Is Carney Lake State Forest Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Carney Lake State Forest Campground 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 Carney Lake State Forest Campground before I book?

Yes! Carney Lake State Forest Campground has 7 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 Carney Lake State Forest Campground?

Carney Lake State Forest Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Is there cell service at Carney Lake State Forest Campground?

Cell phone service at Carney Lake State Forest Campground is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

How many campsites does Carney Lake State Forest Campground have?

Carney Lake State Forest Campground has 16 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Arrive early for the best site selection.

Are dogs allowed at Carney Lake State Forest Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Carney Lake State Forest Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Carney Lake State Forest Campground?

Carney Lake State Forest Campground offers: Restrooms, Potable Water. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Carney Lake State Forest Campground?

Popular activities at Carney Lake State Forest Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Carney Lake State Forest Campground

4.20

38 reviews

Peace & QuietSummer Destination

Featured in:Swimming Camping Michigan

Quick Facts

1,161 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

16 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

Check Availability Official Website

Get Directions

Quick Facts

1,161 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

16 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

Check Availability Official Website

Get Directions

Carney Lake State Forest Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No paid fee categories listed.

Share this campground

Michigan

Provider

(906) 875-3324

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Carney Lake State Forest Campground

45.8923, -87.9412

Nearby places

Iron Mountain — about 14 miles

Nearby supplies

Iron Mountain (approx. 14 miles)

Weather at Carney Lake State Forest Campground

Best Time to Camp at Carney Lake State Forest Campground

Summer is the reliable window here. Daytime highs run 65–80°F, nights drop to the 45–55°F range, and the lake is warm enough for swimming. Fishing, canoeing, and hiking are all at their peak. Spring thaw and rain can turn the access road into a muddy slog that's hard on vehicles. Fall mornings are crisp and colorful, but the campground operates seasonally. Contact the local forest service for exact dates. Weekends in summer draw moderate crowds, so arrive early if you want a lakefront site.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.5 / 5

Summer described as the reliable window; lake warm enough for swimming; peak activities.

Planning Tips

About Carney Lake State Forest Campground

Carney Lake State Forest Campground sits on a small inland lake in Dickinson County's mixed hardwood-conifer forest, about 25 miles north of Iron Mountain. The 16 primitive sites are first-come, first-served, with roughly half claiming lakefront positions. Expect vault toilets, potable water, and a boat launch. Cell service is spotty.

Rustic state forest campground with 16 sites for tent and small trailer use; first-come, first-served; 15-day maximum stay.

Weather and SeasonsSummer is the reliable window here. Daytime highs run 65–80°F, nights drop to the 45–55°F range, and the lake is warm enough for swimming. Fishing, canoeing, and hiking are all at their peak. Spring thaw and rain can turn the access road into a muddy slog that's hard on vehicles. Fall mornings are crisp and colorful, but the campground operates seasonally. Contact the local forest service for exact dates. Weekends in summer draw moderate crowds, so arrive early if you want a lakefront site.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies the shoreline of Carney Lake at 1,161 feet elevation, surrounded by a mix of pines, maples, and other northern hardwoods. Lakeside sites open directly onto the water for fishing and paddling access. Interior sites sit farther back in the forest canopy. The lake is clear and suitable for swimming, though the posted swim area can become overgrown by late summer. Wildlife viewing is common in the surrounding woods.

Geological RegionUpper Peninsula (Dickinson County); mixed hardwood-conifer forest surrounding an inland lake

Scenic ViewsLakeside sites provide direct lake access and open lake views; interior sites have filtered views through trees and more wooded privacy.

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 not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Reservation PlatformsMIDNRReservations.com

Total Campsites16 campsites

Best CampsitesThe lakeside sites. About half the campground. Are the ones people fight for. Direct water access, views, and the ability to launch a boat or cast a line from your doorstep make them worth the early arrival. Reviewers note that sites are large enough to handle small trailers, with good spacing between neighbors.

Amenities available

Rustic campground with basic facilities: vault toilets and a hand-pump providing potable water. No electric or sewer hookups, no showers; first-come, first-served sites and no reservations.

Potable water

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Rustic lakeside campground offering fishing, paddling/boating access, wildlife viewing, hiking and nearby ORV/ATV trail access. Boat launch and picnic/day-use area adjacent to the campground.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsRough/muddy access road conditions and occasional ORV traffic/noise on the designated ORV route; very basic facilities (no hookups) so visitors should be self-sufficient.

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.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

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

4.2

38 reviews

Satisfactory

Carney Lake State Forest Campground is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors consistently praise the campground as a quiet, scenic, rustic spot with several lakeside sites and large, private campsites. Most reviews are highly positive (many 5-star), highlighting solitude, lake access, and overall natural setting.

Review Summaries

Based on 38 reviews

What Campers Love

Quiet, secluded setting; about half the sites are lakeside and highly valued; large sites that can accommodate small trailers; convenient boat launch and good fishing; close enough to Iron Mountain...

Based on 38 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Arrive early to secure a lakeside site (sites are first-come, first-served). Come self-contained (bring supplies and water if preferred) and expect a rustic experience. Be prepared for a rough,...

Based on 38 reviews

Camper Quotes

"Very nice rustic campground. Large campsites. Half of the sites are right on the lake."; "We stayed four nights. It was so peaceful."; "The campground was beautiful... the woman's bathroom was...

Based on 38 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Tent campers and canoe-in crowds who can arrive Thursday or Friday morning to grab a lakefront site. Walleye and pike fishing plus a usable boat launch make this worth the 14-mile supply run to Iron Mountain.

Skip if

The access road turns muddy and rough after spring rain, and it can punish low-clearance vehicles. Add vault toilets that reviewers flagged as neglected on busy weekends, no showers, and spotty cell service, and comfort-focused campers will be miserable.

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4.2

(25)

Gene's Pond State Forest Campground

Gene's Pond State Forest Campground sits on the wooded shores of a Menominee River backwater in Dickinson County's upland hardwood forest. This rustic, first-come first-served site draws campers seeking quiet and easy water access. Sites are primitive with vault toilets and hand-pump water.

Glidden Lake State Forest Campground

Glidden Lake State Forest Campground sits on the eastern shore of a small, quiet lake in Iron County's forested hills. Twenty-three first-come, first-served sites offer direct access to fishing, paddling, and the Lake Mary Plains Pathway trailhead. At $15 per night, the campground is rustic: vault toilets, no trash service, and occasional bugs, but reliably peaceful.

$15.00 - $15.00 / night

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Campgrounds

Carney Lake State Forest Campground

From Michigan DNR

Official information for Carney Lake State Forest Campground from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

This rustic campground is located on Carney Lake and offer opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, boating and ORV riding. The campground is located on a designated ORV road with several surrounding ATV trails easily accessible from the campground. There are 16 sites for tent and small trailer use. Camping is limited to a 15-day maximum stay. Amenities includes vault toilets and potable water from a hand-pump well. The campground is located 14 miles northeast of Iron Mountain via M-95 North and Carney Lake Road. Sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No reservations. View Campground closing and opening dates .