Otsego Lake State Park – Camping, Swimming and Fishing in Gaylord

On our trip to Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula last fall we spent a night camping at Otsego Lake State Park in Gaylord. There were only a handful of people camping there due to it being late in the season, but when we had the chance to walk around and check out the whole park in the morning it was easy to understand why this place gets packed in the summer months.

Otsego Lake State Park has 155 campsites split between north and south campgrounds. Most of the sites are close to the beach and the lake. The park was established in 1920,  “purchased very reasonably from a lumber company who had lumbered it off. In 1935, the Civilian Conservation Corps built buildings and made other improvements to the grounds. The remaining CCC buildings are the pavilion in the center of the North Campground and a portion of the South Campground toilet building.” The main draw here is Otsego Lake, a nearly 2,000 acre lake that offers shallow waters for swimming, kayaking, and boating as well as fishing opportunities (muskellunge, pike, bass).

One of the more interesting things we learned during our visit concerned a meeting that took place here in the 1940s. “In 1942, Dr. Robert Oppenheimer and Dr. Arthur H. Compton chose the out-of-the-way spot of Otsego Lake State Park to discuss the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. The two world renowned scientists met at the present beach area.”

The park is also home to many “green” initiatives, including low flow fixtures in the restrooms, highly efficient water heaters, roof water collection that feeds a rain garden, and pervious “super cement” on the walkways by the restrooms that allows water to seep into the ground naturally. Many of the building materials came from Michigan. Here’s a look at some of the other offerings at this park:

Swimming beach

Beach store with kayak rentals and more

Fishing pier

Boat launch

Mini cabin

Modern and clean restrooms

Disc Golf course

Playground

Otsego Lake State Park is located at 7136 Old 27 S., close to both downtown Gaylord and I-75. Find out more at michigandnr.com or the park’s Facebook page. Be sure to check out the Gaylord City Elk Park, the Alpine Village, and Snowbelt Brewing in town.