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Michigan State Parks
The State of Michigan is one of the most scenic in the US. The Michigan State Park system incorporates the scenic beauty into its park system. The 100 Michigan State Parks show the splendid naturals wonders such as the white pines at Hartwick Pines and the large sand dunes along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Many State Parks in Michigan lie along the country's largest freshwater shoreline which extends 3,200 miles along 4 of the 5 Great Lakes. Michigan sand dunes are natural wonders and they are very special and impressive to all visitors. P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon and Warren Dunes State Park have some of the most splendid and impressive dunes. Watching the sunset on the dunes over Lake Michigan is a very calming and tranquil passion for many.
Camping at the many State Parks in Michigan is as popular
as ever. There are over 14,000 campsites in the State Parks in
Michigan. The State ranks first in the US for total number
of sites and overnight attendance. The great thing about
Michigan Camping is the diversity
and close proximity of the State Parks. Nowhere in Michigan are you
more than a hours drive from a State Park. The State of
Michigan campgrounds are spacious and most all are equipped with electricity
and water hookups.
Michigan's first State Park was created in 1895 when Mackinaw Island State park was created. In 1917, Governor Albert E. Sleeper created the Michigan
State Park Commission.
Many people initially donated numerous parcels of land and 22 units were added in 2 years. In 1921, the commission was organized into the Department of
Conservation. This department was later reorganized into the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
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Many people initially donated numerous parcels of land and 22 units were added in 2 years. In 1921, the commission was organized into the Department of Conservation. This department was later reorganized into the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The first Superintendent was P.J. Hoffmaster. There are State Parks named for P.J. Hoffmaster and Albert E. Sleeper. Today the DNR Parks Division administers the park system and the millions of visitors each year.
Over 25 million campers a year visit the park system with the majority of use during the June-August timeframe. Some parks such as Portage Lake and Mitchell State Park are open all year. Michigan Camping in the fall is gaining popularity and is a very good time to camp. The colors of the maples and oak trees are a sight to behold and absolutely awesome. A annual permit for $20 or a daily permit for $3 is required for entry. Reservations for State Parks are suggested and can be made at 1-800-44-PARKS. They also can be made online this year using the online reservation system at the Michigan DNR site. If the State Parks are full, many go to private campgrounds and are a popular choice. Many have golf, fishing, swimming available. The Michigan Campgrounds Directory give you the insight to making a good decision on where to camp. It's no surprise so many people "Say Yes to Michigan State Parks."