Established Camping
Lake Ottawa Campground
About
National Forest
Lake Ottawa Recreation area is in a beautiful forested northwoods setting located 5 miles southwest of Iron River, MI, on the Iron River Ranger District. Located in the general area is Lake Ottawa, Brule Lake, Hagerman Lake, Brule River, Bass Lake, the Historic Mile Post Zero/Treaty Tree, The Ge-Che Trail, and miles of hiking trails. Lake Ottawa Campground is 95% surrounded by National Forest System Land and offers a picnic shelter with two stone fireplaces and original log picnic tables, and two log toilet buildings, which were constructed by the CCC in the late 1930's. A pressurized water system and sewage dump station is located in the campground. Adjacent to the campground is a CCC era day use recreation building, with flush toilets, swimming beach, playing field, picnic areas and boat launch. For guidelines regarding use of the Day Use Pavillion, check out the attached document: Lake Ottawa Day Use Guidelines. Fish Your National Forests: This site can be accessed by Passenger Car; Fish available include: Trout, Native Trout, Bass, Walleye, Panfish; Types of fishing available include: Shore, Motorized boat, Float tube, Fly, Spin, Bait, Ice; and boat launch available
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Picnic Table
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
Clean, Flushable toilets, good swimming, not too crowded
Campground has some pretty great facilities.. flushing toilets and running water throughout the campground (although not potable when we visited this June). Also has a pretty great beach in the campground as well as one just a few minutes outside of the campground. Both beaches are sandy & great for swimming especially considering most of the lake is pretty rocky, especially in the campground area. Lake has quite a few crayfish in it, but the fishing is pretty good, too - catch-and-release only for the smallmouth bass to help keep the crayfish population in check, but it can be fun to catch the bigger smallies the lake produces. Very clear water in the lake, I was able to see down 20+ feet to see the bottom and scope for fish, etc. Sites and campground overall is clean and well-kept; we ended up switching sites this year due to other campers with loud dogs & generators running all night (against campground rules, but wasn’t enforced by the host), but it’s still a family favorite to go to. Decent cell reception as well, for those who need to stay connected. also, only about a 10-15 minute drive from town of Iron River which has a few nice stores & an ice cream shop :)
Favorite place on earth!!!
Lake Ottawa is our go to campground!! We go whenever we can. We even got married in the park over 20 years ago!
- (5) View All
more primitive, but nice
The sites and facilities are not super modern, but it gives a good rustic feel to the campground. The site was amazing- wooded, secluded, level. Quite central to many hiking areas, waterfalls, and quaint towns.
Location
Lake Ottawa Campground is located in Michigan
Directions
From Iron River, Mi., travel west on US 2, turn south on M 73, travel approximately 3/4 mile, turn west on Lake Ottawa Road and travel approximately 4 miles to the campground. From Watersmeet, Mi., travel 28 miles east on US 2, turn south on M 73, travel approximately 3/4 mile, turn west on Lake Ottawa Road and travel approximately 4 miles to the campground.
Coordinates
46.0779019 N
88.76004555 W