North Gemini Lake State Forest Campground Boat Launch

Google Maps will try to send you down an overgrown two-track that barely qualifies as a road. Look for the actual state forest campground signs off the main dirt road instead — they're small and easy to miss, but it beats squeezing past trees growing between tire ruts.

The access road is a long dirt two-track cut through the forest. After any rain it gets slick and soft — I wouldn't bring a low-clearance car or a full-size RV through there. Small trailers are about the max you'll see; most folks are tent camping.

One lane, three trailer spots — that's it. It works because Gemini Lakes don't draw heavy boat traffic. You're mostly sharing the water with canoes and kayaks from the campground. Keep your rig small; there's no room to maneuver anything big.

No reservations here — every site is walk-up only. On holiday weekends like Labor Day, you need to roll in early or you're out of luck. There's roughly a dozen sites total, and the lakefront ones with steps down to the water go first.

August is brutal. People have been driven into their tents by the swarms. Bring a Thermacell, heavy DEET spray, and maybe a mosquito fogger for around your site — this is deep UP forest surrounded by water, and the bugs know it.