid-70s to mid-80s F) and cool nights (50s–60s F), making long trail days pleasant and pack/stock care easier. Trails are fully clear, the hardwood canopy provides shade for extended rides, and trail riding plus day hikes are at their peak. Weekends can see moderate use by other equestrian groups but overall crowds are manageable. Water pumps are reliable in summer and the vault toilets are fully serviced.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

5.0 / 5

Top 6% in MI

Summer offers comfortable temps (mid‑70s–80s) and steady canopy shade; prime for long trail days.

Planning Tips

About Black Lake Trail Camp

Black Lake Trail Camp sits in the Black Mountain area at 748 feet elevation, offering eight primitive sites popular with equestrians, ORV riders, and families. The campground is first-come, first-served with no hookups or showers, just vault toilets and hand-pump potable water. Large, shaded sites spread between a wooded upper area and a lower section near Black Lake.

Designated equestrian-only, rustic trail campground. Offers tent and trailer/RV-capable sites and is group-friendly.

Weather and SeasonsSummer offers the most comfortable riding and camping conditions with warm daytime highs (typically mid-70s to mid-80s F) and cool nights (50s–60s F), making long trail days pleasant and pack/stock care easier. Trails are fully clear, the hardwood canopy provides shade for extended rides, and trail riding plus day hikes are at their peak. Weekends can see moderate use by other equestrian groups but overall crowds are manageable. Water pumps are reliable in summer and the vault toilets are fully serviced.

Natural Features and SceneryRolling hills covered in dense northern hardwood forest define the terrain here. The canopy provides steady shade during summer rides, and the campground connects directly to the Black Mountain Pathway and over 100 miles of multi-use trails. Black Lake sits close enough to access on foot. The forest is lush and quiet when crowds thin, though expect horse traffic and the occasional rumble of side-by-sides on shared trails.

Geological RegionRolling hills and lush hardwood forest in the Black Mountain area.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Stay Limit

15-day maximum stay

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Reservation PlatformsMIDNRReservations.com; group reservations and availability via Cheboygan State Park (phone: 231-627-2811).

Total Campsites8 campsites

Best CampsitesReviewers prefer the wooded upper sites for shade and privacy, while the lower lakeside sites offer closer water access. Sites are large and can handle horse trailers or RVs without hookups. Arrive early on summer weekends. This is a popular spot for equestrian groups, and all eight sites fill quickly.

Amenities available

Rustic equestrian trail camp with eight sites. Amenities explicitly listed: vault (pit) toilets and potable water from a hand-pump well. Managed by Cheboygan State Park; 15-day maximum stay; sites are first-come, first-served (call for availability/group reservations).

Potable water

Vault toilets

Group Sites

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Equestrian-focused trail camp with direct access to the Black Mountain Pathway and more than 100 miles of mixed-use trails. Listed activities include horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hunting on surrounding state land.

Hiking

Biking

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsSurrounding state land is open to hunting (observe hunting seasons and safety buffers). Rustic facilities (vault toilets, hand-pump water) and no electrical hookups; campers should plan accordingly.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.5

84 reviews

Top-Rated

Black Lake Trail Camp is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Overall positive user feedback praising large, shaded sites, wooded setting, strong trail access and a nearby lake; repeatedly described as rustic (vault toilets, no hookups or showers) and popular with equestrians, ORV/side-by-side riders, and families.

Review Summaries

Based on 84 reviews

What Campers Love

Large/spacious sites; wooded upper campground and lakeside lower campground options; direct trail access and proximity to Black Lake; clean pit/vault toilets and hand-pump potable water; quiet and...

Based on 84 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Expect rustic conditions—bring water containers, supplies and sturdy tent stakes; arrive early (sites are first-come, first-served); contact Cheboygan State Park for group reservations; be prepared...

Based on 84 reviews

Camper Quotes

"Huge lots! It's rustic, so pit toilets and no electricity or water," "Favorite place to camp ❤️ Rustic bathroom," "Sites were HUGE... plenty of room for our 10 person tent and 2 vans."

Based on 84 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Equestrians, ORV riders, or hikers with 100+ miles of multi-use trail right off the campsite, grab a lower lakeside site early on a summer weekend before the first-comers do.

Skip if

No showers, no hookups, and hard uneven ground for tent stakes will wear on you fast; if generator noise from neighboring sites or a hand-pump well sounds like a dealbreaker, this isn't the place.

Nearby Campgrounds

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Twin Lakes State Forest Campground

Twin Lakes State Forest Campground sits on a forested bluff above Twin Lake in northern Lower Michigan, offering 11 first-come, first-served sites. The rustic setup includes vault toilets and hand-pump potable water. It's a quiet, wooded lakeside retreat for paddlers and anglers who don't mind carrying boats down a short stairway to the water.

Black Lake State Forest Campground-Lower

Black Lake State Forest Campground-Lower sits on the north shore of Michigan's seventh-largest inland lake, 11 miles south of Onaway in Cheboygan County. The 17-site rustic campground operates first-come, first-served and draws families for its sandy beach, shallow swimming, and direct boat launch access. Sites are large and spread among mixed hardwoods at 728 feet elevation.

Cheboygan Group Camp sits in the wooded interior of Cheboygan State Park on Duncan Bay. The group-only facility offers vault toilets, trail access, and a quiet setting under mixed hardwoods and pines. The shoreline here is marshy rather than swim-ready; visitors drive or bike to the park's main sandy beach for swimming.

Stoney Creek Trail Camp

Stoney Creek Trail Camp sits along the Shore-to-Shore Trail in Cheboygan County's hardwood forests, offering nine primitive sites and vault toilets. The first-come, first-served campground draws riders and hikers seeking a quiet base for trail access, though reviews are mixed. Some praise its rustic, little-known character while others call it unkempt.

Ocqueoc Falls State Forest Campground

Ocqueoc Falls State Forest Campground sits along the Ocqueoc River in a hardwood forest, offering 13 primitive, first-come first-served sites. The campground's main draw is its proximity to Ocqueoc Falls, the only publicly accessible waterfall in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, which is a short walk from camp. Amenities are basic: vault toilets, a hand-pump well for potable water, and fire rings.

Burt Lake Group Camp is a single primitive tent site in Burt Lake State Park that accommodates up to 25 campers. The park sits on the southern shore of Burt Lake near Indian River, offering direct access to a sandy beach and the Inland Waterway system. Vault toilets are the only on-site facility. Call the park office directly to reserve.

Hoeft Group Campground

Hoeft State Park

Hoeft Group Campground sits in the wooded interior of P.H. Hoeft State Park on Lake Huron's shoreline near Rogers City. Groups camp beneath mature hardwoods with the beach a short walk away, trading modern polish for quiet and shade. The park scores 4.3/5 from 212 reviews.

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Campgrounds

Black Lake Trail Camp

From Michigan DNR

Official information for Black Lake Trail Camp from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

This rustic equestrian campground is surrounded by rolling hills and lush hardwood forests. There are more than 100 miles of multi-use trails, both motorized and non-motorized, in the area available for horseback riding and hiking. There is direct access to the Black Mountain Pathway from the campground. There are eight sites for tents or small and large trailer use. Camping is limited to a 15-day maximum stay. Amenities include vault toilets and potable water from a hand-pump well. The campground is located 13 miles north of Onaway via M-211 N and Black Mountain Road. The campground is available to equestrian campers, including groups. To check availability or to make a group reservation, please contact Cheboygan State Park at 231-627-2811. Sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Call for availability. View Campground closing and opening dates .