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Nichols Lake South Campground
FSU.S. Forest Service — Manistee · Michigan · Huron-Manistee National Forests
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Huron-Manistee National Forests |
| Location | Manistee · Michigan · Huron-Manistee National Forests · 43.72306, -85.90250 · Map |
| Sites | 28 public sites counted from the federal listing — 28 standard 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 28 sites Water hookups at 0 of 28 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 28 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 28 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 65 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 10 sites · 30 ft: 10 sites · 35 ft: 10 sites · 40 ft: 9 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 | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 2:00 PM · Out 1:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 28 sites, as reported |
| Accessibility | N |
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 2026-06-26.
From the official listing
Overview Located on the south side of Nichols Lake, the campground and surrounding area offer excellent opportunities for fishing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, camping, or just relaxing. Recreation Fishing and boating are popular activities at Nichols Lake. There is a paved boat launch at the campground. This site is one of the locations on the National Forest's for Kids Fishing Day Events for Michigan's Free Fishing Day in early June. Ice fishing is also popular in the winter. Swimming areas are marked with buoys, but there are no lifeguards. The North Country National Scenic Trail goes through the site near the boat ramp, providing good hiking opportunities. Facilities Nichols Lake has 29 family sites on paved spurs. Drinking water, flush toilets, and showers are provided. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. A wood ramp and stairs lead down to the lake from the campground. A short path along the lake provides access for fishing. Natural Features At 160 acres, Nichols Lake offers shore, pier, and boat fishing. Typical fish species available include bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie, and northern pike. There is a swimming beach and accessible fishing pier available.
Those wishing to enjoy the day at Nichols Lake will find a day use area located on the north side of the lake. Nearby Attractions The North Country Trail covers 4,600 miles from Crown Point, NY, to Lake Sakakawea State Park, ND. The segment that includes Nichols Lake has beautiful sections for both the advanced and weekend hikers. The nearest towns are Woodland, Bitely, and Brohman, about two miles to the south. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.
Directions, from the listing
From Baldwin, take M-37 south for 13.5 miles to 11 Mile Road. Turn right. Go west approximately 4.5 miles to the campground entrance. From White Cloud, take M-37 north for 13 miles to 11 Mile Road. Turn west for 4.5 miles to the campground.
Nearest federal campgrounds
10 mi straight-line · BALDWIN MichiganFSU.S. Forest ServiceBowman Bridge
12 mi straight-line · MichiganFSU.S. Forest ServiceHungerford Equestrian Group Campsite
14 mi straight-line · Big Rapids MichiganFSU.S. Forest ServicePines Point Campground (MI)
17 mi straight-line · HESPERIA MichiganFSU.S. Forest ServiceSand Lake Campground
31 mi straight-line · Michigan
Trip Card — Nichols Lake South Campground
Manistee · Michigan · Huron-Manistee National Forests
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | Manistee · Michigan · Huron-Manistee National Forests |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 65 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 28 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251845 · 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.