About Swan Lake Campsites
Overview 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.Recreation Visitors will be able to enjoy swimming, berry picking, and fishing at these campsites. Licenses are required for fishing in Michigan waters. All campsites on Swan Lake have excellent swimming areas. Swan Lake offers a good fishery for large and smallmouth bass, bluegills and pumpkinseeds. There is a public boat launch to Steuben Lake located near Site 1. Facilities There are three primitive toilets available, but NO drinking water. Primitive toilets are located at sites 1, 2 and between 3 and 4. If you have site 3 Reserved do not block access road to site 2. Please and thank you. Lake Name: Swan Lake Number of Sites: 4 Max Number of People Per Site: Site 1 (8), Site 2-4 (16) Toilets: Yes Boat Access: Back-In At site 1 Lake Size (acres): 169 Number of Horses Allowed: Site 1 (2), Site 2 (2), Site 3 (4), Site 4 (6) Natural Features Swan Lake is the most popular lake in the designated campsite program, so getting a permit to camp here can be quite competitive. All four campsites are located on the non-motorized Pine Marten Run Trail and horse camping is allowed. Site 1 is located on a small hill overlooking the west shore of the lake and is isolated from the other three campsites on the lake. This site is 60 ft x 30 ft, and is suitable for one family. Trailers are NOT recommended unless they are set up in the parking area at the base of the knoll. The public boat launch to the lake is located near this site, so campers may have boaters accessing the lake. Site 2 is on the southwest side of the lake and is 65 ft x 50 ft. This site is level and suitable for two families and small trailers. Turn-around space is very limited. Site 3 is a
How to Get There
From the Intersection of US-2 and Forest Highway 13 (about 14 miles east of Rapid River): drive north 19 miles on Highway 13 to CR 440. Turn right (east) and drive 2.7 miles to FR 2258. Turn left (north) on 2258 and drive 0.25 mile to FR 2725. To reach sites 2-4: Turn left (east) onto FR 2725. Drive about 0.75 mile on FR 2725 to reach the sites. To reach site 1: Drive about 1.3 miles north on FR 2258 to FR 2013. Turn right (east) on FR 2013 and drive about 0.7 mile to the site.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →What to Pack for Your Stay
Tuned to the live forecast for this park.
👔 What to Wear
- 👕
Moisture-wicking T-shirt
Light color, breathable.
- 🩳
Lightweight shorts or pants
Quick-dry preferred — sweat dries fast.
- 🧢
Brimmed sun hat
Better than a cap for back-of-neck protection.
- 🥾
Trail runners
Breathable mesh uppers.
🎒 What to Pack
- 💧
Water
Bring at least 1L of water; more in heat.
- 🍫
High-energy snacks
A snack for the trail.
- 🧴
Sun protection
Sunscreen, sunglasses, brimmed hat.
- 🩹
First-aid kit
Blister patches, ibuprofen, tape, antiseptic wipes.
- 🗺
Offline map
Download your route in advance via Gaia, Caltopo, or OSM-based apps.
Recommendations adapt to the current forecast + trail stats. Use them as a starting point — local conditions, your experience, and the time of day you start all matter.
Plan Your Visit to Swan Lake Campsites
Heading to Swan Lake Campsites? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Swan Lake Campsites?
No central reservation system listed for Swan Lake Campsites. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/273361) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Swan Lake Campsites?
From the Intersection of US-2 and Forest Highway 13 (about 14 miles east of Rapid River): drive north 19 miles on Highway 13 to CR 440. Turn right (east) and drive 2.7 miles to FR 2258. Turn left (north) on 2258 and drive 0.25 mile to FR 2725. To reach sites 2-4: Turn left (east) onto FR 2725. Drive about 0.75 mile on FR 2725 to reach the sites. To reach site 1: Drive about 1.3 miles north on FR 2…
How do I contact Swan Lake Campsites?
You can reach the park at phone: 906-474-6442 OR 906-387-2512.
References & Official Resources
