Bear Lake Campsite

PROS
* Primitive site, the only one on the lake
* Large enough to accommodate a small group
* Easy reservations online (required)
* There was a steel fire pit with grill, but it was removed since our last visit and replaced by a stone circle - not child-safe.
* Picnic table
* Sunny spot, so bring a canopy for shade.

CONS
* Water access is difficult, steep sides and heavy plant growth
* No drinking water
* No garbage bins (carry out what you bring in)
* No toilets. Plan accordingly. Was disappointed in the amount of TP in the woods from campers who didn't clean up after themselves.
* Rough 2-mile trail from the Camp 7 road to the site from the south, but a nice shorter gravel road from the north.
* Noisy quad traffic
* Zero cell service for those who need it. Starlink works very well.

Couldn't even get to the site the road was too bad for my truck.rocks the size of basketballs for fill? Really? Things are going downhill in the Hiawatha forest.

This is by far one of our favorite dispersed campsites!! Its not for the weak, there is no bathroom, running water or electric. Be prepared to not have any service. The road(ATV trail) is roughly 1.7 miles before you reach the site, my friend had a car and made it just fine. Weve stayed here twice now and booking a third. We have ZERO complaints what so ever! Any of the times we've been there has not been garbage or human waiste as seen in previous reviews. Bring a shovel and bury it :) Hands down one of the best sites out there we've found so far. Access to lots and lots of trails, everyone we've ran into out there are friendly and stay out of your space. ❤️ Thanks for having a wonderful spot available in the middle of nowhere.

On the lookout for my Hiawatha National forest passport stamp I stopped in here since we were nearby. I love going to all the random national park and forest offices, especially the quiet ones like these because the rangers are always so kind and helpful. While they didn’t have stamps (I doubt they get many walk ins, haha) they were so nice and gave my son tons of Smokey swag and gave us hiking tips. They were going to get some park stamps from another office so if you’re in the area they might have the stamps now! They have water refills and bathrooms too plus tons of materials and trail maps. I think I prefer these national forest offices to the bigger national park ones because the rangers have more time to talk. Make sure to support our parks and forests!! Thank you to the rangers working there and at all the forests. I always enjoy the time I spend in the ranger offices.

There was no Bear Lake near Cooks MI. I contacted Recreation.gov regarding receiving a refund on Aug. 9, when it was confirmed that the property would be contacted and would reach out. I have heard nothing from them.

Mid-Sept 2024, nice large site. Sharp rocky two-tracks on the way there, you'll need an SUV at least for clearance. No bugs at all. The site is on a hill about 60' above the lake shore and the small opening thru the brush for a canoe or kayak is not always useable due to muddy shoreline, numerous logs, some jammed in and couldnt move. I brought my canoe all the way out here and couldnt launch here. There is a separate day-use only mini-dock at the south end of lake that was real nice. I wish that type of dock was at this site. Even if I launched from there I still couldn't pull up at my camp. Night sky visibility is only thru an opening in the canopy 45-90 degrees above for stargazing. Swans, but no loons on lake.

The Hiawatha national Forest is becoming inundated with ATVs. They tromp all over the place and disturb any chance for peace and quiet. We actually had one barge right into our campsite and proceeded to tell us they had as much right to be there as we did. The previous occupants left food garbage on the ground. You have to go down a steep incline to get to the lake and then it is just muck at the shore.

there was human poop around the campsite toilet paper everywhere the road was alot worse then they told us i scraped the bottom of my car

Nice place, to camp, but be prepared for a slow bumpy ride into the campsite, the road is absolutely terrible, there are rocks with no gravel or covering on them. By the time we get into the campsite all the cubbords are open and things are a mess

Human waste and used toilet paper left IN camp.
Burning plastic in fire ring.
Food and trash scattered about.
Dead minnows left right at water access.

Previous occupants ruined what would have been a nice site. It's way out there, so if you're looking for a private spot, this is it. Just bring your hazmat suit.