Council Lake Dispersed Campsite Campground, Munising, MI

Council Lake Dispersed Campsite Campground is located in the Munising Ranger District, Hiawatha National Forest (4 hrs 11 min northwest of Traverse City, MI) with an elevation of 826 feet. There are a total of 4 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid October. Max equipment length is 25 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 biking, boating, fishing, floating sports.
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Council Lake Campsite

Campsite Reviews (21)

4.1 out of 5

5 star
71%
4 star
0%
3 star
10%
2 star
0%
1 star
19%
@DanH6147433 · Camped on Sep 8, 2024 at Campsite #4
Secluded campsites on a very nice lake
@BrianneB424AF0 · Camped on Sep 7, 2024 at Campsite #3
I love to camp at Council Lake. I grew up in Wetmore just down the road. I will be back. Thank you!
@PhillipN7FE1E9 · Camped on Sep 28, 2023 at Campsite #1
Campsite 1 is the best flat spot for a tent, larger groups would fit on 2&3 as they are next to each other. Site 4 has the best view and access to the water but very limited flat space for a tent. Excellent relaxing campsite.
@DebbieH791 · Camped on Oct 10, 2021 at Campsite #4
Beautiful!! Excellent kayaking.
@DebbieH2027684 · Camped on Oct 10, 2021 at Campsite #4
Beautiful!! Excellent kayaking.
@MattB1105534 · Camped on Sep 25, 2021 at Campsite #3
It was supposed to be dispersed camping, but when I got there, all five sites were right next to each other. Zero privacy or quiet. The site I reserved didn't even have a flat enough spot for a tent without being 15 ft away from another tent. I didn't even stay there... it wasn't worth it so I left. No good views of the lake.
@MattB597 · Camped on Sep 25, 2021 at Campsite #3
It was supposed to be dispersed camping, but when I got there, all five sites were right next to each other. Zero privacy or quiet. The site I reserved didn't even have a flat enough spot for a tent without being 15 ft away from another tent. I didn't even stay there... it wasn't worth it so I left. No good views of the lake.
@MarkH132 · Camped on Jun 26, 2021 at Campsite #4
Someone was in our spot....refused to move and got aggressive. No name on site or anyone there to assist.
@MarkH6047851 · Camped on Jun 26, 2021 at Campsite #4
Someone was in our spot....refused to move and got aggressive. No name on site or anyone there to assist.
@terryh6561192 · Camped on May 15, 2021 at Campsite #3
Beautiful lake. Very quiet and peaceful, remote yet close to Munising. Perfect tent and kayak site.
@TerryH311 · Camped on May 15, 2021 at Campsite #3
Beautiful lake. Very quiet and peaceful, remote yet close to Munising. Perfect tent and kayak site.
@TimothyM752 · Camped on Aug 26, 2020 at Campsite #1
Really a great spot. pretty secluded but bring your bug spray. Pretty easy drive to Pictured Rocks.
@TimothyM325903 · Camped on Aug 26, 2020 at Campsite #1
Really a great spot. pretty secluded but bring your bug spray. Pretty easy drive to Pictured Rocks.
@JaneC5303587 · Camped on Oct 8, 2019 at Campsite #4
This campground is quiet, small, rustic, and above all beautiful. The lake is within feet of every campsite. There is a hiking trail at the end of the campsites that I recommend. The perfect place to get away from it all. Tents only :)
@janeC705 · Camped on Oct 8, 2019 at Campsite #4
This campground is quiet, small, rustic, and above all beautiful. The lake is within feet of every campsite. There is a hiking trail at the end of the campsites that I recommend. The perfect place to get away from it all. Tents only :)
@JenniferS960 · Camped on Sep 5, 2019 at Campsite #2
Quiet and beautiful.bring your own drinking water or buy it at the little store on the main road!
@JenniferS83796 · Camped on Sep 5, 2019 at Campsite #2
Quiet and beautiful.bring your own drinking water or buy it at the little store on the main road!
@MarkS8760847 · Camped on Aug 14, 2019 at Campsite #3
Campsites fairly close. Works well for a group. Large campers can't get turned around very well. Some people may come in to picnic, but very quiet. Excellent place to Kayak through the chain of lakes. Fishing is OK. Good hiking trails.
@MarkS432 · Camped on Aug 14, 2019 at Campsite #3
Campsites fairly close. Works well for a group. Large campers can't get turned around very well. Some people may come in to picnic, but very quiet. Excellent place to Kayak through the chain of lakes. Fishing is OK. Good hiking trails.
@StephanieB457 · Camped on Aug 9, 2019 at Campsite #2
There were a few things I really liked about this site, and some the opposite....I'd give it a solid 3-4 stars. It's a super quiet area, with 4 rustic sites at the end of a long, dirt road. The road isn't marked too well and it took a turn around by myself, and the other party we were meeting, to find it. it's very secluded and right on the lake. We choose site #2 (I believe) which was linked immediately up to #3. This would be GREAT if you had both sites, or a large group of people renting both, but when trying to stay private, it's SUPER hard when you're almost on top of each other. I would have camped in an RV park if I wanted neighbors that close. We moved one of our tents out towards the wooded area on the other side as to not encroach on the neighbors space, and DNR/Camp Manager told us we weren't allowed to have the tent in the woods and had to move it back to the site. :( The first night was great as there were no neighbors, but we had to be extremely mindful (of noise and space) of the neighbors who moved in the second night. Luckily they were super nice, quiet and respectful and it turned out fine. It was too close for comfort when the online map made it seem not too bad. That was about the worst thing about it. The toilets are very rustic. There was a spider the size of my hand right inside the seat, so we mainly used the woods for most of the trip. We took our kayak out on the lake. There are three SUPER QUIET, connected lakes. There wasn't a single camp or human on the two lakes we did kayak. It was unbelievable quiet and pretty. My husband fished and caught fish after fish the entire time. Overall, we had a great trip and I would go back, though I would pick a more secluded campsite. I would recommend for woods camping. Lake was beautiful.
@stephanie69098 · Camped on Aug 9, 2019 at Campsite #2
There were a few things I really liked about this site, and some the opposite....I'd give it a solid 3-4 stars. It's a super quiet area, with 4 rustic sites at the end of a long, dirt road. The road isn't marked too well and it took a turn around by myself, and the other party we were meeting, to find it. it's very secluded and right on the lake. We choose site #2 (I believe) which was linked immediately up to #3. This would be GREAT if you had both sites, or a large group of people renting both, but when trying to stay private, it's SUPER hard when you're almost on top of each other. I would have camped in an RV park if I wanted neighbors that close. We moved one of our tents out towards the wooded area on the other side as to not encroach on the neighbors space, and DNR/Camp Manager told us we weren't allowed to have the tent in the woods and had to move it back to the site. :( The first night was great as there were no neighbors, but we had to be extremely mindful (of noise and space) of the neighbors who moved in the second night. Luckily they were super nice, quiet and respectful and it turned out fine. It was too close for comfort when the online map made it seem not too bad. That was about the worst thing about it. The toilets are very rustic. There was a spider the size of my hand right inside the seat, so we mainly used the woods for most of the trip. We took our kayak out on the lake. There are three SUPER QUIET, connected lakes. There wasn't a single camp or human on the two lakes we did kayak. It was unbelievable quiet and pretty. My husband fished and caught fish after fish the entire time. Overall, we had a great trip and I would go back, though I would pick a more secluded campsite. I would recommend for woods camping. Lake was beautiful.

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