Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Campground

Pontiac Lake Shooting Range is a fantastic outdoor spot that offers an incredible value and versatility for shooting enthusiasts of all skill levels. For just $4, you can enjoy an all-day pass, making it one of the most affordable ranges in the area. Whether you’re a seasoned marksman fine-tuning your precision or a beginner getting a feel for the sport, this range accommodates everyone. The setup is thoughtfully designed with multiple distances to suit a variety of shooting needs. There are 10-yard and 25-yard stations perfect for handguns and close-range practice, while the 50-yard and 100-yard stations cater to those working on their rifle skills or looking for a longer-distance challenge. The layout ensures a smooth flow for shooters, and there’s plenty of space to set up comfortably. One of the standout features of this range is how well-maintained it is, with clean benches, target holders, and a safe, organized atmosphere. Staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and always on hand to assist with safety tips or advice, making the experience even more enjoyable. Whether you’re looking for a casual afternoon of plinking or serious practice to improve your accuracy, Pontiac Lake Shooting Range delivers a versatile, enjoyable experience without breaking the bank. For only $4 a day, it’s a hidden gem that’s hard to beat for outdoor shooting fun. Highly recommend!

I was at equestrian camping area. The facilities were pretty good. Posts for high lines, fire pits, and hand pump for water. The bathroom was a pit toilet and it looks like the inside could use a fresh coat of paint. This was my first time and road the eastern loop of trails. They were OK. My horses are barefoot and didn't like the rocky trail. The overlooks were underwhelming. I want to go back and check out the other loop and I'm curious what the tunnel is on the map.

BIG SITES, TREES, PRIVACY. This campground is great because 75% of the sites are big with trees offering shade and privacy. The 1.8 mile trail to the lake is a nice hike through the woods but it does have rocky trails and hills. We had some noisy neighbors and the park staff was very responsive. There are fun things to do within a 30 minute drive. We enjoyed Coffee and Cars at M1 Concourse, Secret Cinema at The Maple Theater, Dixieland Flea Market, exploring Alex’s Gourmet Market, and visiting Epiphany Studio.

We camped at the recreation area for 4 nights and 3 days and unlike reviews we enjoyed the clean campground, open campground, less people, no noise and really good views! We lucked out with a perfect campsite which closed into what looked like a private enclosure. This gave us VIP level experience where we parked our cars to “close” our enclosure and we pretty much just enjoyed inside for the most part. The only downside was a tonne of bugs in August. Now I know the staff itself couldn’t do much but the bugs were incessant. We had campfire going on for the most part which helped a lot but didn’t quite think August would look as rough.

Amazing peaceful campground. Looks like each site has lots of room and a great place to camp. Each site only has electric so use the dump station and water to fill up. Bathroom and showers are very clean and extremely hot water which is awesome. Would come more often Bring bug spray

I’m rating this from a mountain biker’s (MTB)perspective. And my regular go to spots are Stony Creek, Tree Farm (Lakshore), DTE and Maybury State Park. It’s a nice 11 mile trail most similar to Maybury…and that makes sense as they’re both state parks. You’ll find the occasional feature, however they’re rare. I’ve been MTBing for 3 decades and this trail is more reminiscent of nature focused, exposed roots & rocks technical features. Certainly there’s a flow trail vibe here and there but it’s nothing like DTE or Stony. The one thing that’s different is that it has an open air feel vs the more tunnel feel of the others. Then again it’s late Spring as of this writing and it’s not fully verdant yet. I found the overall ride more calm with the picturesque views of the lake. I felt like the elevation hit higher than other places. I only saw two other bikers during my ride and few hikers.

We came here for a few days and visited the day use areas like the beach. Beautiful park, huge beach, lots of things to do, you'll never get bored. Very friendly staff and very clean. absolutely recommend.