Nichols Lake South Campground, Manistee, MI

Nichols Lake South Campground is located in the White Cloud Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest (59 min northeast of Muskegon, MI) with an elevation of 899 feet. There are a total of 28 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 35 and 65 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. There is a fee of $22.00 per night. Some amenities include boat ramp, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.

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Campsite Reviews (33)

3.7 out of 5

5 star		30%
4 star		27%
3 star		30%
2 star		6%
1 star		6%

@SalvatoreD5F58 · Camped on Jul 26, 2024 at Campsite #19

I arrived around 5 pm and there was someone in my campsite so I went to the camp host and he said he gave it away because he didn't think I was going to show up. I was very uncomfortable here.

@TerrenceJ1869E · Camped on Jul 16, 2024 at Campsite #20

Good facilities. The kids had a great time and met other kids in the campground to play with. Nice hiking trail (North Country Trail) just up the other side of the lake.

@JamesH5225020 · Camped on Jul 7, 2024 at Campsite #17

Many of the campsites need larger blacktop areas, long walk to bath house from certain areas and only a single shower for men. The boat launch needs repair. The caretaker does a good job.

@GaryH6725051 · Camped on Jun 27, 2024 at Campsite #23

Very nice small campground. The lot we were on was very spacious, but also on a hill. Wish there were funds to widen the asphalt pads to accommodate the block we need under our steps. It was nice to see that there were handicap asphalt pads that provide a much wider, safe experience. The bathroom was a little dated, but everything worked just fine! We enjoyed being able to tie up our boat at the dock during the day, then beaching it at night.

@ShaunH21459BDA · Camped on May 23, 2024 at Campsite #24

Campground was a great condition minus the ice cooler. It was not working during our stay. Had to drive 5 miles and back every day to get ice for our coolers.

@JohnE3306958 · Camped on Aug 14, 2023 at Campsite #21

Quiet campground with space. The lake is a great small lake to kayak fish on also.

@DouglasR110694 · Camped on Jun 6, 2023 at Campsite #17

Only stayed 1 night, park was nice, had nice camping pad and walking accommodations.

@SusanH8664991 · Camped on Sep 2, 2022 at Campsite #21

This is a rustic campground - no electricity at the campsites. It has become popular with the big RV “campers” who bring their loud generators and loud music. We are tent campers and did not get to enjoy the peace and quiet of the wooded setting due to the other noisy campers.

@JohnM1144946 · Camped on Aug 25, 2022 at Campsite #21

Nice little campground. Quiet with a clean beach. Campsite manager is friendly. Bathhouse is older but clean and stocked with toilet paper.

@GeneD3007856 · Camped on Aug 8, 2022 at Campsite #22

The campground was well maintained and clean. Showers and bathrooms were great. Dave, camp host, was very personable and was constantly cleaning up around. The campground was surprisingly quite empty. So from our perspective, it was nice.

@ChadG3236332 · Camped on Jul 5, 2022 at Campsite #24

We loved the location and the swimming area with the dock. Our kids had lots of fun swimming and fishing. Showers were not working and it sounded like they had been out for a while and wouldn’t be fixed for a while. The fire ring was crooked and felt like it was just tossed into the camping area. The wood to purchase was literally a rip off. If they don’t want people to bring wood in, maybe provide actual split logs and not the bark of the trees for $7 a bundle. The host was nice. Camp was pretty clean.

@SarahP6892621 · Camped on Jun 30, 2022 at Campsite #17

Love this campground for its location and site size. Did NOT care for the ‘decorations’ the hosts added to camp walks and spaces. Also didn’t care for the motion activated security lights. I don’t go to NFS camps to encounter this type of junk. Otherwise, highly recommended.

@KellyM9992231 · Camped on Jun 15, 2022 at Campsite #25

Nice big sites and great hiking nearby. Accessible boardwalk down to water. Unfortunately we went during sponge moth season and it was ... gross ...

