Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground

Star4.82
17 reviews
Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

25 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

RV Friendly

Opens Michigan DNR (managed by Onaway State Park) site

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Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground
No fees available
Campsite Fees
Standard Site Fee$0.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00
Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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Michigan
Provider
(989) 733-8279

What Campers Say

4.82

Top-Rated

Based on 17 reviews

17 Google reviews

Most mentioned

quietcleanlakefriendly

"Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, praising the campground's quiet, rustic character, lakeside recreation and nearby trails."

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About Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground

Tucked along the tranquil shores of a pristine 52-acre lake, Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground invites you to disconnect and unwind in Michigan's Mackinaw State Forest. This intimate, back-to-basics retreat keeps things refreshingly simple—vault toilets, hand-pumped well water, and the kind of peaceful solitude that makes for perfect fishing mornings and starlit evenings by the campfire.
A rustic state forest campground with tent and trailer/RV sites (first-come, first-served).
Natural Features and SceneryShoepac Lake beckons paddlers and anglers with its calm, glassy waters—just carry in your canoe or kayak and you're ready to explore every quiet cove. Beyond the shoreline, adventure awaits on two exceptional trail systems: wander the fascinating Sinkhole Pathway to discover dramatic limestone sinkholes carved into the forest floor, or venture onto the renowned High Country Pathway for miles of scenic hiking and mountain biking through dense northern woodlands. The surrounding state forest creates a buffer of unspoiled wilderness, where towering pines and hardwoods frame your campsite and wildlife sightings are part of the daily rhythm.
Geological RegionMackinaw State Forest / northern Lower Peninsula; area features natural limestone sinkholes and rolling terrain
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Campsite details

Total Campsites25 campsites

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Reserving a campsite

Stay Limit
15-day maximum stay
Tents
Tents are allowed
RV vehicles
RV vehicles are allowed
Primitive
Primitive are allowed
Reservable
Reservations are not allowed

Reservation PlatformsMIDNRReservations.com (campground is first-come, first-served; no reservations)

Amenities available

Potable water
Fire rings
Picnic tables
Vault toilets

Activities you can enjoy

Lake-based recreation (fishing, paddling, swimming) plus extensive nearby trails for hiking and mountain biking; wildlife viewing and winter activities are also noted.
Hiking
Sinkhole Pathway is adjacent to the campground; High Country Pathway access nearby provides extensive trail mileage (approximately 70 miles when combined with nearby trails).
Fishing
Shoepac Lake supports panfish, largemouth bass and rainbow trout; additional nearby fishing at Tomahawk Lake and Tomahawk Creek Flooding.
Swimming
Small lakeside recreation area with a sandy beach suitable for swimming; reviewers mention a rope swing into the water.
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Campground rules

  • Pets are not allowed

Hazards

General hazardsSeasonal biting insects (stable flies noted in visitor reports) can be problematic. The area is used for hunting on surrounding state forest lands during seasons, so campers should be aware of hunting activity and follow applicable safety rules.

Weather at Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground

25
°F
Dec 26
Friday
Overcast
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 86%
Wind: 9.1 mph
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Campground Map

Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground
Driving directionsLocated 12 miles southeast of Onaway via M-33 South and Tomahawk Lake Highway.
Accessible via M-33 and Tomahawk Lake Highway; campground entrance off the local road 12 miles SE of Onaway.
Nearby places
Onaway (approximately 12 miles)
Millersburg (nearby, distance not specified)
Nearby supplies
Onaway provides fuel and basic supplies

Reviews from booking and map sources

4.8
17 reviews
Top-Rated
Top-Rated
Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews
Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, praising the campground's quiet, rustic character, lakeside recreation and nearby trails.
Review Summaries
Based on 17 reviews

What Campers Love

Quiet, remote and rustic setting; pleasant lake for swimming, paddling and fishing; large, well-spaced campsites; close proximity to the Sinkhole and High Country pathways; reviewers note clean...
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Based on 17 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations) — plan to arrive earlier in peak season. Bring paddling and fishing gear; families note a rope swing and good swimming. Reviewers also describe it...
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Based on 17 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Love this little campground. Kids love the rope swing into the water.”; “Was wonderful...lots of trails for hiking...near the sinkhole pathway.”; “Great quiet rustic campground A+”
Based on 17 reviews

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Last updated December 13, 2025
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