U.S. Forest Service · Huron-Manistee National Forests · Michigan

Horseshoe Lake Campground and Boat Launch

The small 16-acre lake offers a variety of fishing opportunities. The one-mile walk around the north end of the lake provides for wildlife sightings and scenic views of the lake and campground. This campground is small and lightly used, perfect for those looking for solitude.

Closed for the seasonBooking not publishedFrom $10 per nightTents only

More like this: first-come in Michigan · free in Michigan · tent only in Michigan

1fire
active
Welcome Lake South Rx (prescribed burn) · 15 mi away · 35 acres
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-26
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesRecreation Enhancement Act Fee - Camping - Per Night: $10.00. There is no fee for the boat launch.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMay 3 to November 30
ForestHuron-Manistee National Forests
FeesRecreation Enhancement Act Fee - Camping - Per Night: $10.00. There is no fee for the boat launch.
RulesAs 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.

Huron-Manistee National Forests recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Horseshoe Lake Campground and Boat Launch10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.72 inches of precipitation, 10.5 inches of snowFebruary: 1.28 inches of precipitation, 12.7 inches of snowMarch: 1.87 inches of precipitation, 5.0 inches of snowApril: 2.89 inches of precipitation, 3.3 inches of snowMay: 3.14 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 3.33 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.71 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.10 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 2.75 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.56 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 2.10 inches of precipitation, 1.6 inches of snowDecember: 2.28 inches of precipitation, 8.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 17.9°F averageFebruary: 18.8°F averageMarch: 28.0°F averageApril: 40.3°F averageMay: 53.2°F averageJune: 62.2°F averageJuly: 66.5°F averageAugust: 65.0°F averageSeptember: 57.6°F averageOctober: 45.9°F averageNovember: 34.3°F averageDecember: 25.1°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Glennie 2Se, 5 miles from the campground at 894 feet, station USC00203188 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 32 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 41 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, May 3 to November 30.

Getting there

Coordinates44.6007° N, 83.7654° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Welcome Lake South Rx

    15 mi from the campground · 35 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗17.7 mi
Outdoor gearLincoln Outdoors ↗18.3 mi
RV sales & serviceRose City RV Center ↗22.1 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Searching for a boat launch! But i discover Horseshoe lake Campground! New Kayak spot and Campground

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • under 0.1 mi
    Horseshoe Lake Nature Trail
    1.3 mi trail · hiking, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Alcona Smt Barton City Dnr966 ↗
    20 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 1.7 mi
    Alcona Smt Glennie Dnr964
    1.6 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 2.3 mi
    Alcona Pond Spur
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
  • 2.4 mi
    Oscoda-Alcona Smt Dnr96 ↗
    64.4 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 2.7 mi
    Hoist, 13-15-16 Southoist Spur
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, snowshoe, ski

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Huron-Manistee National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Guidebooks for Michigan

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Michigan
    Matt Forster, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Michigan
    Kevin Revolinski, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-trails Michigan & Wisconsin
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to camp at Horseshoe Lake Campground and Boat Launch?

Nothing. Horseshoe Lake Campground and Boat Launch is listed as free. Recreation Enhancement Act Fee - Camping - Per Night: $10.00.

Source: Forest Service

Is Horseshoe Lake Campground and Boat Launch open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season May 3 to November 30.

Source: Forest Service status

Can I bring an RV to Horseshoe Lake Campground and Boat Launch?

Horseshoe Lake Campground and Boat Launch is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Horseshoe Lake Campground and Boat Launch is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Gabions Campground (4.3 mi), Bear Island Campground (6.7 mi, first-come), and Buttercup Campground (7.8 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby