Ludington & Manistee · Small town
Bear Lake
For campers and anglers who want a simple lake base: a quiet Manistee County village with a campground right on Bear Lake and ice fishing in winter.
Under a mile away (straight line)
Beach · Ludington & Manistee
Hopkins Park
The Village of Bear Lake's park and campground on Bear Lake, the inland lake, with a swim area (no lifeguard), playground, launch and fishing pier.
Hopkins Park is where you swim in Bear Lake. It is the village park on the shore of Bear Lake, the inland lake the village is named for. It suits families and campers who want the swim, the boat and the fishing pier in one place. Locals often call the swim area Blarney Beach.
Boats and jet skis are not allowed in the swim area. There is no lifeguard, so keep a close eye on the kids. A playground and a picnic pavilion sit close by for the rest of the afternoon.
The park doubles as the village campground, with 31 sites, bathrooms and showers. If you are only coming for the day, the village asks you to park on the streets nearby and walk down.
Anglers and boaters get a dock, a boat launch and a fishing pier on site. Leashed dogs are welcome in the park, but not in the swim area or on the playground.
Want Lake Michigan instead? Pierport Beach is the big-lake beach west of the village.
Practical information
- Managed by
- Village of Bear Lake
- Best months
- June to September
- Official website
- villageofbearlakemi.gov
Location
Map of Hopkins Park
4 places on an OpenStreetMap map
Nearby towns
Also nearby
Straight-line distances, not driving distances.
Beach
Pierport Beach
A rustic public Lake Michigan beach at the end of 13 Mile Road in Pierport, near Bear Lake. Limited parking, few amenities, an artesian well nearby.
About 5 miles away (straight line)
Beach
Arcadia Beach Natural Area
Arcadia's public Lake Michigan beach at the west end of Lake Street, with parking, restrooms, picnic tables and a playground. An easy family beach day.
About 7 miles away (straight line)
Beach
Captain John Langland Park
Onekama Township's Lake Michigan beach at Portage Point, next to the channel's north pier, with stairs to the sand and a deck for sunsets.
About 7 miles away (straight line)