East Lake Boat Launch
East Lake Campsite 3 table and fire ring
East Lake Campsite 2
East Lake Campsite 3
East Lake Campsite 2

Featured amenities

Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit

About East 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. The rustic environment offers a wonderfully serene and peaceful setting for your next camping experience.

Available sites

3 total sites

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Restrooms
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Picnic Table
  • Fire Pit
Water Access

Water Access

  • Beach Access
  • Lake Access
  • Boat Ramp / Launch
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

3 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 001, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE RV
Pet Friendly · Pull-through
🚐 002, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE RV
Pet Friendly · Pull-through
🚐 003, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE RV
Pet Friendly · Pull-through

Reviews

28 reviews

Summary

AI generated

East Lake Campsites offers a beautiful and spacious setting, with gorgeous views and a lovely beach, making it a favorite for many returning campers. However, visitors should be prepared for mosquitoes and biting flies, and some areas require maintenance, such as overgrown grass and stumps. Despite a few drawbacks, campers appreciate the privacy and natural beauty of the site, along with the variety of nearby trails.

Based on guest feedback

3.8

Overall rating

Based on 28 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 42.9% (12)
4 stars 21.4% (6)
3 stars 10.7% (3)
2 stars 17.9% (5)
1 star 7.1% (2)

Showing 28 reviews

Laurie B

Verified

October 11, 2023 Stayed at: 002, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE

Site 2 is a great site, roomy with lots of shade, dirt around the fire pit area with a small area with grass perfect for tents. Great swimming with sand beach. Located far from the other sites so lots of privacy. Getting in there is some overhanging trees that need to be trimmed away. So dont have to tall of an rv.

Helpful

Henry W

Verified

September 5, 2023 Stayed at: 003, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE

The site is nice, but the road to access it was terrible. I had a smaller 16’ trailer and barely got to the site and damaged the trailer on the way out. Suggest it be listed as tents only.

Helpful

Thomas C

Verified

July 10, 2023 Stayed at: 003, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE

Rugged!!
Pros:
Beautiful tiny secluded lake, no highway noise despite being right near the highway, only 3 sites and 1 private house on a whole small private lake.
Sites are all separated and have lake access, spacious and seemed like you could hike on any paths too
Cons:
VERY hard to find, we were in site 3, there are 2 very spaced out wooden signs but several intersections in-between that are unmarked. Follow the blue tags and one bud light can to find site 3. Probably a mile of unpaved bumpy roads. Don't need high clearance but it would help.
VERY buggy. Applied as much spray and lotion as we had and still spent half the night jogging to the car and to the fire. Woke up in the morning with ACTUALLY 40-50 mosquitos perched on the outside of the tent waiting for us to open it up.

Helpful

Liam D

Verified

January 2, 2023 Stayed at: 003, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE

My partner and I were unable to access the site. The visual map on Google maps and on the recreation.gov reservation page does not match the verbal directions to reach the site from M-94. We followed the map instructions until reaching a plywood sign with blue spray paint saying "east lake 1,2,3" pointing down a fork in the road. We followed this sign and searched for an hour without success. We then tried to ask the private property owner whose front gate the sign was on for directions, but they could not be found and many of their signs and yard decorations implied that they would shoot anyone suspected of trespassing. We then searched for another hour down each unpaved logging road we could find, without success. We had reserved site 3 but the only site we could find was 1, where another couple was already camped. We asked them for directions and they were kind, but we again couldn't find our site. By this time it was dark out and there was nowhere for us to camp, so we resorted to a motel in Manistique.

Helpful

Katherine F

Verified

June 23, 2022 Stayed at: 002, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE

It's absolutely beautiful here, very private, the lake is gorgeous -- but if you're here during mosquito season it's absolutely unbearable. We had to leave in the middle of the night because the bugs were relentless and honestly the worse I have ever experienced. So check the local "weather" reports before booking. It's a gem if there are no bugs out! Can't beat the price either. Internet service was spotty but not totally out.

Helpful

Kayla B

Verified

June 23, 2022 Stayed at: 003, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE

This spot was a beautiful secluded camp site. We had our own little private beach and there was a new fire pit ring with a grate. Would love to come back to this gem again! Only 30 min from pictured rocks! Directions on the two track roads to get here were a little confusing but we figured it out.

Helpful

TROY I

Verified

June 12, 2022 Stayed at: 001, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE

Great dispersed camping area, very peaceful, right on the lake. Did have mosquitoes but not as bad as I was expecting, We had warm days and cool nights.

Helpful

Tate D

Verified

May 31, 2022 Stayed at: 001, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE

Campsite was cheap thankfully. I didn't get to set up my tent and actually camp though. I ran into rain and ended up leaving early to avoid getting stuck down the dirt roads to get to the site. The site was also ridden with bugs this time of year being right next to the water so I just decided to stay in my car. Not the best experience but not all of it is the sites fault.

Helpful

sandy and marty b

Verified

October 5, 2021 Stayed at: 003, Loop: EAST LAKE CAMPSITE

We have been coming to site 2 and site 4 at Eastlake for at least 30 years. It is a perfect outdoor experience. Very nice sites with great swimming, fishing is pretty good and secluded but close enough to some civilization. We've seen a pair of bald eagles almost every time we have came. We even got a nice pic of a bald eagle snatching up a dead fish from the surface and have experienced the northern lights. It's also close enough to drive to pictured rocks and various waterfalls and Munising attractions without spending much time on the road. The Tanglewood Inn in Shingleton is a great place to eat.

Helpful

Location & Directions for East Lake Campsites

Rapid River/Manistique Ranger District, Rapid River, MI 49878 United States

Elevation: 216 ft

Getting There

From Manistique, MI: drive north on M-94 22.5 mi to the intersection with CR 437.

Turn right at the big parking lot opposite CR 437.

To get to site 1: take the immediate right on FR 2723, drive 0.7 mi to FR 2650. Turn left (east) on FR 2650 and ...

Nearest town

Rapid River, MI - 60 mi

About over 1 hr (62 min) to downtown

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 23, 2026

Message us

Need help?

Our team is here to help you find the perfect spot for your next adventure.

Message us

Replies within minutes

Explore Rapid River, MI

Population: 223

Elevation: 594 ft

USDA Forest Service Logo
Managed by the USDA Forest Service