List of Michigan state parks facts for kids
Michigan is home to many amazing places where you can explore nature, go camping, and have fun outdoors! These special spots are called Michigan state parks and protected areas. They are managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Imagine having 103 state parks, recreation areas, and trail parks to visit! That's a lot of space – about 306,000 acres, which is like 230,000 football fields! These parks offer 14,100 campsites and over 900 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and exploring. In 2016 alone, more than 26 million people visited these parks.
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History of Michigan's Parks
Michigan's state park system officially began in 1919. But some parks were created even earlier!
Mackinac Island State Park was actually the second national park in the United States back in 1875. It became a state park in 1895. In 1909, Michilimackinac State Park was created nearby. Both of these historic parks are looked after by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.
Then, in 1917, Interlochen State Park was bought by the state. It was the very first public park to join the Michigan State Park Commission in 1920. Because Mackinac Island State Park had its own special history and commission, many people consider Interlochen State Park the true start of Michigan's state park system.
Over the years, some state park areas have changed. Many were given to local cities or counties and are now local parks. Others became part of national parks or were returned to state forests.
More Fun with the DNR
The DNR doesn't just manage state parks! They also take care of many other outdoor spots:
- There are 746 places where you can launch your boat onto Michigan's beautiful lakes and rivers.
- They manage 16 "harbors of refuge" along the Great Lakes. These harbors are about 30 miles apart, offering safe places for boats to shelter during storms.
- Michigan also has 13 special underwater preserves. These areas protect shipwrecks and other cool things on the bottom of the Great Lakes. Many have museums nearby where you can learn more!
- The DNR also looks after 138 state forest campgrounds, including some for horseback riding.
- They manage huge areas for wildlife, covering over 340,000 acres.
- And don't forget the trails! There are 880 miles of trails for walking or biking, 1,145 miles of rail-trails (old train tracks turned into paths), 3,193 miles for off-road vehicles (ORVs), and 6,216 miles of snowmobile trails!
If you want to learn about all the protected areas in Michigan, you can check out Protected areas of Michigan.
Michigan State Parks to Explore
Here's a list of some of Michigan's amazing state parks:
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Michigan State Recreation Areas
Recreation areas are large spaces perfect for many outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and camping.
| Name | County | Size | Estab- lished |
Lake / river | Image | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| acres | ha | ||||||
| Bald Mountain State Recreation Area | Oakland | 4,637 acres | 1,877 ha | 1944 | Lower Trout Lake, others | Home to Water Warrior Island waterpark | |
| Bass River State Recreation Area | Ottawa | 1,665 acres | 674 ha | 1994 | Grand River | ||
| Brighton State Recreation Area | Livingston | 4,947 acres | 2,002 ha | 1944 | Bishop Lake, others | ||
| Fort Custer State Recreation Area | Kalamazoo | 3,033 acres | 1,227 ha | 1971 | Eagle, Jackson Hole and Whitford-Lawler Lakes | ||
| Highland State Recreation Area | Oakland | 5,900 acres | 2,400 ha | 1944 | Haven Hill, Temple, Moore Lakes and others | ||
| Holly State Recreation Area | Oakland | 7,817 acres | 3,163 ha | 1944 | Heron, Valley, and McGinnis Lakes | ||
| Ionia State Recreation Area | Ionia | 4,500 acres | 1,800 ha | 1965 | Grand River | ||
| Island Lake State Recreation Area | Livingston | 4,000 acres | 1,600 ha | 1944 | Huron River, Island Lake | A popular spot for hot-air balloon launches | |
| Lake Hudson State Recreation Area | Lenawee | 2,796 acres | 1,132 ha | 1979 | Lake Hudson | The first-ever Dark-Sky Preserve in Michigan, designated in 1993 | |
| Lime Island State Recreation Area | Chippewa | 980 acres | 400 ha | 2011 | St. Marys River | A remote island where visitors bring their own transportation; offers rental cabins and a museum | |
| Menominee River State Recreation Area | Dickinson, Menominee | 2,879 acres | 1,165 ha | 2012 | Menominee River | Managed together with Wisconsin's Menominee River State Park and Recreation Area | |
| Metamora-Hadley State Recreation Area | Lapeer | 723 acres | 293 ha | 1944 | Minnewanna Lake | ||
| Ortonville State Recreation Area | Lapeer, Oakland | 5,400 acres | 2,200 ha | 1944 | Big Fish and Davison Lakes | ||
| Pinckney State Recreation Area | Livingston, Washtenaw | 11,000 acres | 4,500 ha | 1944 | Numerous inland lakes | ||
| Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area | Oakland | 3,745 acres | 1,516 ha | 1944 | Huron River, Pontiac Lake | ||
| Proud Lake State Recreation Area | Oakland | 3,030 acres | 1,230 ha | 1944 | Huron River, Proud Lake | ||
| Rifle River State Recreation Area | Ogemaw | 4,449 acres | 1,800 ha | 1963 | Rifle River | ||
| Rockport State Recreation Area | Alpena, Presque Isle | 4,237 acres | 1,715 ha | 2012 | Lake Huron | Contains an old limestone quarry and Besser Natural Area | |
| Tippy Dam State Recreation Area | Manistee | 117 acres | 47 ha | 2007 | Manistee River | Managed through a special agreement with Consumers Energy. | |
| Waterloo State Recreation Area | Jackson, Washtenaw | 20,125 acres | 8,144 ha | 1943 | Numerous inland lakes | ||
| W.C. Wetzel State Recreation Area | Macomb | 913 acres | 369 ha | 1969 | Coon Creek | ||
| Yankee Springs State Recreation Area | Barry | 5,200 acres | 2,100 ha | 1943 | Gun Lake | ||
Michigan Trail State Parks
These special state parks are long trails, often built on old railroad lines, perfect for biking, walking, and enjoying the scenery.
