Council Lake Campsites
Hiawatha National Forest — lakeside, fishing
Location: Munising, MI, MI
Price: From $8 per night
Rating: 3.9 out of 5 (18 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.Council Lake is a 12-acre lake with yellow perch, rock and largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, bullhead and northern pike.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/council-lake-campsites to be notified when sites open up.
Council Lake Campsites offers primitive camping on a 12-acre lake stocked with yellow perch, rock bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, bullhead and northern pike. Campers praise the great secluded forest setting with a 4.2/5 rating across 25 reviews.
Wildlife alert: Trumpeter Swan, Northern Flying Squirrel, Common Snapping Turtle, and Northern Watersnake present in the area. Fishing licenses required.
Insider tips for Council Lake Campsites: Reserve site #4 — campers consistently report it's the best, farthest from others and closest to the lake If privacy is critical, reserve both sites 2 and 3 together as site 3 is directly adjacent to site 2 Book early — this is a federal campground with only 4 sites and high demand
Skip Council Lake Campsites if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available, only suitable for self-contained RVs. You have a low-clearance vehicle — campers caution about rough road conditions. You want amenities beyond basics — primitive pit toilet only, no electricity.
Best time to visit Council Lake Campsites: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Widewaters Campground (Munising, MI), Island Lake (Munising, MI), Pete’S Lake Campground (Munising, MI), Mckeever Cabin (MUNISING, MI).
Cell Phone Coverage at Council Lake Campsites
Cell signal at Council Lake Campsites (Munising, MI): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.Council Lake is a 12-acre lake with yellow perch, rock and largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, bullhead and northern pike.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryReserve site #4
campers consistently report it's the best, farthest from others and closest to the lake
If privacy is critical, reserve both sites 2 and 3 together as site 3 is directly adjacent to site 2
Book early
this is a federal campground with only 4 sites and high demand
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Munising , Michigan, take Highway M-28 east towards Shingleton. Turn right (south) on Forest Highway 13 at Wetmore and drive 9.9 miles south to Forest Road 2261. Turn right (west) onto Forest Road 226 and drive 1.7 miles. Continue until the road ends at Council Lake.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Hiawatha National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Hiawatha National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Council Lake Campsites cost per night?+
What season is Council Lake Campsites open?+
Does Council Lake Campsites have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Council Lake Campsites?+
How do I make reservations at Council Lake Campsites?+
What is the cell service like at Council Lake Campsites?+
What season is Council Lake Campsites open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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