Due to park enhancements (to update electrical, road, fishing pier and sewer), the beach house, picnic shelters and Gun Lake campground will close in 2024. The day-use area and boating access site will remain open except when construction work prohibits safe access, A proposed $5.5 million in federal relief funding from Gov. Whitmer's Building Michigan Together Plan made these renovations possible.

78 sites at Deep Lake Rustic Campground are now site-standard reservable.

Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp

Deep Lake Rustic Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area - TEMPORARILY CLOSED IN 2024

This camp ground was kind of hard to find. Had to stop at the gun lake camp ground (where the GPS took us) and ask for directions. Once we pulled up a park ranger came out and greeted us. Check in was smooth, and a map of the camp site was given to us. Your neighbors are close and there isn't much tree area to the sides. Nice family atmosphere though. Nice picnic table and fire pit. Our campsite was about a 2 minute walk from the fishing dock/boat launch. They do have group camp sites near the water. Outhouses smell like they haven't been changed since the beginning of the summer, avoid the campsites near them. The long fishing dock is nice so you can speard out, and easy walking trails as well. Make sure you bring your own firewood. 

Nice get away 

Campground Review: Deep Lake offers quite a bit to do in a nice family atmosphere. Most sites offer complete shade. Just wish there was access to a site map while making reservations. Ours was site 22. Sadly had no trees that would work for our hammocks. Sites are setup somewhat close to each other but its not too terrible. Just hope your neighbors don't have a set of screaming kids like we did. To our amusement they didn't make it through the night and packed up. Don't expect any glamorous showers or bathhouses. There are pairs of outhouses and the smell comes with. Try to avoid setting up next to these if possible. The website listed that firewood was available at the ranger station but this is not the case. Had to drive to a general store about three miles up the road. Just a slight inconvenience. There is a boat launch adjacent to the campground. Would have been great to bring some kayaks. Overall a decent experience albeit being what one could expect.

Gear Review: As a winner of the June NC contest I received a hundred dollar gift card to Mountain Khakis. With this I purchased the Two Ocean Long Sleeve Shirt. Tech flannels have become a go to for me outdoors and for everyday wear. This one is a decent midweight offering a decent amount of warmth when needed. It has been much to hot for me to be wearing it during any daytime activities so I cannot touch on its sweatwicking capabilities. Was good to cozy up around the fire once it cooled down. Sizewise I am in that awkward stage between S and M I like to refer to as Smedium. Ended up going with a medium and it was a tad big for me. It is one hundred percent cotton so it did shrink in the wash but still fits a little large. Would def recommend ordering true to fit. The color is a big plus. The cowboy blue looks great in person. Will easily be one of my favorite shirts once I grow into it. You can check it out at: https://www.mountainkhakis.com/

Ranger Review: Men's Two Ocean Long Sleeve Shirt at Deep Lake - Yankee Springs Rec Area

If you want seclusion away from the parking lot atmosphere down the road at Yankee Springs this is your place. There is much more space at each campsite and lots of old growth trees. The sites over looking Deep Lake are wonderful if you can snag one. This is a rustic campground and they have NO electricity or water and many are smaller tent sites. But the peace and quiet is great. You are just a short drive away from Yankee Springs and Gun Lake with the huge beach, plus you are basically right on the NCT and have access to miles of hiking and biking trails. This is a great campground if you don’t mind “roughing it”.

Great rustic campground. 

Lots of sites to choose from, lake had some good fishing. The tent worms were terrible where our site was. Ranger patrols a lot, which is nice if you need them. Lots were a good size. Bathrooms were pretty clean too. Overall it was quite and we enjoyed our time.


Decent rustic campground 

Lots of sites available! Disappointed that it was not open year round but the trails are still open. There’s a beautiful lake to fish and kayak. Tons of hiking trails!!

Large and rustic

Rustic campground. Shaded.  Easy access to vaulted toilets and water.   So many hiking trails and access to beautiful deep lake.  

Just right 

This is a campground in Yankee Spring Recreational Area in Mid-Michigan. This is a nice rustic campground near the NCT(North Country Trail). 

Mid michigan campground

First time in central Michigan and it was absolutely beautiful. The campground has a great location and lots of mountain bike and hiking trails. Firewood is not available on site but is at a local convenience store. Boat launch is available at Deep Lake just down the path in the campground. We had 3 locations right next to a playground and we'd probably choose others next time.

Beautiful Location

Other than having a flat place to set up the tent, this site was horrible. 

If I wanted to camp in the open with a bunch of RV’s I would have chosen a campground with water, electricity, flush toilets and shower houses. 

This campground offered the worst of both worlds. No creature comforts and absolutely no privacy or connection to nature. 

It felt like camping in a parking lot! 