Iron River Campgrounds

IRON RIVER R.V. PARK
(906) 265-3822
The setting of these 32 modern campsites isn't what you'd call a forest - trees were planted rather recently - but it has some real advantages. It's an easy walk to downtown Iron River with its shops, restaurants, and bars. The campground is by the Iron River, and all sites are level. The paved, one-mile Apple Blossom Trail (wheelchair-accessible) goes over an old railroad bed to Caspian and the Iron County Museum. Portions of it are good for birding. Full hookup sites with water, sewer, 30 amp electric, and cable TV are $24/night, sites with water and electric are $16. Tents are permitted. Showers and restrooms are in the adjacent Iron County Chamber of Commerce building. Reservations taken and advised for summer weekends. Usually some sites are available midweek.

GOLDEN LAKE CAMPGROUND
(906) 265-5139; no reservations.
A mile north of U.S. 2 between Watersmeet and Iron River, this 22-site rustic campground offers convenient overnight camping on the developed site of 285-acre Golden Lake. One of the U.P.'s deepest lakes, it's spring-fed and cool even on hot days. Hemlock roots color the water golden. It's stocked with trout. Campsites are up above the lake, and many have a view of the water. Some are in a grassy, open area. Others are more shielded from neighbors and shaded by maple and hemlock, some quite large. There's an adjacent picnic area and boat launch but no developed beach, though swimming is possible. Some summers a campground host is here. $10/night fee.

LAKE OTTAWA CAMPGROUND
(906) 265-5139. No reservations.
This popular 32-site campground (with flush toilets but no showers) is on 551-acre Lake Ottawa, next to a pretty park and boat launch. (See above for park and fishing.) The handsome log picnic shelter with two large stone fireplaces was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. So were the log restrooms with flush toilets. There's a short trail to the sandy beach at the day use area. Most sites have a dense maple canopy and good privacy. A campground host is usually here all summer. First-come, first-serve. This is perhaps the Ottawa National Forest's most popular campground. Some years it's full most days in July, so call first and consider a backup. Or come early in the week. Paved spurs vary from 42' to 90'.

BLOCKHOUSE AND PAINT RIVER FORKS CAMPGROUNDS
(906) 265-5139. No reservations.
These two tiny campgrounds (2 and 4 sites respectively) are on a stretch of the Paint River, a trout stream with native brook trout that's canoeable early in the season. It's about five miles, maybe two to three leisurely hours, from one to the other. Blockhouse is particularly pretty, though maintenance isn't the best at these underused, remote spots. Therefore there's no fee charged.

PENTOGA PARK
(906) 265-3979. Does not take reservations
In the 1920s this park on 1,100-acre Chicaugon Lake (see separate point of interest) was created to preserve an Ojibwa burial ground. Park buildings of log and stone are handsomely woodsy. There's a swimming beach, picnic area, new playground, boat launch, fish-cleaning house, and 100 close-spaced modern campsites in a grove of big oaks. There's no privacy between sites. Sites are rented by the day ($15). Campsites fill for 6 or 7 summer weeks. Come Sunday through Wednesday or Thursday and you'll probably get a spot. There's a laundry and pay phones. Supplies for shuffleboard, horseshoes, and volleyball are at the entrance booth. Group camping across the road.

Return to Iron River