Joel Bissell | MLive.com
Big Sable Point Light at Ludington State Park in Ludington, Mich. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)
By Emily Bingham | ebingham@mlive.com
In a state with more than 100 state parks and recreation areas to explore, consider these the classics: Those perennial favorites we return to, again and again, to rediscover the joy of Michigan's great outdoors. In honor of the Michigan state park system's centennial anniversary in 2019, we gathered this list of some of the most popular state parks across our two peninsulas.
This list of some of the most popular state parks in Michigan is based on percentage of summer reservations made as of spring this year for each park or rec area's campgrounds, according to the Michigan DNR. The list is not in order of popularity.
Courtesy Michigan DNR. Photo by David Kenyon
Aloha State Park
Aloha State Park
Location: Cheboygan
Size: 172 acres
Of interest: The campground is set on Mullett Lake, which is the central point for the Inland Lakes Waterway; registered campers are allowed to leave their boats in the protected boat basin during their stay. Activities include boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, mountain biking.
Burt Lake State Park
Location: Indian River
Size: 406 acres
Of interest: The park is located on Burt Lake, with 2,000 feet of sandy shoreline, in the heart of Northern Michigan's famed Inland Waterway: a nearly 40-mile chain of rivers and lakes that offers supreme boat cruising. Additionally, the world's largest "Cross in the Woods" is located nearby.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Grand Haven State Park
Grand Haven State Park
Location: Grand Haven
Size: 48 acres
Of interest: The park is bordered by sugar-sand Lake Michigan beaches along its west side, and the Grand River along the north side of the park; the iconic Grand Haven pier and lighthouse are beloved landmarks here.
Harrisville State Park
Location: Harrisville
Size: 107 acres
Of interest: One of Michigan's oldest state parks, Harrisville State Park sits on sandy beachfront along Lake Huron, close to Sturgeon Point Lighthouse.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Hoffmaster State Park
Hoffmaster State Park
Location: Muskegon
Size: 1,200 acres
Of interest: This park on Michigan's west side offers three miles of sandy Lake Michigan shoreline, miles of hiking trails, and stunning views from atop its dunes.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Holland State Park
Holland State Park
Location: Holland
Size: 142 acres
Of interest: The park has beaches on Lake Michigan as well as Lake Macatawa, and offers paddle rentals for those who want to get out on the water. The striking "Big Red" lighthouse is a visitor favorite.
Lakeport State Park
Location: Lakeport
Size: 565 acres
Of interest: With two campgrounds along Lake Huron, divided by the town of Lakeport, this park offers access to a Great Lake and is 15 minutes from the Port Huron State Game Area for great hiking.
Courtesy Michigan DNR. Photo by Rudy Balasko
Ludington State Park
Ludington State Park
Location: Ludington
Size: 5,300 acres
Of interest: This gorgeous state park is situated between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan, with several miles of shoreline along both lakes, and tons of beautiful hiking trails. There's also three campgrounds and the iconic Big Sable Point Lighthouse.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Mears State Park
Mears State Park
Location: Pentwater
Size: 50 acres
Of interest: This sweet park is near the sweet village of Pentwater. Find 175 modern sites at the campground, plus a sandy swimming area.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Mitchell State Park
Mitchell State Park
Location: Cadillac
Size: 334 acres
Of interest: Mitchell State Park is tucked between Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac; the two lakes are connected by a historic canal that runs directly through the park.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Muskallonge Lake State Park
Muskallonge Lake State Park
Location: Newberry
Size: 217 acres
Of interest: Located between Lake Superior and Muskallonge Lake, this state park is on the site of a former lumber town (Muskallonge Lake was a mill pond for millions of felled white pines). A historic U.S. Coast Guard life-saving station was once in this location, too.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Muskegon State Park
Muskegon State Park
Location: North Muskegon
Size: 1,233 acres
Of interest: With its winter sports complex (which includes a luge run and ice skating through the woods), Muskegon State Park is very much a year-round destination. In summer, it's loved for its beachfront on both Lake Michigan (where it encompasses two miles of shoreline) and Muskegon Lake, too.
Otsego Lake State Park
Location: Gaylord
Size: 62 acres
Of interest: Situated on Otsego Lake, this smaller park boasts big campsites, many of which are near or offer views of the water.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Petoskey State Park
Petoskey State Park
Location: Petoskey
Size: 303 acres
Of interest: The heart of this park, situated between Petoskey and Harbor Springs, is a wide sandy stretch of beach and sand dunes along Little Traverse Bay.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Silver Lake State Park
Silver Lake State Park
Location: Mears
Size: 2,936 acres
Of interest: A gem of a park, with 2,000 acres of sand dunes known for being the only dunes open to ORV riding this side of the Mississippi. If off-roading isn't your style, there's also four miles of Lake Michigan beachfront, hiking trails and more.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
South Higgins Lake State Park
South Higgins Lake State Park
Location: Roscommon
Size: 1,000 acres
Of interest: This park has shoreline along Marl Lake as well as spring-fed Higgins Lake.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Tawas Point State Park
Tawas Point State Park
Location: East Tawas
Size: 183 acres
Of interest: Sitting on a hook of land jutting out into Tawas Bay, this spot is a notable North American flyover spot for migratory birds during spring and fall migrations. It's also a great spot for swimming, and is home to the historic Tawas Point Lighthouse.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Van Buren State Park
Van Buren State Park
Location: South Haven
Size: 400 acres
Of interest: The campsites here are just a short distance from Lake Michigan; the park offers nearly a mile of beachfront along the water's edge.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Young State Park
Young State Park
Location: Boyne City
Size: 563 acres
Of interest: Sitting on Lake Charlevoix, this park is just a short distance from Horton Bay, where Ernest Hemingway spent his summers as a child.
Courtesy Michigan DNR
Wilderness State Park
Wilderness State Park
Location: Carp Lake
Size: 10,512 acres
Of interest: This massive park at the tip of the Lower Peninsula has more than 26 miles of shoreline along the Straits of Mackinaw.
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