| Name | Official name | Counties | Length | Estab- lished | Image | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi | km | ||||||
| Hart-Montague Trail State Park | William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail State Park | Muskegon, Oceana | 22 | 35 | 1988 | A trail created from an old railroad line | |
| Kal-Haven Trail | Kal-Haven Bicycle Trail Sesquicentennial State Park | Kalamazoo, Van Buren | 34.5 | 55.5 | 1988 |
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Another trail built on an old railroad |
| Lakelands Trail State Park | Mike Levine Lakelands Trail State Park | Ingham, Livingston, Washtenaw | 26 | 42 | 1991 |
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A converted rail-trail |
| Van Buren Trail State Park | Van Buren | 14 | 23 | 1994 | This trail was also once a railroad | ||
| White Pine Trail State Park | Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park | Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Osceola, Wexford | 92 | 148 | 1996 |
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A long trail converted from a rail line |
Michigan State Forests
Michigan's state forests are managed by a different part of the DNR, called the Forest Resources Division. However, the Parks and Recreation Division helps manage the fun stuff in these forests, like campgrounds and trails!
Here are some of Michigan's state forests:
- Au Sable State Forest
- Copper Country State Forest
- Escanaba River State Forest
- Lake Superior State Forest
- Mackinaw State Forest
- Pere Marquette State Forest
Images for kids
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A marsh at Bay City State Park.
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Belle Isle Park in Detroit.
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Bewabic State Park around 1940.
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Burt Lake State Park.
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A view of Cheboygan State Park.
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Boats on Cass Lake at Dodge #4 State Park.
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Fisherman's Island State Park.
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Grand Haven State Park beach.
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Grand Mere Beach.
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The beach at Harrisville State Park.
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Tall trees at Hartwick Pines State Park.
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Picnic area at Walter J Hayes State Park.
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Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park.
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A lifeboat on the beach at Hoeft State Park.
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Sand dunes at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park.
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Holland State Park.
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The beach at Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park.
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Boardwalk at Lake Gogebic State Park.
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Sunset from Grand Traverse Lighthouse at Leelanau State Park.
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Ludington State Park in the fall.
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Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island.
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The park office at Maybury State Park.
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Lighthouse view at McLain State Park.
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Fort Michilimackinac.
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Muskegon State Park shoreline on Lake Michigan.
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Negwegon State Park.
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Old Mission Lighthouse at Old Mission State Park.
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Onaway State Park around 1930.
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Orchard Beach State Park.
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The raft at Kitch-iti-kipi in Palms Book State Park.
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Lake of the Clouds in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
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Petroglyphs at Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park.
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Dunes at Saugatuck Dunes State Park.
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Sand dunes at Silver Lake State Park.
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Higgins Lake at South Higgins Lake State Park.
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Pedestrian bridge at Sterling State Park.
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Sturgeon Point Lighthouse.
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Lower Tahquamenon Falls.
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Tawas Point State Park.
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Twin Lakes State Park.
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Lake Michigan shore at Van Buren State Park in January.
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Warren Dunes State Park.
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Warren Woods State Park.
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Sunset at J.W. Wells State Park.
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Wilderness State Park.
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Police boats at William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor.
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Beach at Young State Park.
