4.71110 reviewsPrice
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
13 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
13 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Pickerel Lake (Kalkaska) State Forest Campground
44.0098, -83.0519
Paddlers and anglers who can pull in Thursday or Friday morning. Launch kayaks directly from shore, cast for bass and pike on Pickerel Lake, and sleep on spacious wooded sites that reviewers consistently call some of the quietest in the region. Big Twin and Manistee lakes are wit
Expecting any modern hookups or cell service will leave you frustrated. It's vault toilets and a hand-pump well, first-come only, with occasional reports of theft that make securing valuables a real task. Weekend slots disappear fast, and there's no way to reserve one.
Official information for Pickerel Lake (Kalkaska) State Forest Campground from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Recreation Resource Management, a private operator and DNR partner, brings a new overnight experience to Michigan state parks.
The cottage (sleeps up to 6) and offers the comforts of home. Amenities include air conditioning/heat, two bedrooms, including one with a queen bed and another with a set of bunk beds (single top, double base). There is also a bathroom, kitchen, dining space and common area with a futon and a dining room table. The kitchen is stocked with dishes and cookware, induction stove top, sink, microwave and full-size refrigerator. Relax on the screened-in front porch that provides views of Lake Huron. Outside amenities include a picnic area with a table, fire ring, and charcoal grill.
Bedding linens are not provided; please bring your own towels and bedding. No pets allowed.
Reservations open Jan. 18 at 8 a.m. for stays beginning May 28, 2021 (click on the lodging tab and then RRM Cabins/Cottages/GeoDomes radio button). The sites are $170 per night and require a two-night minimum stay. A portion of the sales goes back to the DNR.
Visit our overnight lodging page to see other new and long-standing options.
Pickerel Lake (Kalkaska) State Forest Campground appears in our curated guides. Explore more top-rated campgrounds for the same activities and regions.
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Summer delivers the warmest weather and easiest water access. Daytime highs run mid-60s to low-80s. Typically mid-70s. With cool nights in the 50s. The lake warms enough for swimming, and bug pressure is manageable with repellent. Sites fill faster on weekends because the campground is small and walk-up only, so early arrival matters. Winter transforms the area into wilderness: seasonal roads aren't plowed, and snow and ice linger from late fall through early spring.
Warmest weather, lake warms for swimming, easy water access and peak visitor enjoyment in summer.
Rustic state forest campground with basic facilities: vault toilets and potable water from a hand‑pump well. No hookups or modern restrooms; sites are first‑come, first‑serve.
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