Michigan State parks

There is discussion in Lansing these days to eliminate the entrance fees to the Michigan State Parks, currently $6.00 for a one day pass or $24.00 for a seasonal pass. I am not sure this will ever happen. After all, when does our government ever lower fees for anything?

Under the new plan, Michigan residents would be charged $10.00 more per year for every vehicle registration in the state. All you would need to enter a Michigan State Park would be a Michigan license plate.

One interesting tidbit about the plan: Drivers could opt out of paying the extra $10 if they say they wouldn’t be using the Michigan State Parks or State Recreational Areas — an honor system of sorts. How do you think that will work?

Our state is fortunate to have some 98 Michigan state parks and recreational areas, Below is the list of these parks.

Algonac State Park,  Marine City Michigan, St Clair County, 1450 acres, St Clair River frontage

Aloha State Park, Cheboygan Michigan, 107 acres, 285 campsites, Mullet Lake frontage

Baraga State Park, Baraga Michigan, 56 acres, 116 campsites, overlooks Keweenaw Bay of Lake Superior

Bewabic State Park, Crystal Falls Michigan, 315 acres, 137 campsites, Fortune Lake

Brimley State Park, Brimley Michigan, Chippewa County, 160 acres, 237 campsites,  Lake Superior waterfrontage on Whitefish Bay

Burt Lake State Park, Indian River Michigan, 406 acres, 306 campsites,  Burt Lake waterfront (2000 feet of lake frontage)

Cambridge Junction Historic State Park, Brooklyn Michigan, 80 acres, a historic stage coach stop- Walker Tavern

Cheboygan State Park, Cheboygan Michigan, Cheboygan County, 1250 acres, 76 campsites, Lake Huron waterfontage

Clear Lake State Park, Atlanta Michigan, 290 acres, 200 campsites, Clear Lake

Coldwater Lake State Park, Coldwater Michigan, undeveloped 400 acres, Coldwater Lake

Colonial Michilimackinac Historic State Park, Mackinaw City Michigan, home to the 1892 Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse

Craig Lake State Park, Champion Michigan, Baraga County, 6983 acres, Remote state park with Craig lake (374 acres) plus five other Michigan Lakes within this Michigan State park

Dodge#4 State Park, Waterford Michigan, 139 acres, One mile of lake frontage on Cass Lake, property was originally donated to the State by the Dodge brothers, only  to be used for a Michigan State Park.

Duck Lake State Park, North Muskegon Michigan, Muskegon County, 728 acres, Frontage on Duck Lake as well as Lake Michigan

Fayette State Park, Garden Michigan, Delta County, 711 acres, 61 campsites, This Michigan state Park is home to a historic industrial town site.

Fisherman’s Island State Park, Charlevoix Michigan, Charlevoix County, 2678 acres, 81 campsites, five miles of natural Lake Michigan waterfront

Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, Copper Harbor Michigan, Keweenaw County, 700 acres, 159 campsites, this Michigan State Park is home to an 1844 restored military outpost, as well as one of the first lighthouses on Lake Superior

Grand Haven State Park, Grand Haven Michigan, Ottawa County, 48 acres, 174 campsites, Lake Michigan waterfront, home to the Grand Haven lighthouse and the pier on the south side of the Grand River channel

Grand Mere State Park, Stevensville Michigan, Berrien County, 985 acres, home to three Michigan inland lakes as well as one mile of Lake Michigan waterfront. Read Waterland Living’s report on  Grand Mere State Park

Harrisville State Park, Harrisville Michigan, 107 acres, 195 campsites, Lake Huron waterfront.

Hartwick Pines State Park, Grayling Michigan, Crawford County, 9762 acres, 100 campsites, four small Michigan lakes, home to the Lumbermans’s Museum

Hayes State Park, Onsted Michigan, 654 acres, 185 campsites, Wamplers lake and Round lake are part of this Michigan State Park

Historic Mill Creek State Park, Mackinaw City Michigan, 625 acres, home to Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park

P.H. Hoeft State Park, Roger City Michigan, Presque Isle County, 301 acres, 100 campsites, over one mile of frontage on Lake Huron

P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, Muskegon Michigan, borders Muskegon County as well as Ottawa County, 1200 wooded rolling acres, 293 campsites, three miles of Lake Michigan waterfront

Holland State Park, Holland Michigan, Ottawa County, 142 acres, 98 campsites, sandy Lake Michigan waterfront, Home to “Big Red” Holland’s Lighthouse

Indian Lake State Park, Manistique Michigan, 847 acres, 217 campsites, located on Indian Lake, Indian lake is the fourth largest Michigan lake located in the U.P., 8400 acres in size, measuring six miles long, three miles wide

Interlochen State Park, Interlochen Michigan, Grand Traverse County, 187 acres, 418 campsites, Frontage on Duck and Green Lakes.  Read Waterland Living’s report on Interlochen State Park

Lake Gogebic State Park, Marenisco Michigan, Gogebic County, 360 acres, 127 campsites, one mile of frontage on Lake Gogebic, The largest Michigan inland lake in the U.P.

Lakeport State Park, Lakeport Michigan, St Clair County, 565 acres, 250 campsites, Lake Huron frontage

Leelanau State Park, Northport Michigan, Leelanau County,  1350 acres, 52 campsites, located at the tip of the Leelanau peninsula with lots of Lake Michigan water frontage, home to the Grand Traverse Lighthouse and Museum

Ludington State Park, Ludington Michigan, Mason County, 5300 acres, 250 plus campsites, This Michigan State Park lies between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan, with several miles of lake frontage to enjoy.

