$18 / night

Camper submitted image from Sylvania (clark Lake) Campground - 1
View All
Camper submitted image from Sylvania (clark Lake) Campground - 2
Roads
Camper submitted image from Sylvania (clark Lake) Campground - 3
Nature
Camper submitted image from Sylvania (clark Lake) Campground - 4
Activities
Camper submitted image from Sylvania (clark Lake) Campground - 5
Signs & Maps

Established Camping

Sylvania (clark Lake) Campground

5 Reviews

About

National Forest

Ottawa National Forest

Overview

Sylvania (Clark Lake) Campground is located seven miles southwest of Watersmeet, Michigan, adjacent to the 18,327 acre Sylvania Wilderness Area. This 48-site campground provides a home base for visitors who venture into the wilderness on day outings. Also a great camping area in general or overnight camping just 5 minutes off Highway U.S. 2. Some electrical sites available, pressurized toilet facilities and an RV Dump and Water Station. Some sites are reservable but there are always sites available on a first come first serve basis as well!

Recreation

Sylvania's abundant lakes provide plentiful non-motorized boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing opportunities. Other popular activities include hiking and viewing wildlife.

Facilities

This campground consists of four camping loops with a total of 48 campsites and provides drive-in campsites that can accommodate tents, trailers and motor homes. All sites are spaced with natural vegetation for screening. Each campsite offers a wood table, fire ring, lantern post and parking spur. Drinking water is provided by faucets in loops 2, 3, and 4, while two flush toilet facilities and one accessible vault toilet are evenly spaced throughout the campground. Also located adjacent to the campground is a day use facility that has showers, a picnic area, canoe access landings, trailheads and a swimming beach. Located adjacent to the campground is a water and sewage dump station for RV's at a $5.00 charge. Some sites are reservable on Recreation.gov but other sites are on a first come, first serve basis and typically there is always a site available.

Natural Features

The old-growth forests and pristine lakes in the region provide habitat for a wide range of animal and plant life, including rare orchids, bald eagles, loons and osprey. The wilderness contains 34 named lakes, some with sandy beaches and others surrounded by record-size red and white pines. The Ottawa National Forest is comprised of nearly one million acres and is located in the western reaches of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The forest's rolling, forest covered hills extend from the south shore of Lake Superior to the Wisconsin border. Lakes, rivers and waterfalls are found throughout this beautiful landscape.

Nearby Attractions

Bond Falls located about 20 minutes North East. Porcupine Mountains located about 1 hour North West. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore located about 2 hours North East. Keweenaw Peninsula is located about 1.5 hours North.

Fee Info

<p>No daily fee is required unless you leave the campground and park, launch, or use facilities at the Clark Lake Beach and Picnic Area, Clark Lake Canoe Launch, or Crooked Lake Canoe Launch. Use of these locations requires a daily $5.00 per vehicle fee, or a season pass for $30 per vehicle. The season pass covers Lake Ottawa Recreation Area, Sylvania Recreation Area, and Black River Harbor Recreation Area.</p>
Suggest an Edit

Is Sylvania (clark Lake) Campground sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Rent an RV near Watersmeet, Michigan

Find RVs Nearby

Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

80%
20%
0%
0%
0%

5.0

out of 5

5 Reviews

Ellery K.
Reviewed Aug. 30, 2023

Great hiking trails nearby

2 day stay in mid august was absolutely lovely (bring bug spray). -> gorgeous hikes nearby (hiking around Clark lake is an 8-10 mile trek that’s gorgeous the whole way -> bathrooms kept clean -> nice and quiet -> beautiful views of the forest from every campground (not just staring at other campers), very private.

Site30, 3
Month of VisitSeptember
Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Jun. 30, 2021

Fancy rustic campground in the wilderness

This campground is in a wilderness area so there are regulations if you choose dispersed camping. The are 4 campground loops and many campsites out around the lakes. We chose a spot in loop 3.

Our site is large with plenty of space for our teardrop and screen room. Water is right next to us. This loop even has flushing toilets. We can see our neighbors but there is plenty of greenery deflecting our view for enough privacy.

The road through this wilderness area is spectacular! It winds around a couple of lakes almost at water level. A few deer crossed in front of us so watch your speed.

We hiked around part of Clark Lake. It’s a beautiful trail and also has some backcountry campsites. There are some other hikes in the area too.

We had one dot of Verizon cell signal in camp but full service in Watersmeet, a short drive away.

We will keep this one as one to revisit.

Month of VisitJuly
Tawni W.
Reviewed Jun. 22, 2019

Pretty awesome

Host was very accommodating when we needed to plug in our boat. The moss-covered old growth forest provided an excellent tent site & entertained our 2 boys under 8 until they tired. The swimming area Was under kept but we still enjoyed all day. Overall our Saturday- Monday visit was very pleasing.

Location

Sylvania (clark Lake) Campground is located in Michigan

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Watersmeet, MI, take US 2 west approximately 3.5 miles to County Road 535, turn left onto County Road 535 and travel approximately 3.5 miles to the Sylvania Wilderness Recreation Area entrance on left.

Coordinates

46.2446333 N
89.3100306 W

Open in Google Maps