No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Council Lake Campsites continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 112 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 15, 2026): 79 open for online reservation · 33 reserved.
Where the open windows are
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 15, 2026Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 52 fall on weekdays and 27 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October holds the most room. 50 of 60 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 4 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 02 | 25 |
| 03 | 23 |
| 01 | 20 |
| 04 | 11 |
The 4 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotThe next bookable night is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
Multi-night stays. 9 2-night, 8 3-night, 3 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 20 at site 01.
All 4 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | 16 ft | None | 25 | 25 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2 +13 more |
| 03 | Not recorded | None | 23 | 19 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +11 more |
| 01 | 16 ft | None | 20 | 12 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +8 more |
| 04 | Not recorded | None | 11 | 3 nights | Sep 20, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Oct 4, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 9, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13 |
About Council Lake Campsites
Overview
The Munising and Rapid River/Manistique Ranger Districts of the Hiawatha National Forest offer a variety of camping experiences. Many are located on inland lakes in a rustic forest environment with no drinking water. The rustic environment offers a wonderfully serene and peaceful setting for your next camping experience.
Recreation
Council Lake is a 12-acre lake with yellow perch, rock and largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, bullhead and northern pike. Licenses are required to fish in Michigan waters.
Council Lake is part of a small chain of lakes and offers excellent canoeing and kayaking opportunities. There is a short portage that links Council Lake to Bar Lake and the Indian Wild and Scenic River. Non-motorized boats can be used on the lake, however access at the campground is by land only. A boat ramp can be found at adjoining Red Jack Lake.
The day-use area is equipped with tables and a pedestal grill. The area is near a beach that is perfect for lounging and swimming. No drinking water is provided at the campsite; water must be brought in and garbage must be carried out.
Facilities
There are four campsites at Council Lake for tent and small RV camping. Each campsite is equipped with a table and a campfire ring. A pit toilet is located near site 1, but toilet paper is not provided.
There is NO drinking water.
Lake Name: Council Lake
Number of Sites: 4
Maximum Number of People: 8 (for each site)
Toilets: 1 (by site 1)
Boat Access: Carry-In
Lake Size (acres): 14
Natural Features
These four campsites are situated on the quaint 12 - acre Council Lake, nestled in a mixed stand of hardwood and pine trees. They are on the southern shores of Council Lake, close to adjoining Red Jack and Scout lakes.
Getting there
From Munising , Michigan, take Highway M-28 east towards Shingleton. Turn right (south) on Forest Highway 13 at Wetmore and drive 9.9 miles south to Forest Road 2261. Turn right (west) onto Forest Road 226 and drive 1.7 miles. Continue until the road ends at Council Lake.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Council Lake Campsites?
Reservations for Council Lake Campsites are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 79 of 112 tracked site-nights are open (70.5%), though availability can change. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Council Lake Campsites?
8 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 20 at site 01. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Council Lake Campsites fit a 35-foot RV?
No RV-analyzable site here has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 16 ft. 2 of those 4 sites have a recorded maximum length and 2 do not; they are not counted as fitting.
Which month has the most availability at Council Lake Campsites?
October 2026, with 50 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 60.
When is the next open date at Council Lake Campsites?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Stop refreshing. Let the app watch it.
Lakefront, hookups, your RV length, weekends only - set it as picky as you want.
We run paced availability checks for Council Lake Campsites. One watch covers every matching site.
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.