Fife Lake, Michigan: Spring Lake State Forest Campground

July 2019, Weekday, 1-night, Campsite 16

We had previously seen the state forest campground signs for this park on our way north, and wanted to check it out to see if it had enough room for our 35' fifth wheel. We were traveling north with our boat this trip, and decided it was good time to see the park.

Overhead view of Spring Lake State Forest campground
Click on photo to enlarge it

Arrival and site availability

The entrance into the campground is pretty much straight in from 131. The road is not very wide, and someone in a truck who was leaving the park, pulled off the road, as we could not have passed each other while pulling our boat. The boat launch drive veers off to the right just before the campground loop. 

We arrived on a Wednesday shortly before 5 PM. There were several sites available; however, the lake overlook sites were taken. We chose campsite 16, which is about the largest campsite, so we would not have to unhook our boat. 

Campsite 16 at Spring Lake State Forest campground

Campsite 16

This site is visible in the screenshot I labeled at the top of this post. It is level, spacious, and private. We were able to back onto the site arriving from the correct one-way direction on the park signs; however, this site, and the one to the west of it, would be easier to back into coming from the other direction. There is a small opening at the back of the site, and the train tracks are visible. I am not sure if these train tracks are still in use. No trains went by during our stay.

Misc. and overall

The cost to camp was $15 per night (self-registration in a locked steel tube), and you need to have a Michigan recreation passport. The campground is primitive, with only vault toilets and hand pumps for fresh water. I assume Spring Lake is a good fishing lake, as we observed small fishing boats go out when we walked around the campground.

We decided this campground is too small for our fifth wheel. Although the site we had was probably big enough, the roads are narrow and sandy, and there are many low hanging branches. We barely made it in and out pulling our boat (it took a bit more maneuvering when we departed).

Let me know if you have any questions!