Anyone have any experience staying at McDougal Lake campground near Isabella? Thinking of staying there the night before my trip. According to reservation. gov almost all the reservable sites are still open for the Saturday/Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, which seemed odd and made me wonder if there was something wrong with it lol.

Nothing wrong with it all. It's a decent little campground. I wouldn't hesitate one bit if I were you.

I think it probably see's lighter use as if you're arrowhead local and looking to go camping and fishing...there are many better lakes for fishing than McDougal, additionally, there are many free sites in the area as well (both Forest Service and User created). For folks traveling from further, it's just not a destination that pops up when searching and is kind of out of the way for alot of BW entry points (depending on where you're coming from).

I would expect for memorial it will be a little busier and I would probably book a site sooner than later.

I used to live in Isabella, McDougal Lake CG is all right. I prefer Little Isabella River CG but it can be a little buggy with most places in and around Isabella are.

My least liked camp in the area. The Greenwood fire also went through there. The FS has a web page listing all the campgrounds, google it up.

SmokeSignals: "My least liked camp in the area. The Greenwood fire also went through there. The FS has a web page listing all the campgrounds, google it up."

The Greenwood fire didn't burn the campground

marsonite: "

SmokeSignals: "My least liked camp in the area. The Greenwood fire also went through there. The FS has a web page listing all the campgrounds, google it up."

The Greenwood fire didn't burn the campground"

Correct

The fire burned right up to the campground, obliterating a hiking trail, but only did minor damage to the camping area itself. I guess it all depends on how you look at it. I see a burned forest when i go there.


https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/northland-outdoors/how-a-little-campground-survived-the-greenwood-fire

I would not hesitate to use it for the stated purpose. You might just find it fairly quiet.