3.6743 reviewsPrice
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
35 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Has Service
Pets
Check Policy
Price
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
35 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Has Service
Pets
Check Policy
Trout Lake State Forest Campground
41.9053, -83.3363
Paddlers and bass fishers get the most out of this place. Grab a lakeside loop site early on a summer Friday and you can launch a kayak or canoe without hauling gear more than a few steps. The 2.8-mile Trout Lake Pathway starts nearby for a morning hike. AT&T users have workable
Weekend partying by local groups is a recurring complaint, and there's no way to reserve a lakeside spot ahead of time. If you're driving from Gladwin expecting Google Maps to cooperate, it reportedly won't, bring a backup. No showers, no hookups, no dump station; winter roads do
Official information for Trout Lake State Forest Campground from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Recreation Resource Management brings new overnight experience to Michigan state parks.
RRM, a private operator and DNR partner, has installed 10 new, fully equipped cottages along Lake Erie waterfront. Each cottage has a view of the lake from the screened-in front porch and easy access to the park's day-use area. Amenities include two bedrooms, including one with a queen bed and another with a set of bunk beds (single top, double base) in the second room. There is also a bathroom, kitchen, dining space and common area with a futon. The cottages sleep up to 6.
The kitchen is stocked with dishes and cookware, a cooktop, microwave and refrigerator. Relax on the screened-in front porch that overlooks the lake after a day full of water recreation, fishing or time on the trails.
Bedding linens are provided; please bring your own towels. No pets allowed.
Please note that there is only one vehicle permitted; however, there is an overflow parking lot in the campground for additional vehicles.
Reservations open Feb. 15 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 start at $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.
Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.
Summer is the most popular window. Daytime highs run 70–85°F, nights drop into the 50s, and the lake is warm enough for swimming. Trails dry out and the wooded loops provide enough shade to keep sites comfortable. Weekends can fill up, so arrive early if you want a lakeside spot. The campground stays open year-round, but winter roads and paths aren't plowed. A few hardy campers visit in cold months, though you'll need to be self-sufficient and prepared for true backcountry conditions.
Summer most popular; warm lake temps, dry trails and shaded sites make summer strong.
Rustic state forest campground. Vault toilets and potable water from a hand-pump well are provided; no showers or electrical/water/sewer hookups are mentioned in source materials.
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