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Ottawa/Courtney Lake
Overview
Tucked away within the sprawling Ottawa National Forest, the Ottawa/Courtney Lake campground offers a quintessential Upper Peninsula experience. This peaceful destination is centered around the crystal-clear waters of Courtney Lake, providing a quiet retreat for those looking to disconnect from the modern world. The park emphasizes a rustic camping environment where the sounds of the wind through the hardwoods and the ripple of water take center stage over highway noise and digital distractions.
Location & Surroundings
Located near the small community of Nisula, MI, this park sits in a remote portion of the western Upper Peninsula. The surrounding landscape is dominated by dense forest canopies and rolling terrain, creating a sense of total immersion in nature. Because of its distance from major urban centers, the area boasts incredible stargazing opportunities and a lush, green backdrop that changes vibrantly with the seasons, making it a scenic Northwoods gem for travelers seeking true peace.
Amenities & Park Features
As a Forest Service facility, the amenities focus on providing a high-quality primitive experience. The park features vault toilets and pressurized water stations conveniently located near the campsites. For recreation, visitors have access to a well-maintained boat ramp and a dedicated sandy swimming beach on the northern shore of the lake. While there are no electric or sewer hookups, the spacious sites are designed to accommodate a variety of rig sizes, offering a level of privacy rarely found in commercial resorts.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to keep them busy, starting with the Courtney Lake Trail, a scenic loop that offers excellent hiking and mountain biking opportunities right from your campsite. Fishing is a primary draw here, with the lake offering opportunities to catch trout and panfish in a serene setting. Beyond the park boundaries, visitors can explore the historical Adventure Mine in nearby Greenland or take a short drive to the rugged, iconic shores of Lake Superior.
Who This Park Is Best For
This campground is ideal for the self-contained RVer who appreciates solitude and natural beauty over modern luxury amenities. It is a perfect fit for families who enjoy traditional outdoor activities like swimming, fishing, and campfire cooking. If you are a traveler looking to escape the crowds and enjoy a primitive setting that highlights the raw beauty of Michigan's wilderness, Courtney Lake provides the perfect peaceful atmosphere for your next adventure.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Mike Mitchell
Drove through on our way past to check it out for next year. Beautiful campground!
Idra Fallow
If you've ever wanted to experience the sounds of the big city while camping in a remote forest, this is the place for you. We came from Chicago for a visit. The campground is gorgeous, and the guests graciously volunteered to make sure we wouldn't feel homesick for the familiar background noise we're used to, by making as much racket as possible. Between the constant hum of diesel generators and cars left idling by the bathroom, the teenagers shouting and playing loud music all night, and the bottle rockets, we felt as if we'd never left home at all. Some of our neighbors even went the extra mile of setting off their car alarm no less than seven times! And at $22/night, Courtney Lake is more expensive than other campgrounds in the Ottawa Forest. So we got to have a small taste of those big city prices.
Oscar Dunlap
Nice small campground
Paul Batavia
Wasn’t bad just didn’t catch any fish
Doug Dirr
When we were there. There was only one other camper, so it was quiet. Large spaces. Nice campground.
Pat Range
We met our good lifelong friends there 34 yrs ago! Kids have grown up as cousins now grands know each other. Magic for us!
Tracy Massie
It is just an awesome place to camp. Bring a camper, tent, can bring your horse too. They have camp sites just for horse owner's. Great trails to walk or ride. Nice beach area for swimming and sun bathing.
Dale Kluth
Drove up to the lake to checkout the 6 camp sites setup for horses. Looked really nice, so our brother & sister-in-law are planning a camp trip with their horse in the next month or so.
Mike Lehman
Awesome hidden oasis
Greg Krueger
Stellar beach area great for swimming with plenty of shallow sand-bottom lake frontage. There’s also a short hiking trail on the property. This is a concessioner-managed US Forest Service campground with reasonable fees and great scenery. It isn’t as remote as some National Forest campgrounds in northern Wisconsin and the UP. This small lake does have developed private property on it, immediately across from the campground, so you won’t find complete silence or seclusion here. Courtney Lake is nonetheless a great place to camp, swim and hike. The campground lacks electricity and flush toilets, but does offer several running water spouts. The Ottawa National Forest has done a great job finding partners to manage campgrounds like this and keep them open to the public as developed recreation sites. Many similar campgrounds across the Nicolet/Chequamegon in Wisconsin have been permanently closed over the past six or seven years due to budget shortfalls in those National Forests.