Pretty Lakes Quiet Area path and canoeing

Pretty Lake Rustic Campground is one of the state's favorites. A sand beach circles the 47-acre, 60-foot-deep clear lake. The well-protected 18 campsites are nestled among mature white pines and hardwoods. And 5 sites are even more secluded, requiring a short hike. Paddlers can portage to 4 other nearby pristine lakes.

The Pretty Lakes Quiet Area ("quiet" means non-motorized) ranks very, very high as an ideal camping and day-use activity location, in the opinion of one experienced outdoorsman with high aesthetic standards. This is a state forest campground. For info, search michigan.gov/dnr Pretty Lakes. Five small lakes are linked by canoe portages which stand out clearly as pathway openings. A short (about 2/3 mile) hiking path connects three of the lakes.

There's fishing for splake, walleye, and perch in Pretty Lake, and for rainbow trout in Camp 8 Lake. Canoe campsites are at every portage and one other location. An 18-unit rustic campground is at Pretty Lake. This area may be quiet, but it's a mile from the 49-mile Pine Ridge ATV/
motorcycle trail.

From H37/CR 407 about 5 miles south of Deer Park or 23 miles northwest of Newberry, take CR 416 about 3 miles west to campground road. (906) 293-5131. No fee for day use. Handicap accessible: main campground.
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Return to Deer Park

DEER PARK
POINTS OF INTEREST

Muskallonge Lake State Park. Two fine beaches—on Superior and on inland Muskallonge Lake—are in this remote northern spot, along with the North Country Trail ... more

North Country Trail: Grand Marais to Muskallonge Lake. Less used than the North Country Trail through Pictured Rocks, this wild yet conveniently reachable section goes up and down sand ridges near Lake Superior beaches rich in interesting rocks ... more

Blind Sucker Flooding canoeing & fishing. Paddle six miles from river's mouth to its source in marshlands. The sandy south shore has blueberries in August, and fishing for pike and yellow perch is excellent ... more

Lake Superior Campground beach. A beautiful agate beach with sandy patches. The North Country Trail through here lets you explore a bit ... more

Pretty Lakes Quiet Area path and canoeing. A choice state forest area with five lakes, linked by short portages, that take paddlers away from it all ... more

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