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HISTORY Fort Wilkins State Park See an example of mid-19th century army life on the frontier. Hartwick Pines State Park The Michigan Forest Visitor Center and Logging Museum offers the visitor a look at Michigan’s logging history. Also special to Hartwick Pines is a parcel of old-growth white pine forest with trees estimated to be 300 years old. Interlochen State Park This was Michigan’s first state park and has the largest campground in the state with almost 500 campsites. It is across from the world-renowned Interlochen Music Camp. Fayette Historic State Park Fayette is a well-preserved 19th century museum village that recalls another time when it was a vibrant, boisterous smelting community with an immigrant population that shared daily hardships, joys and sorrows. CAMPING NeW CamPer CabINS Don’t miss the new camper cabins (each sleeps six) at Lakeport, Onaway, Holland, Orchard beach, metamora-Hadley, Interlochen, mitchell, Port Crescent, Tawas Point, Pinckney, Van riper, Fort Wilkins, Proud Lake, Tahquamenon Falls and Waterloo. YurTS Yurts are unique wood lattice- framed dwellings available to rent at Pinckney, Porcupine mountains and Craig Lake. Year-rOuNd CamPINg Traverse City, mitchell and rifle river have camping spots and heated restrooms all year. Also open for winter camping are North Higgins Lake, Waterloo, Tahquamenon Falls, bay City, algonac, Ludington and Fort Custer. Additionally there are 27 locations with rustic or mini cabins open in the winter. While great for winter camping, also be sure to visit in the spring, summer and fall. equeSTrIaN Fort Custer, Ionia, Yankee Springs, brighton, Waterloo, Highland, Pontiac Lake and Ortonville all offer equestrian camping and great trails. LOdgeS Hoeft State Park has one of the best Lake Huron beaches and it has a newly renovated lodge originally built in 1929. It sleeps eight and rents year-round. Other lodges are located at Proud Lake, Highland, grand Haven, mears, Fayette, Twin Lakes, Wells, Wilson and Porcupine mountains. Traverse City State Park is opening a lodge in the spring of 2009. For more information about a particular lodge call the park location. VISITOR CeNTeRS Ten visitor centers across the state are ready to increase your knowledge and enjoyment of our state’s natural resources. You can join the interpretive staff for a program or take a personal tour through displays and trails. For more information, visit www. michigan.gov/dnr and click on “Education and Outreach.” WATeRfAllS Porcupine mountains has more than 90 waterfalls throughout the wilderness area. Other waterfalls include Laughing Whitefish Falls, Tahquamenon’s upper and Lower Falls, Wagner Falls, bond Falls and agate Falls. lIGHTHOuSeS Lighthouses can be found at the following locations: Sturgeon Point, Holland, Leelanau, Fort Wilkins, Tawas, Ludington, mcLain, grand Haven, mears, and Silver Lake. BOATING & SWIMMING aloha and burt Lake State Parks are the heart of the inland waterway taking boaters on one of the most popular boat trips in the country. This 38-mile trip crosses the state from Alanson, to Lake Huron passing through the Alanson Lock and the Cheboygan Lock. Tawas Point State Park Offers a great child-friendly beach. The water is warm and shallow, great for playing and swimming. WINTeR SPORTS muskegon State Park The Winter Sports Complex offers the only luge open to the public in North America. Porcupine mountains Wilderness State Park has downhill skiing and groomed cross country ski trails. Additionally, there are 14 other parks with groomed ski trails HuNTING & fISHING mitchell State Park Visit the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center where programs and activities are presented on fishing, wetlands and hunting. Check out the pellet and archery ranges during your visit and test your aim. HIKING algonac State Park At Algonac you can watch Great Lakes freighters pass so close you can almost reach out and touch them. Explore the trails that take you through miles of 1,244 acres of globally rare lake plain prairie and lake plain openings. This unique experience is one you won’t forget. Hoffmaster State Park Don’t miss the Gillette Visitor Center and the dune climb stairway leading to the top of a high sand dune where an observation deck offers a panoramic view of the dunes and Lake Michigan. Look for new accessible trails at brighton, Port Crescent, Ostego Lake and muskegon State Parks. OuT Of THe