Bewabic State Park in Michigan, USA - map, photos and visitor information
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Bewabic State Park near Crystal Falls, Michigan, centers on Fortune Lake in the Fortune Lakes Chain. Managed by Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources, it combines a wooded campground with a day-use lakeshore, trails, and Civilian Conservation Corps structures. Plan camping around its reservable season rather than assuming year-round campground service.
Highlights
The lakeshore day-use area and surviving CCC structures make a useful combination for a short visit. The accessible launch is the public boating access to the Fortune Lakes Chain.
Know before you go
Fees, hours, and seasonal access
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Vehicle entry | A Recreation Passport is required. For non-Michigan vehicles, the daily passport is USD $12 and the annual passport is USD $42, expiring December 31. |
| Michigan vehicles | Annual passenger-vehicle passport: USD $15 at plate renewal; a USD $5 convenience fee applies when bought outside renewal. No resident daily passenger-vehicle option. Camping fees are separate. |
| Camping season | The DNR operating table lists A, B, and C loops for reservations May 15–October 14, with modern toilet/shower service during the reservable season. Check current availability before traveling. |
| Paddlesport rentals | Kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rentals are offered Memorial Day through September; arrange them with the campground office. |
Safety information
State parks have no lifeguards. Never swim alone, watch children closely, and bring properly fitted life jackets. The DNR says swim buoys normally run Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; without buoys the beach is no longer a designated swim area. Review state park beach safety before entering the water.
Visit responsibly
Keep pets on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under immediate control; they are excluded from the designated swim beach. Remove pet waste. ORVs may enter and exit between the campground and nearby routes, but may not be ridden around within the park. Metal detecting is confined to designated areas shown on the park map.
Reservations and permits
Use the booking link on the park page or call 800-447-2757 for a campsite. Campsites 71–122 have been renumbered after improvements, so use the current map when selecting a favorite site. The pavilion can be booked six months ahead. Compare dates with the DNR unit operating schedule.
Maps, location, and access
Use 720 Idlewild Road, Crystal Falls, Michigan 49920 for arrival. The park’s map separates the lakeside day-use area from the campground. Before driving in, review the vehicle category and purchase options on the official Recreation Passport page.
Nearby parks
Pentoga Park is another local county-park option at 1630 County Road 424, Crystal Falls; its operating season begins the Friday before Memorial Day. Farther west, Bond Falls Scenic Site is reached from Bond Falls Road near Paulding. Vehicle access there normally runs mid-May to mid-October, with snow and ice remaining unmaintained on the walking route outside that season.
Things to do
Walk the nature trail or spend time at the picnic tables and charcoal grills in the day-use area. Seasonal rentals provide a way to paddle Fortune Lake; arrange a craft with the park before planning around one. A tennis court and playground give a family alternatives to time on the water.
Facilities and accessibility
Bewabic has a 130-site campground across three loops, with electrical sites and rustic walk-in choices. The day-use beach house has restrooms, and the launch is designated accessible. The campground sanitation station is for registered campers only. Check the current map for the facility closest to your site.
About the park
The park’s recreation areas sit beside spring-fed Fortune Lake. Its role on the Iron County Heritage Trail gives the surviving built features context alongside the lake visit.
History
Several Civilian Conservation Corps structures remain in use at Bewabic. The park is site 9 on the Iron County Heritage Trail.
Wildlife and habitats
Wooded campsites and the Fortune Lake shoreline frame the park’s natural setting. Keep the lakeshore visit focused on established recreation areas and avoid leaving pet waste beside the water.
Contact
The official Bewabic State Park page provides park and campground maps. Park phone: 906-875-3324. For entry categories and purchase conditions, use the Recreation Passport information.
Average weather in Bewabic State Park
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| Jan | -6 °C 21 °F | -13 °C 9 °F | 2 mm 0.1 in | 23 cm 9.1 in |
| Feb | -5 °C 23 °F | -14 °C 7 °F | 3 mm 0.1 in | 26 cm 10.2 in |
| Mar | 3 °C 37 °F | -7 °C 19 °F | 22 mm 0.9 in | 18 cm 7.1 in |
| Apr | 8 °C 46 °F | -2 °C 28 °F | 55 mm 2.2 in | 23 cm 9.1 in |
| May | 18 °C 64 °F | 7 °C 45 °F | 81 mm 3.2 in | 1 cm 0.4 in |
| Jun | 23 °C 73 °F | 13 °C 55 °F | 87 mm 3.4 in | 0 cm 0.0 in |
| Jul | 26 °C 79 °F | 15 °C 59 °F | 96 mm 3.8 in | 0 cm 0.0 in |
| Aug | 24 °C 75 °F | 14 °C 57 °F | 96 mm 3.8 in | 0 cm 0.0 in |
| Sep | 20 °C 68 °F | 11 °C 52 °F | 81 mm 3.2 in | 0 cm 0.0 in |
| Oct | 11 °C 52 °F | 4 °C 39 °F | 87 mm 3.4 in | 4 cm 1.6 in |
| Nov | 3 °C 37 °F | -3 °C 27 °F | 29 mm 1.1 in | 18 cm 7.1 in |
| Dec | -3 °C 27 °F | -9 °C 16 °F | 15 mm 0.6 in | 28 cm 11.0 in |
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