Lake Ottawa Recreation Area
The numbers that decide it
- Longest rig
- Not published
- Sites
- 32
- Electric hookups
- Not published
- Pull-through sites
- No
- Paved access
- Yes
- Accessible sites
- Not published
- Driveway grade
- Slight
- Bear boxes
- Not published
- Campfires
- Yes
- Shade
- Yes
- Group sites
- Not published
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. See it on Recreation.gov
Lake Ottawa Recreation Area
Lake Ottawa Recreation area is in a beautiful forested northwoods setting located 5 miles southwest of Iron River, MI, on the Iron River Ranger District. Located in the general area is Lake Ottawa, Brule Lake, Hagerman Lake, Brule River, Bass Lake, the Historic Mile Post Zero/Treaty Tree, The Ge-Che Trail, and miles of hiking trails. Lake Ottawa Campground is 95% surrounded by National Forest System Lands and offers a pavilion with two stone fireplaces and original log picnic tables, and two log toilet buildings, which were constructed by the CCC in the late 1930’s. A pressurized water system and sewage dump station is located in the campground. Adjacent to the campground is the CCC era , Lake Ottawa Day Use Facility with flush toilets, picnic areas, and a boat launch. Fish Your National Forests: This site can be accessed by passenger car; fish available include, Lake trout, bass (Catch and release only, no possession allowed), walleye, panfish; Types of fishing available include shore, motorized boat, float tube, fly, spin, bait, ice; and boat launch available. Be sure to reference the latest Michigan fishing guide. Map of recreation area ( pdf ).
Before you go
Season
May 16 – October 9
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
Camping is $22/night. • Use of the day use area or boat landing is $5/day or $30 annual pass. • To purchase an annual pass, call 906-932-1330.
Restrictions
Camping in a developed recreation site is allowed for a period not longer than 14 days, except as otherwise posted. After this time, you must move to another campground or dispersed site for at least 24 hours. Campers must occupy the site the first night. Eight people and 2 motorized vehicles are allowed per campsite with a maximum of one RV or camper trailer and two tents per camping site or three tents per camping site.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.