Camping Policies

Reservation Information

• Coldwater Lake Family Park and Herrick Recreation Area require a minimum two (2) night stay, except holidays which require a minimum three (3) night stay. Deerfield Nature Park rustic tent camping does not have a minimum stay requirement.
• Payment is due at the time of making a reservation.
• Reservations can now be made online: RESERVE ONLINE
• 30+ Consecutive Night Campsite Reservations
  • 30+ consecutive night campsite reservations can be made online for Herrick Park. Discounted rates for these reservations will automatically be applied if reserving on the same campsite.
    • If you wish to, or must move to more than one campsite within your 30+ night reservation, please contact the Parks Main Office.
  • 30+ consecutive night campsite reservations at Coldwater Park, where available, can be reserved online at the standard $25 nightly rate.
  • To receive discounted rates for 30+ consecutive night campsite reservations at Coldwater Park, you must add your name to a lottery list for the next camping season by calling the Parks Main Office at (989) 317-4083 by December 1.

Camping Information

• Check-In: 3:00 p.m.
  Check-Out: 1:00 p.m.
• Only one (1) major camping unit is allowed per site. An additional small tent, no larger than 7×7 or 50 sq. ft. (2-3 people) is permitted.
• A site may be occupied by only one (1) family (no more than 6 people); or one (1) group (no more than 4 people).
• A park entrance permit for your vehicle is included with your camping reservation. Additional motor vehicles may enter with the purchase of a daily ($6/day) or annual pass. A maximum of 2 vehicles is allowed per site, except at Deerfield Park, which is rustic, tent-only camping requiring a mile hike from the parking lot to the campsites.
• Campsites may only be registered to persons 18 years of age or older and that person must be staying on the site.
• All parks are pet friendly. Pets must remain on a leash no longer than 6 ft in length at all times and never be left unattended. Pets are not allowed on the beach or in pavilions or bathhouses. Please pick up after your pet.
• Campsites and cabins #1 through #22 at Coldwater Lake Family Park may not be occupied for more than 14 days at a time. At the end of the 14 days, the camping unit must be taken off and moved to another site (other than 1-22) or removed from the park. No other sites have length of stay restrictions.
• All sites at Herrick Recreation Area have a shared water hookup.
• Both Coldwater Lake Family Park and Herrick Recreation Area have a dump station, but there is no sewer hookup at any sites.
• At Coldwater and Herrick parks, all trailers must park with the trailer tongue facing the road.
• A watercraft permit (boats, canoes, kayaks, etc.) is $3 for your entire camping stay. Annual watercraft permits are also available for $10.
• Firewood is available for purchase at Coldwater, Herrick and Deerfield parks for $5 a bundle.

Camping Refund Policy

All refunds are subject to the following conditions:

If cancelling a camping reservation of 29 nights or less:

1. Full Reservation Cancellations:

a.) If cancellation is received at least five (5) days prior to beginning of stay: Refund of amount paid less $15 per site cancellation processing charge.
b.) If cancellation is received less than five (5) days prior to beginning of stay: Refund of amount paid less $15 per site cancellation processing charge and one (1) night camping fee per site.
c. ) Guests may reschedule reservation dates during the same camping season with equal or greater number of nights with no cancellation processing charge if completed before check-in day. If rescheduling reservation dates on check-in day, fees detailed in cancellation policy 1.b. will apply.

2. Partial Reservation Cancellations:

a.) Guests seeking to cancel a portion of their reservation before check-in day may do so as long as minimum stay requirements are still met (2 night minimum or 3 night minimum for Holiday stays at Coldwater and Herrick, 1 night at Deerfield): Refund of amount paid for nights cancelled less $15 per site change fee. If the change to the reservation is made on check-in day and arrival date is not delayed: Refund of amount paid for nights cancelled less $15 per site change fee. If the change to the reservation is made on check-in day and arrival date is delayed, fees detailed in cancellation policy 1.b. will apply.

3. Once occupied and minimum stay requirements have been met (2 night minimum or 3 night minimum for Holiday stays at Coldwater and Herrick, 1 night at Deerfield): Refund of amount paid for nights cancelled, less $15 per site change fee.

4. Cancellation of all or a portion of a reservation, as well as rescheduling of reservation dates, may be done online, by telephone, or in person (email and mail cancellations not accepted). Failure to notify of a cancellation as noted in this policy will result in partial or full forfeiture of camping fees paid.

If cancelling a camping reservation of 30 consecutive nights or more:

5. Coldwater – Booked at standard nightly rate
If cancellation is received at least five (5) days prior to beginning of stay: Refund of amount paid less $50 cancellation processing charge.
If cancellation is received less than five (5) days prior to beginning of stay: No Refund
Coldwater – Booked at discounted rate (year to year reservations)
$50.00 is charged for each cancelled reservation up to March 31st. Cancellations made after this date and at least 30 days from the beginning of the stay will be charged the $50.00 plus half of the reservation charge. The are no refunds for cancellations after this time.
Herrick & Deerfield
If cancellation is received at least five (5) days prior to beginning of stay: Refund of amount paid less $50 cancellation processing charge.
If cancellation is received less than five (5) days prior to beginning of stay: No Refund

If cancelling a pavilion reservation:

6. Pavilion/Covered Bridge refunds will only be made if the pavilion/bridge is reserved by another group for the same date(s). A $15 administration fee will apply to all pavilion/bridge refunds.

Isabella County Parks & Recreation Commission reserves the right to interpret and enforce park rules at its discretion.

• If desired, Campers may seek additional refund consideration by placing their request in writing.
  Mail requests to: Isabella County Parks, 200 N. Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858.