Thompson's Harbor State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thompson's Harbor State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Thompson's Harbor State Park Location in Michigan
Location	Krakow Township, Presque Isle County, Michigan, United States
Nearest city	Rogers City, Michigan
Area	5,109 acres (2,068 ha)
Elevation	600 feet (180 m)
Designation	Michigan state park
Established	1988
Administrator	Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Website	Thompson's Harbor State Park

Thompson's Harbor State Park is a special place in Michigan, located right on the shores of Lake Huron. It's a huge park, covering about 5,109 acres (that's more than 3,800 football fields!). What makes it unique is that it's mostly wild and undeveloped, meaning you can experience nature just as it is.

The park has about 7.5 miles of beautiful shoreline along Lake Huron. Here, you'll find different kinds of land, like forests that have grown back, beaches made of smooth limestone rocks, and tall sand dunes. It's a great spot to explore and see amazing plants and animals.

What Makes Thompson's Harbor Special?

Thompson's Harbor State Park is known for its amazing natural features. It's a place where you can really connect with the outdoors.

Home to Unique Plants and Animals

The park is a home for many different kinds of plants and animals. One very special plant you might see is the Dwarf lake iris. This small, beautiful flower is quite rare and loves to grow near the Great Lakes.

You can also find over 100 different types of birds here, making it a fantastic spot for birdwatching! Keep an eye out for animals like coyotes and deer. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you might even spot a black bear!

Fun Things to Do

Thompson's Harbor State Park offers lots of activities for people who love nature.

• Hiking and Cross-Country Skiing: The park has about 6 miles of trails. These trails are perfect for hiking when there's no snow. In winter, they become great paths for cross-country skiing.
• Rustic Cabins: If you want to stay overnight, the park has simple, rustic cabins. These are a great way to experience camping in a more comfortable way.
• Sea Kayaking: With its long shoreline on Lake Huron, the park is an excellent place for sea kayaking. You can paddle along the coast and see the park from the water.

A Dark Sky Preserve

In 2016, Thompson's Harbor State Park was named a Michigan "dark sky preserve." This means the park has very little light pollution, so the night sky is incredibly dark. It's one of the best places to see stars, planets, and even the Milky Way! If you love looking at the night sky, this park is a must-visit.

Images for kids

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  Lake Huron Shoreline in the park

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  The main walking trail

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  Swampy inlet

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  Cedar flat

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  Lake Huron seen from park shore

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  Cedar marsh

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  View of the park's conifer forest cover

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  Under the canopy of the cedar forest