Paint River Forks
Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), and camping is free. Paint River Forks is a National Forest campground near Iron, Michigan.
First-come, first-served
- National Forest
- Managed by
Paint River Forks sits inside Ottawa National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.
Getting a site
- Managed by
- National Forest
- Reservations
- None, first-come
- Fee
- Free
Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
What's there
- ✓ Toilets
On site: Toilets.
Access and cell service
- Elevation
- 1,400 ft
46.2324, -88.7176 in Iron. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Common questions
Do you need a reservation at Paint River Forks?
No. Paint River Forks is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.
How much does it cost to camp at Paint River Forks?
Camping at Paint River Forks is free.
Who manages Paint River Forks?
Paint River Forks is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Around Paint River Forks
Waterfalls nearby
The nearest waterfall to Paint River Forks, in a straight line: Bond Falls (waterfall, 23 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $16 per night
- Sites
- 20
- Season
- 05-22 to 09-15
- Fee
- Camping - $22 a night
Lake Ottawa Camp - Sites
- 31
- Season
- 05-22 to 09-15
- Fee
- Single Site: $22 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Site: $100 per night
More campgrounds: camping near Iron and campgrounds in Iron.
Sources
- apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-30