Whelan Lake Area
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Whelan Lake Area
This area is popular for canoeing, fishing and camping. The camping area is near the south branch of the Pere Marquette River, on Whelan Lake. The land surrounding the lake is primarily federal ownership.
Before you go
Season
January 1 – December 31
Fees
No Fee
Hours
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week unless otherwise posted.
Restrictions
As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you on-line or at any office of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forests. Applicable Orders - • Motorized Vehicle Use of Roads, Trails and Off-road Areas; R904-14-02 • Occupancy and Use - Developed Recreation Areas, Dispersed Areas, Being Publicly Nude, Marine Prohibitions, Parking and Sanitation; R904-14-03
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.