Overview

Wagner Lake Campground is a small but popular 12 site campground set on the banks of Wagner Lake. This shallow lake is surrounded by National Forest System lands. 

Facilities

Wagner Lake Campground has handpump wells for drinking water, vault toliets, and garbage collection services. Each campsite has a picnic table, a campfire ring, a lantern post, and a paved parking pad.

Natural Features

Wagner Lake Campground is surrounded by a mixed hardwood forest. Wagner Lake is shallow sandy bottom lake.

Recreation

• Water Activities: Wagner Lake provides visitors with an area for beach play and swimming. Visitors may also carry-in non-motorized watercraft such as canoes and kayaks for use on Wagner Lake. 
• Fishing: Anglers can try their luck fishing from shore, a boat, or wadding into the lake. Wagner Lake has excellent bass and pan fish fishing.

Contact Info

Important Notices

• As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you online or at any office of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forests. Applicable Orders: 

  - Motorized Vehicle Use of Roads, Trails and Off-road Areas; R904-14-02   

  - Occupancy and Use - Developed Recreation Areas, Dispersed Areas, Being Publicly Nude, Marine Prohibitions, Parking and Sanitation; R904-14-03   

• Forest quiet hours apply.

• You must occupy your site within 24 hours of the start of your reservation. Contact the Forest Service to request a late arrival or your site may be forfeited.

• Do not tie or tack anything to standing trees, including but not limited to pets, laundry lines, or garbage bags.

• You may use downed wood for firewood. Keep fires within the fire ring. Do not leave hot campfires unattended. Make sure your ashes are cool to the touch before you leave.

• Don't move firewood: To limit the spread of invasive tree-killing pests, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Some states have quarantines and may confiscate your firewood. Please help protect our forests from invasive species by obtaining your firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more information.

• Fireworks and use of fireworks are not permitted.

• ORVs may only be operated on roads and trails signed as open for their use. ORVs may not be used within campgrounds.

• Site is gated in the off season. 

Notifications and Alerts

• USE CAUTION - KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!

  The recent ice storm on March 29, 2025 and subsequent wind events have left many downed and damaged trees across the Mio Ranger District of the Huron-Manistee National Forests that have interrupted recreation opportunities on motorized and non-motorized trails.

  Crews are actively working to clear trees and debris from Forest Service roads and trails.

  Visitors should expect down trees and other debris on trails and roads – Please slow down and use caution. Access to areas may be limited on the Forest. This may impact the ability of first responders, such as ambulance and fire first responders, to respond to an emergency.

  Hikers, equestrians and motorized trail users can locate affected trails on our website at or call the Mio Ranger District Office at (989) 826-3252.

  https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/huron-manistee/alerts

• The water at our facility has been shutoff for the winter season. Please bring all the water you’ll need for your visit, including drinking water.

Available Activities

• Boating - Boating
• Canoeing - Canoeing
• Camping - Camping
• Birding - Birding
• Fishing - Fishing
• Paddling - Paddling
• Star Gazing - Star Gazing
• Swimming Site - Swimming Site
• Water Access - Water Access
• Water Activities - Water Activities

Directions

<p><strong>From Grayling:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Travel east on M-72 for 30 miles.</li> <li>Turn right and travel south on M-33 for 7 miles.</li> <li>Turn right and travel west on Wagner Lake Rd. for 1 mile.</li> <li>The site is located on the left.</li> </ul>

Cancellation Policy

<p>All reservation changes, cancellations, and refunds are managed through Recreation.gov.</p>

Contact Information

Phone: 989-826-3252

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip