Mullett Lake spans 17,360 acres with a maximum depth of 144 feet, making it Michigan's fourth-largest inland lake. The surrounding state forest lands offer campers direct waterfront access for fishing and boating across several developed campgrounds. Water temperatures typically reach 70°F by mid-June, creating ideal swimming conditions through early September.
What to do
Boating between connected waterways: Campers can navigate between Mullett Lake and neighboring lakes through the Inland Waterway system. "Indian River is the best area to cruze on the water," notes Edmund P. from Aloha State Park Campground.
Hunting for Petoskey stones: Search the shoreline for Michigan's state stone, especially after storms when new specimens wash up. "The water is very clear and has lots of small colorful pebbles and Petoskey rocks. We enjoyed walking up and down the beach looking for these fossils," reports John K. from Petoskey State Park Campground.
Dark sky viewing: Northern Michigan offers exceptional stargazing opportunities due to limited light pollution. "If you want to explore some gorgeous dark night skies in Northern Michigan, I suggest checking it out!" recommends Amy G. about Wilderness State Park, which operates a dedicated dark sky viewing area.
What campers like
Beach access: Sandy shorelines provide swimming areas with gradual depth changes for safety. "Camp site was HUGE! I believe ours was like 40x65! Electric hookup. Pet friendly park and beach area... If you like the beach, you'll easily get out in the water over 100 yards and still be safe (roughly 3feet or so)," shares Myron M. from Burt Lake State Park Campground.
Waterfront views: Several campgrounds offer sites with direct lake views. "There are approximately 32-38 campsites on a first come first serve basis. You can moor your boat right at the campground. The view from the front sites overlooking Maple Bay are some of the best I've seen," describes Beth C. about Maple Bay State Forest Campground.
Modern amenities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept facilities despite rural locations. "The bathrooms at Straits State Park are individual shower stalls with hot water. They automatically go off every five minutes and you press a button to get another 5 minutes," explains Melissa A. about camping facilities in the region.
What you should know
First-come sites availability: Non-reservable campgrounds fill quickly on weekends. "This campground seemed to fill up quickly, it is first come first serve so come before Friday afternoon to get a spot," advises Brittny B. about Maple Bay State Forest Campground.
Seasonal insects: Be prepared for seasonal insect hatches. "Gnats and fishflies were bad while we were there. Fishing was nice off the pier. The sites along the canal tend to have a good amount of goose poop by them as the geese were there daily," reports Jessica S. from Aloha State Park.
Cellular connectivity: Signal varies significantly between campgrounds. "AT&T and T-Mobile service was fairly good," notes Deb M. at Aloha State Park, while Brenda M. cautions about Burt Lake State Park: "Horrible phone service...but, maybe that's a good thing."
Tips for camping with families
Beach safety precautions: The large lakes can develop strong currents. "If you have a boat, travel through the channel to Mullet Lake. Great location. Park store is nice, or grocery store is 1 mile away," advises Brenda M. about Burt Lake State Park.
Campground activities: Many parks offer family-friendly amenities beyond water recreation. "Very kid-friendly, including a large playground, a large heated swimming pool, plus volleyball, horseshoes, corn hole, basketball and pickleball courts," explains Ron and Mary C. about Indian River RV Resort.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare children for local wildlife interactions. "A lot of geese tho, and my dog did get skunked," warns Nikki M. about Aloha State Park, indicating the need for vigilance with both pets and children around local animals.
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: RV sites vary significantly between campgrounds. "Lower campsites by beach are in full sun some have trees blocking your view 2 and 3rd and 4th road are wooded," notes Donna J. about Burt Lake State Park, highlighting the importance of site selection for shade preferences.
Shore power considerations: Electrical connections may require special equipment. "Bring extension cords for the electric service," recommends Brenda M. about Burt Lake State Park, as hookup locations can be inconveniently placed.
Ferry transportation for island visits: RVers staying near Tee Pee Campground can access Mackinac Island without relocating vehicles. "The shuttle for the island ferry picks you up right at the campground," explains Tom M., making it convenient for pet-friendly camping near Mullett Lake with easy day trips to car-free Mackinac Island.
Legend
