Kneff Lake Campground

Very nice campground on Kneff Lake in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. The campground road is blacktop in great condition. There are 2 loops. The lower loop (1-18) has gravel spurs and the upper loop (19-27) has blacktop spurs. Sites are generously sized and fairly well spaced. This is dry camping and is first come first served. Pit toilets are clean and well maintained. Trash receptacles at each toilet. Drinking water spigots throughout the campground, each with a bucket for you to use to put out your campfire. Camp hosts are friendly, helpful, and make frequent rounds. Day use area has a nice swimming beach. Max length on campground’s website is misleading. Had no problem staying here with our 35’ fifth wheel and RAM 3500 dually on site 26 in the upper loop. There several spurs on the upper loop in the 60’ to 70’ range. No firewood for sale but many locals sell it nearby. Close to several canoe liveries and there is a convenient party store a mile away.

Aside from the hosts, we had this entire campground to ourselves on a Friday, the week after Labor Day. While situated on a lake, like nearly all public camping in Northern Michigan and the UP, it didn’t have the same feel as only one or two sites had a view of the water.

Verizon poured from the sky like a Minority Report was finally a reality. Probably the fastest cell service from here to Grand Junction.

The forest is a nearly pure stand of oaks, and should you desire a campfire you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see how much wood you can get for $10 from various homes selling the stuff back on the dirt road in. We were able to gather just as much from previous campers who couldn’t find it in their hearts to finish off what timber they’d brought. The host doesn’t sell wood.

Speaking of the host, he came to visit thrice. First, just to say hi, probably because he’s lonely out here with absolutely no other campers. Then again in the morning, to empty the trash and give our kids stickers. And a third time to wish us a safe journey and let us know he’s seen a red fox in the forest recently. After two years of campground hosting, he and his wife are headed to the southwest for six months...so the reality that this campground likely isn’t always empty and that host couple won’t be there when you show up puts this at “Oh, just another campground” status for me.

But with sunny spots and pure Verizon available, plus the modicum if amenities available in Grayling (Hartwick Pines State Park has some old-growth and Houghton Lake about 30 minutes south has better fudge than Mackinaw, ;) would make this a decent place to work from for a few days, if that is how you cut your jib.

This campground was accessed down a dirt road off M72, but once you reached the campground entrance you’re on a paved road. There are two loops with one having long paved parking pads. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There was a spigot in each loop for water and immaculately clean pit toilets. We were here on a weekday and the campground was half full, but very quiet. The lake is within walking distance, but none of the campsites are on the lake. Our senior pass brought the cost per night to $7.50 which was a pretty good deal. We will definitely return.