List of Michigan state parks

Lake of the Clouds in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

This is a list of Michigan state parks and related protected areas under Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) jurisdiction. The DNR Parks and Recreation Division manages these lands. DNR administers over 100 state parks and also operates 16 state harbors on the Great Lakes. Michigan's state parks system was started in 1919 and now contains over 100 parks and recreation areas covering 285,000 acres (1,150 km²). There are 13,500 campsites in 142 campgrounds and 879 miles (1,400 km) of trails. The parks received 21.2 million visitors in 2008.[1]

Two Michigan state parks pre-date the creation of the park system in 1919. Michigan's first state park, Mackinac Island State Park, was created in 1895. It had served as the nation's second national park from 1875. In 1909 Michilimackinac State Park was created in nearby Mackinaw City. Both of these parks, along with Historic Mill Creek State Park are under the jurisdiction of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.

DNR operates 746 boat launches on 57,000 acres (230 km2) of designated public water access sites. It also operates 16 "harbors of refuge" as well as providing support for the other 61 harbors in the system. The harbors of refuge are approximately 30 miles (50 km) apart along the Great Lakes shoreline to provide shelter from storms and often provide boat launches and supplies. There are 11 state underwater preserves covering 2,450 square miles (6,300 km2) of Great Lakes bottomland and ten of them have a maritime museum or interpretive center in a nearby coastal community.[2]

The D.N.R. Parks and Recreation Division also manages 138 State Forest Campgrounds (including a dozen equestrian campgrounds). The Michigan state game and wildlife areas encompass more than 340,000 acres (1,400 km2). DNR also oversees the trail systems in the state. This includes 880 miles (1,400 km) of non-motorized trails, 1,145 miles (1,800 km) of rail-trails, 3,193 miles (5,100 km) of off-road vehicle (ORV) routes and 6,216 miles (10,000 km) of snowmobile trails.[3]

For a discussion of all protected areas in Michigan under all jurisdictions, see Protected areas of Michigan.

Map

Map showing many of Michigan's state parks but not state recreation areas or state forests.

State parks

Grand Mere State Park
Holland State Park
Fort Michilimacknac
Silver Lakes State Park

Recreation areas

Proud Lake Recreation Area

State forests

The Au Sable River runs through the Au Sable State Forest

Other sites

Wagner Falls

References

  1. ↑ state parks threaten tourism Mich. needs $341M for 200 repair projects, Mark Hornbeck and Charlie Cain, Detroit News, April 23, 2009
  2. ↑ MICHIGAN’S PUBLIC LAND BASE AND OUTDOOR RECREATION, Michigan's 2008-2012 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  3. ↑ 2008-12 Michigan State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan: Executive Summary, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  4. ↑ New Name For T.C. State Park Interlochen Public Radio, accessed June 3, 2012.
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