Mackinac Island State Park, Mackinaw Island Michigan, Mackinaw County, 1800 acres, surrounded by Lake Huron waterfront, read more about the historic  Mackinaw Island State Park

Maybury State Park, Northville Michigan, 944 acres

McLain State Park, Hancock Michigan, Houghton County, 443 acres, 98 campsites, two miles of Lake Superior frontage

Mears State Park, Pentwater Michigan, 50 acres, 175 campsites, Lake Michigan waterfrontage

W.M. Mitchell State Park, Cadillac Michigan, Wexford County, 334 acres, 221 campsites, frontage on Lake Cadillac and Lake Mitchell. Read Waterland Living’s report on  W.M. Mitchell State Park

Muskallonge State Park, Newberry Michigan, Luce County, 217 acres, 150 campsites, Located between Lake Muskallonge and Lake Superior with waterfront on both Michigan Lakes

Muskegon State Park, Muskegon Michigan, Muskegon County, 1165 acres, 244 campsites, two miles of Lake Michigan water front, one mile of Muskegon Lake waterfront

Negwegon State Park, Ossineke Michigan, Alcona and Alpena Countys, 2469 acres of undeveloped wooded land with frontage on Lake Huron

Newaygo State Park, Newaygo Michigan, Newaygo County, 257 acres, 99 campsites, Muskegon River frontage on all sports Hardy Pond

North Higgins Lake State Park, Roscommon Michigan, 429 acres, 174 acres, Higgins lake waterfront

Onaway State Park, Onaway Michigan, 158 acres, 96 campsites, Black Lake frontage

Orchard Beach State Park, Manistee Michigan, Manistee County, 201 acres, 166 campsites, Lake Michigan frontage

Otsego Lake State Park, Gaylord Michigan, 62 acres, 155 campsites, Otsego Lake

Palms Book State Park, Manistique Michigan, 388 acres, This Michigan State Park is home to Michigan’s largest freshwater spring

Petoskey State Park, Petoskey Michigan, Emmet County, 303 acres, 168 campsites, Little Traverse Bay waterfront

Porcupine Mountains State Park, Ontonagon Michigan, Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties, 59,020 acres, 240 plus campsites, one of the largest wilderness areas in the Midwest

Port Crescent State Park, Port Austin Michigan, Huron County, 600 acres, 137 campsites, three miles of Lake Huron waterfront on Saginaw Bay

Sanilac Petroglyps State Park, Cass City Michigan, 240 acres,  a historic Michigan site of rock carvings

Saugatuck Dunes State Park, Saugatuck Michigan, Allegan County, 1000 acres, two and half miles of Lake Michigan waterfront

Seven Lakes State Park, Holly Michigan, 1434 acres, 70 campsites, a newly installed dam created one large lake from several smaller lakes.

Silver Lake State Park, Mears Michigan, 2936 acres,  200 campsites, 450 acres reserved for off road vehicles

Sleeper State Park, Caseville Michigan, Huron County, 723 acres, 230 plus campsites, Lake Huron waterfront on Saginaw Bay, Rush Lake waterfront

Sleepy Hollow State Park, Laingsburg Michigan, 2678 acres, 180 campsites, Lake Ovid (410 acres) is located within this Michigan State Park

South Higgins Lake State Park, Roscommon Michigan, Roscommon County, 100o acres, 400 campsites, Frontage on Higgins Lake as well as Marl Lake

Sterling State Park, Monroe Michigan, Monroe County, 1300 acres, 250 campsites, One mile of waterfront on Lake Erie

Straits State Park, St Ignace Michigan, 181 Acres, 255 campsites, Great views of the Mackinac Bridge from the Lake Huron waterfront

Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Paradise Michigan, Chippewa County, 46,179 acres, 346 campsites, home to the Tahquamenon Falls

Tawas Point State Park, East Tawas Michigan, Iosco County, 183 acres, 193 campsites, Lake Huron waterfront, home to the Tawas Point Lighthouse

Thompson’s Harbor State Park, Roger’s City Michigan, 5109 acres, seven and half miles of waterfront on Lake Huron

Traverse City State Park, Traverse City Michigan, Grand Traverse County, 47 acres, 343 campsites, quarter mile waterfront on Grand Traverse Bay, Read Waterland Living’s report on Traverse City State Park

Tri-Centennial State Park, Detroit Michigan, 31 acres, located in Downtown Detroit and is considered Michigan’s first urban park.

Twin Lakes State Park, Toivola Michigan, Houghton County, 175 acres, 62 campsites, Lake Roland waterfront

Van Buren State Park, South Haven Michigan, Van Buren County, 400 acres, 220 campsites, One mile Lake Michigan waterfront

Van Riper State Park, Champion Michigan, 1044 acres, 187 campsites, one half mile waterfront on Lake Michigamme and one and a half miles of waterfront on the Peshekee River

Warren Dunes State Park, Sawyer Michigan, Berrien County, 1952 acres, three miles of Lake Michigan waterfront

Warren Woods State Park, Sawyer Michigan, Berrien County, 311 acres, waterfront on the Galien River

Wells State Park, Cedar River Michigan, Menominee County, 678 acres, 150 campsites, three miles of Green Bay waterfront

Wilderness State Park, Carp Lake Michigan, Emmet County, 10,512 acres, 250 campsites, twenty six miles of Lake Michigan waterfront

Wilson State Park, Harrison Michigan, Clare County, 36 acres, 150 campsites, Budd Lake waterfront

Young State Park, Boyne City Michigan, Charlevoix County, 563 acres, 240 campsites, Lake Charlevoix waterfront