@ShirleyC282877 · Camped on Jun 12, 2022 at Campsite #17

The spongy moth caterpillars infested the whole camp. It was impossible to enjoy anything without them crawling all over. And the poop.....all over the camper. We left a day earlier than planned. We had to scrape the poop off our camper and awning. No hot water in the shower. We have camped at Nichols Lake for over 25 years. I doubt we will ever go back. It was a horrible experience.

@DesmondM254 · Camped on Aug 28, 2021 at Campsite #22

It has a small beach that came in handy

@DesmondM323701 · Camped on Aug 28, 2021 at Campsite #22

It has a small beach that came in handy

@SaraK4352523 · Camped on Aug 15, 2021 at Campsite #22

Site 22 was really nice and wooded. Close to lake and bathrooms. Lake is so clear and beautiful. Right on the North Country Trail for great hiking.

@SaraK153 · Camped on Aug 15, 2021 at Campsite #22

Site 22 was really nice and wooded. Close to lake and bathrooms. Lake is so clear and beautiful. Right on the North Country Trail for great hiking.

@SharonH515 · Camped on Aug 6, 2021 at Campsite #21

We had expected to hear a loon early Sunday morning from out on Nichols Lake or at least other woodland birds calling. Unfortunately, someone had already started up a portable generator even though it was only 7:30. While it was a good 150 yards from us, the sound was still loud enough to ruin what otherwise should have been a peaceful morning camping. We were particularly upset because we had the day before already endured an afternoon and evening of our immediate neighbor’s constant operation of his generator. He too eventually joined in on Sunday morning, although he was considerate enough to wait until maybe 9:00 am to begin. It seemed odd that the NFS would not have a rule for generators given how much noise they can make. Consequently, when we returned home, we did some research and, sure enough, 36 CFR 261.10(i) is directly on point. It states: The following [is] prohibited [in National Forest campgrounds]: (i) Operating or using in or near a campsite …. without a permit, any device which produces noise, such as a radio, television, musical instrument, motor or engine in such a manner and at such a time so as to unreasonably disturb any person. We recognize that “unreasonably” offers leeway with respect to devices like a radio or musical instrument. However, given that the generator last Sunday morning was still obnoxiously loud even 150 yards away, We are hard pressed to think of any circumstance or time when the operation of a generator in a National Forest campground would not be unreasonably disturbing to all within a wide circle about it. Put simply, it makes no sense whatsoever that as few as 2 sites, which is only 7% of the available sites, should be permitted to ruin a vacation or weekend for the rest of those camping at Nichols Lake. It would be simple to fix: post at each campground entrance and on each campground’s webpage that the use of a generator in the campground is prohibited per 36 CFR 261.11(i).

@JulieS971 · Camped on Jun 13, 2021 at Campsite #24

The campground itself is really nice but the gypsy mouth worms were terrible. Also it was really nice to have flush toilets and shower but they could have been cleaner.

@donaldm975 · Camped on Jun 6, 2021 at Campsite #24

Site was very large and bordered on lagoon to the west which made launching my kayak at the site nice. It was in June and I hit the emergence of the Gypsy moth caterpillars, so they were everywhere. Not so nice, but at least they don't bite like mosquitoes. Hosts were very friendly and helpful, and they stuck to the USFS rules about keeping all your tires on the pavement. I didn't use the facilities, so I cannot comment on the cleanliness of the restrooms. I am familiar with this area, and the North Country Trail runs along the west shore of the lagoon making hiking and exploring convenient. Run up to Baldwin for ice cream at Jones'.

@DonaldM3739134 · Camped on Jun 6, 2021 at Campsite #24

@HeidiF201 · Camped on May 15, 2021 at Campsite #17

Small and beautiful campground. Beautiful beach and lake. Nesting pair of loons and bountiful birds. Close to Baldwin and Jone’s ice cream!

@SharynS767 · Camped on Sep 5, 2020 at Campsite #21

This was a really nice campground where the sites were not too close to the neighboring sites.

@ErikM257 · Camped on Aug 23, 2020 at Campsite #24

Great family-friendly, well-managed site. We were able to walk our canoe down to the lake, and the swimming area was small, but clean.

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