Cookson Lake Campsites

The Munising and Rapid River/Manistique Ranger Districts of the Hiawatha National Forest offer a variety of camping experiences. Many are located on inland lakes in a rustic forest environment with no drinking water, a wonderfully serene and peaceful setting for your next camping trip. Visitors enjoy swimming and fishing in the adjacent 35-acre Cookson Lake, where largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and bullhead are among the typical catch. Fish cribs were placed around the island in 2023. A public boat ramp with back-in access is located adjacent to site 2. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters. The campground offers five primitive campsites for tent and RV camping, each with tables and campfire rings. Site 1 has a maximum of 8 people and sites 2 through 5 a maximum of 16. There is one primitive pit toilet near one of the sites, and toilet paper is not provided. Drinking water is not present at these sites. Cookson Lake Campsite offers a primitive place to stay in the thick of Michigan's wilderness, where beautiful forests surround several lakes and provide ample opportunity to enjoy nature in all its forms. The campsites lie in a large open field on the south shore of the lake, surrounded by a mixed stand of aspens and northern hardwoods. The 35-acre lake boasts two small islands, and a variety of wildflowers abound in the area during warmer months. Cookson Lake is near the Indian Wild and Scenic River and the Big Island Lake Wilderness Area. Groceries, ice, gasoline, fishing and camping supplies and a deli are available 5 miles east on County Road 437 in the Steuben area.