East Lake Dispersed Campsite Campground, Manistique, MI

East Lake Dispersed Campsite Campground in Schoolcraft county is located 3 hrs 29 min northwest of Traverse City, MI with an elevation of 587 feet. There are a total of 3 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 24 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. There is a fee of $8.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.

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Campsite Reviews (26)

4.0 out of 5

5 star		46%
4 star		23%
3 star		4%
2 star		12%
1 star		8%

@PeterS7845234 · Camped on Oct 4, 2024 at Campsite #1

Great site! Very private with plenty of space. The bathroom is kind of gross but that's to be expected at a site like this.

@NathanW5769902 · Camped on Aug 17, 2024 at Campsite #1

Beautiful remote spot. Make sure to take a good look at the map before driving out. Lots of trails in that area, and most cell service drops.

@DianaH4256118 · Camped on May 24, 2024 at Campsite #2

This campsite was beautiful!! Very spacious, secluded, and right on East Lake! Theres only 3 sites and spaced out around East Lake. Sites 2 and 3 were a bit difficult to find, and it would help a lot if there were signs on 94 for these sites. The best way to find these sites is if youre going North on 94 turn right on 452 (I used Google maps to find the roads) then turn right again on the second trail road, follow that road until you see a small sign that says East 2 and 3. If coming south on 94 then turn left on 452 and right on the second trail road. You have to go around the west side of the lake to find the sites. Site 1 is towards the east side of the lake. Theres also a private property on the east side of the lake, be respectful and do not drive through their property. Overall this campground was so worth it. I caught my first large mouth bass on east lake on the shore. Its just so serene and beautiful. As far as amenities, theres outhouses for each of the sites. I was scared to use them because of the big spider webs I saw inside (Im scared of spiders lol). I cant wait to go back to this place <3 I love the U.P!

@LaurieB8871906 · Camped on Sep 20, 2023 at Campsite #2

Site 2 is a great site, roomy with lots of shade, dirt around the fire pit area with a small area with grass perfect for tents. Great swimming with sand beach. Located far from the other sites so lots of privacy. Getting in there is some overhanging trees that need to be trimmed away. So dont have to tall of an rv.

@HenryW2211857 · Camped on Aug 31, 2023 at Campsite #3

The site is nice, but the road to access it was terrible. I had a smaller 16 trailer and barely got to the site and damaged the trailer on the way out. Suggest it be listed as tents only.

@ThomasC6214588 · Camped on Jul 2, 2023 at Campsite #3

Rugged!! Pros: Beautiful tiny secluded lake, no highway noise despite being right near the highway, only 3 sites and 1 private house on a whole small private lake. Sites are all separated and have lake access, spacious and seemed like you could hike on any paths too Cons: VERY hard to find, we were in site 3, there are 2 very spaced out wooden signs but several intersections in-between that are unmarked. Follow the blue tags and one bud light can to find site 3. Probably a mile of unpaved bumpy roads. Don't need high clearance but it would help. VERY buggy. Applied as much spray and lotion as we had and still spent half the night jogging to the car and to the fire. Woke up in the morning with ACTUALLY 40-50 mosquitos perched on the outside of the tent waiting for us to open it up.

@LiamD8062390 · Camped on Oct 9, 2022 at Campsite #3

My partner and I were unable to access the site. The visual map on Google maps and on the recreation.gov reservation page does not match the verbal directions to reach the site from M-94. We followed the map instructions until reaching a plywood sign with blue spray paint saying "east lake 1,2,3" pointing down a fork in the road. We followed this sign and searched for an hour without success. We then tried to ask the private property owner whose front gate the sign was on for directions, but they could not be found and many of their signs and yard decorations implied that they would shoot anyone suspected of trespassing. We then searched for another hour down each unpaved logging road we could find, without success. We had reserved site 3 but the only site we could find was 1, where another couple was already camped. We asked them for directions and they were kind, but we again couldn't find our site. By this time it was dark out and there was nowhere for us to camp, so we resorted to a motel in Manistique.

@katherinef9932 · Camped on Jun 14, 2022 at Campsite #2

It's absolutely beautiful here, very private, the lake is gorgeous -- but if you're here during mosquito season it's absolutely unbearable. We had to leave in the middle of the night because the bugs were relentless and honestly the worse I have ever experienced. So check the local "weather" reports before booking. It's a gem if there are no bugs out! Can't beat the price either. Internet service was spotty but not totally out.

@KaylaB1267719 · Camped on Jun 12, 2022 at Campsite #3

This spot was a beautiful secluded camp site. We had our own little private beach and there was a new fire pit ring with a grate. Would love to come back to this gem again! Only 30 min from pictured rocks! Directions on the two track roads to get here were a little confusing but we figured it out.

@TROYI2236419 · Camped on Jun 4, 2022 at Campsite #1

Great dispersed camping area, very peaceful, right on the lake. Did have mosquitoes but not as bad as I was expecting, We had warm days and cool nights.

@TateD2134580 · Camped on May 18, 2022 at Campsite #1

Campsite was cheap thankfully. I didn't get to set up my tent and actually camp though. I ran into rain and ended up leaving early to avoid getting stuck down the dirt roads to get to the site. The site was also ridden with bugs this time of year being right next to the water so I just decided to stay in my car. Not the best experience but not all of it is the sites fault.

@sandyand580520 · Camped on Sep 24, 2021 at Campsite #3

We have been coming to site 2 and site 4 at Eastlake for at least 30 years. It is a perfect outdoor experience. Very nice sites with great swimming, fishing is pretty good and secluded but close enough to some civilization. We've seen a pair of bald eagles almost every time we have came. We even got a nice pic of a bald eagle snatching up a dead fish from the surface and have experienced the northern lights. It's also close enough to drive to pictured rocks and various waterfalls and Munising attractions without spending much time on the road. The Tanglewood Inn in Shingleton is a great place to eat.

@sandyandmartyb · Camped on Sep 24, 2021 at Campsite #3

@NormB871 · Camped on Aug 16, 2021 at Campsite #1

The weather was hot and humid, but the campsite was quiet and peaceful.

@NormB7158436 · Camped on Aug 16, 2021 at Campsite #1

The weather was hot and humid, but the campsite was quiet and peaceful.

@LindaD7786634 · Camped on Aug 10, 2021 at Campsite #2

awesome spot to camp

@LindaD181 · Camped on Aug 10, 2021 at Campsite #2

awesome spot to camp

@PeterJ546 · Camped on Jul 15, 2021 at Campsite #3

The weather was awesome! The bugs were terrible but thats to be expected. Fun panfishing and small bass.

@PeterJ8984222 · Camped on Jul 15, 2021 at Campsite #3

The weather was awesome! The bugs were terrible but thats to be expected. Fun panfishing and small bass.

@KerylS745 · Camped on May 29, 2021 at Campsite #2

Great site nice little beach area, plenty of space, quiet lake traffic

@JamesB415 · Camped on Sep 25, 2020 at Campsite #1

Great site.

@AdamW277 · Camped on Sep 19, 2020 at Campsite #3

Great campsite!

@LeifA785 · Camped on Sep 12, 2020 at Campsite #3

The house a couple of hundreds yards away ran a generator all night. It was almost impossible to sleep. I don't go out in the middle of nowhere to listen to this.

@SimonK867 · Camped on Aug 16, 2019 at Campsite #2

Spacious and secluded. Spots for hammocks with a picturesque view of the lake. Loved it!

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