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Monocle Lake
FSU.S. Forest Service — St. Ignace · Michigan · Hiawatha National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Hiawatha National Forest |
| Location | St. Ignace · Michigan · Hiawatha National Forest · 46.47250, -84.63917 · Map |
| Sites | 42 public sites counted from the federal listing — 41 standard nonelectric; 1 tent only nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 42 sites Water hookups at 0 of 42 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 42 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 42 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 80 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 41 sites · 30 ft: 41 sites · 35 ft: 27 sites · 40 ft: 27 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Check-in time is anytime after 2 pm. Early arrivals will be charged for the previous day. |
| Check-in / out | In 02:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 42 sites, as reported |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 906-203-9872 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-09-02.
From the official listing
Overview Monocle Lake Campground offers a a relaxing place to fish, swim and hike along the shores of scenic Monocle Lake just off Lake Superior. It is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the northeastern corner of the Hiawatha National Forest.
The campground is centrally located among many recreational opportunities in the Sault Ste. Marie area, including the Whitefish Bay National Scenic Byway and Tahquamenon Falls. Recreation Monocle Lake is populated with walleye, smallmouth bass, pike and perch. Two man-made reefs lie just off the eastern shore next to the campground, where anglers typically have good luck.
Swimming and boating are popular activities in the area. Visitors also enjoy hiking the 14.5-mile Monocle Lake Trail. Two miles of the trail have interpretive displays, and the first 1100 feet of the trail are along an elevated, accessible boardwalk. Additional trails are found in the surrounding area. Facilities The campground offers heavily shaded single-family sites for tent and RV camping. Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Hookups are not available.
A day-use picnic area, adjacent to a fairly large parking area at the campground, provides easy access to a swimming beach. The picnic area is equipped with tables, grills and drinking water, as well as accessible vault toilets.
A paved boat launch with a parking lot big enough to accommodate vehicles and trailers provides easy access to the beautiful all sports lake. Natural Features The campground surrounds the south end of 172-acre Monocle Lake, and is less than two miles from the historic Point Iroquois Lighthouse. It is nestled in a mixed hardwood forest of aspen, maple, birch and pine trees, providing scenic lake and forest views from anywhere in the campground. Private residences also surround the inland lake. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (906) 767-1111. Nearby Attractions The nearest town is Bay Mills, which is about 6 miles from Monocle Lake. The United States-Canada border, at Sault Ste. Marie, is about 25 miles from the campground.
Tahquamenon Falls, a series of beautifully brown-colored waterfalls on the Tahquamenon River, is located about 35 miles from Monocle Lake. Charges & Cancellations Please cancel 7 days in advance if you need to cancel your reservation. Reservation sites cannot be traded for walk-in sites.
Directions, from the listing
12600 E Lakeshore Drive Brimley Michigan 49715
From Bay Mills, travel west on County Road 42 (Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway) for approximately half a mile, then turn south on Forest Road 3699 to the campground entrance.
Nearest federal campgrounds
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Trip Card — Monocle Lake
St. Ignace · Michigan · Hiawatha National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | St. Ignace · Michigan · Hiawatha National Forest |
| Fees | Check-in time is anytime after 2 pm. Early arrivals will be charged for the previous day. |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 80 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 42 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234617 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.