Sylvania (Clark Lake) Campground

Overview

Sylvania (Clark Lake) Campground is located seven miles southwest of Watersmeet, Michigan, adjacent to the 18,327 acre Sylvania Wilderness Area. This 48-site campground provides a home base for visitors who venture into the wilderness on day outings. Also a great camping area in general or overnight camping just 5 minutes off Highway U.S. 2. Some electrical sites available, pressurized toilet facilities and an RV Dump and Water Station. Some sites are reservable but there are always sites available on a first come first serve basis as well!

Recreation

Sylvania's abundant lakes provide plentiful non-motorized boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing opportunities. Other popular activities include hiking and viewing wildlife.

Facilities

This campground consists of four camping loops with a total of 48 campsites and provides drive-in campsites that can accommodate tents, trailers and motor homes. All sites are spaced with natural vegetation for screening. Each campsite offers a wood table, fire ring, lantern post and parking spur. Drinking water is provided by faucets in loops 2, 3, and 4, while two flush toilet facilities and one accessible vault toilet are evenly spaced throughout the campground. Also located adjacent to the campground is a day use facility that has a picnic area, canoe access landings, trailheads and a swimming beach. Located adjacent to the campground is a water and sewage dump station for RV's. Some sites are reservable on Recreation.gov but other sites are on a first come, first serve basis and typically there is always a site available.

Natural Features

The old-growth forests and pristine lakes in the region provide habitat for a wide range of animal and plant life, including rare orchids, bald eagles, loons and osprey. The wilderness contains 34 named lakes, some with sandy beaches and others surrounded by record-size red and white pines.

The Ottawa National Forest is comprised of nearly one million acres and is located in the western reaches of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The forest's rolling, forest covered hills extend from the south shore of Lake Superior to the Wisconsin border. Lakes, rivers and waterfalls are found throughout this beautiful landscape.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (906) 661-8870.

Nearby Attractions

Bond Falls located about 20 minutes North East. Porcupine Mountains located about 1 hour North West. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore located about 2 hours North East. Keweenaw Peninsula is located about 1.5 hours North.

Camp site features

Across 47 camp sites:

  • Electric hookups: 10 of 47 sites
  • Fire pit: all 47 sites
  • Picnic table: all 47 sites
  • Pets allowed: all 47 sites
  • Longest RV: 88 ft
  • Largest party: 8 people
  • Power up to 30 amps
  • Equipment: RV, Tent, Trailer

Fees

No daily fee is required unless you leave the campground and park, launch, or use facilities at the Clark Lake Beach and Picnic Area, Clark Lake Canoe Launch, or Crooked Lake Canoe Launch. Use of these locations requires a daily $5.00 per vehicle fee, or a season pass for $30 per vehicle.

Directions

From Watersmeet, MI, take US 2 west approximately 3.5 miles to County Road 535, turn left onto County Road 535 and travel approximately 3.5 miles to the Sylvania Wilderness Recreation Area entrance on left.

Stay Limit

Check in from 1 PM, check out by 11 AM.

Reviews

184 reviews
5 stars
103
4 stars
44
3 stars
22
2 stars
9
1 stars
6
Guy W
Loop:2
Site:
Reviewed a month ago
Amazing fall colors, clean, mowed nicely, great people, beautiful lake. Bathrooms were always very clean. Thank you
Louis Z
Loop:2
Site:
Reviewed a month ago
Very quite campground. Nice not to have much traffic. Clark lake boat launch not handicap friendly but crooked lake is.
Joy D
Loop:2
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
Beautiful, quiet campground in the Ottawa National Forest. Sites are spaced out so you don’t see your neighbors and each site has a paved driveway.
LynnAnn T
Loop:4
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
I use a walker and am not totally disabled, but I was barely able to get up the grassy slope to the toilets in loop 4. There was no defined path so going up was tough but coming down was dangerous. Then, at the pavilion, there was no way to get down to the beach. So we kayaked over but then the path up was much too steep. Here’s what’s crazy. There are ADA picnic tables on the beach but no way for those folks to get down to them. Why on earth wouldn’t our national parks be more ADA friendly?
jerry p
Loop:3
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
Campgrounds were well maintained, quiet and wooded. Nearby clean bathrooms were a plus for taking first time campers and grandkids.
Judy J
Loop:4
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
The first thing I would like to point out is that the campground information suggests that they have showers… and they do not. Other than that, I loved the campsite and the remoteness.
Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve

Season dates

Walk In season

May 21, 2027 – May 27, 2027

First come, first served

Peak season

May 28, 2027 – Sep 30, 2027

Reservable online

Peak season

May 22, 2028 – Sep 15, 2028

Reservable online

Camp Sites

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