The Grass Lake State Forest
Campground is a very popular destination for camping, fishing, canoeing, and
other recreational activities. The campground is open year around and fees apply
for campsite use for more than 8 hours per day. Parking for day-use visitors is available,
but is not allowed in any campsite.
The
campground sits on 10 acres along the beautiful Betsie River and is nestled in a
tract of 20,490 contiguous acres of state land south of US-31 and east of Thompsonville
Highway (County Road 669). A total of 10,760 acres of this state land are in Colfax
Township, including the campground.
- Location: 10 miles northeast of
the Village of Thompsonville, east of Reynolds Road at the end of Grass Lake Dam
Road
- Entrance fee: none
- Camping fee per night: (since
2021, just) $15. (Sorry, there's no senior discount.)
- State park motor vehicle permit:
required
- Campground manager Tom Besey:
231-631-9227.
Sites are available on a first-come
basis (no reservations). There are 15 sites for tent and small trailer use. This
is a rustic campground on the Betsie River with restroom facilities and water available
by pump. There is no electric hook-up.
All vehicles operating in the campground
must be licensed.
Campground features:
- Fire rings and picnic tables
- Rustic hiking trails
- Designated wildlife observation
site
- DNR boat launch with access to
the Betsie River, Grass Lake and Pickerel Creek
- Betsie River – a designated trout
stream
- Grass Lake – bass, bluegill, perch
and pike fishing; nature preserve; wild rice planted by Ducks Unlimited for duck
and goose hunting
Please call the Traverse City DNR
Customer Service Center at 231-922-5280 with any questions regarding wildlife, wildlife
situations, state land uses, burning on state land, fishing and hunting, and to purchase
a fishing or hunting license, or a recreational passport.