ORDINARY Palms book State Park A self-propelled, accessible glass bottom raft allows visitors to view a 40-foot-deep spring that gushes over 10,000 gallons of water per minute. Fort Custer, Holly and Waterloo recreation areas Disc Golf offers a great way to “GO-Get Outdoors” and have some fun. Port Crescent State Park Visit the park from late March through April and you may witness as many as 10,000 migrating hawks pass overhead in a day. Lake Hudson recreation area In 1993, this site was designated a dark sky preserve for stargazing. Waterloo and Pinckney recreation areas These two parks comprise over 31,000 acres, a 48-mile long hiking trail, five beaches, seven campgrounds, 23 boat access sites, equestrian and biking trails, five cabins and a yurt. It’s all located within a one hour drive from Michigan’s most populated area. Pinckney is home to the world class mountain biking- Potawatomi trail. exciting articles and info for exploring your michigan State Parks today! map and guide Who knows your state parks better than the people who maintain and enjoy them? Here, park staff offers their top destinations for a wealth of recreational activities and natural wonders. Bond falls RANGERs’ Recommendations Ludington State Park Great Lakes Great Times Great Outdoors WWW.MICHIGAN.GOV/DNR Mirror lake Cabin at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Nothing in the Park Visitor Welcome Kit should be taken to imply endorsement of products, services, or activities of advertisers by any governmental agency. The Best green gear GEAR Gear companies are doing their part to preserve natural resources by offering eco-friendly products. Here are just a few of the innovations you can use for your state park adventure. Solar Lite Hybrid This solar-powered flashlight holds a single charge for more than 3 years. It uses a super-bright 1 Watt LED; an 8-hour charge provides 16 hours of burn time. The back-up battery has a 7-year shelf life. And if that’s not cool enough, it’s 100% waterproof. $24.95; www.hybridlite.com mountainsmith Hiker Made from recycled PET fabric, this daypack is designed with sustainability and essential convenience in mind. The ideal day use pack, the Hiker comes with an air mesh back panel for added comfort. Use this pack for extended day trips and short hikes. $89; www.mountainsmith.com CleanWell Natural Hand Sanitizers Most hand sanitizers are made with alcohol and petroleum products. Not CleanWell. This nontoxic, natural germ killer is chemical-free, kid safe, biodegradable and kills 99.99% of germs. $2.99 (1oz bottle); www.cleanwelltoday.com SteriPeN adventurer Water Purifier & Solar Charging Case Whether you’re camping, backpacking, or traveling abroad, a reliable water purifier is a must. SteriPEN is a chemical-free alternative to messy drops and iodine tablets. Best of all, you can charge it using the solar powered case. $149.95 (set); www.steripen.com Coleman PVC Camp Shower Compact and lightweight, this 5-gallon bag uses solar energy to heat water for all your washing needs. Convenient features include a strong handle for easy hanging and carrying and a handy on/off valve connected to the shower head. The compact design is great for backpacking. $12.99; www.coleman.com Klean Kanteen Many hard plastic reusable water bottles contain potentially harmful BPA and phthalates that can leach into water or into landfills. Not Klean Kanteen. Made of stainless steel, which is durable, toxin-free and non-leaching, Klean Kanteen is available in various sizes, including a sippy cup style for kids. $17.95; www.kleankanteen.com MI09MP Algonac State Park To receive a $24 credit for on a road trip, stay at the suggested four parks on successive nights in 2009. Show your receipts at the last park on your road trip and a $24 credit will be made to your credit card. (which offers excellent views of the Mackinac Bridge), (one of the largest falls east of the Mississippi), (great for agates on Lake Superior) and . A trip to the Upper Peninsula is not complete without a trip on the accessible Kitch-iti-kipi glass bottomed raft. Stop and visit at , or Kitch-iti-kipi. Two hundred feet across, and 40-feet deep, Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan’s largest freshwater spring. Over 10,000 gallons per minute gush from the underlying limestone. Stay at , , and and see their great beaches on Lake Huron. Add in a night at so you can visit the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center and hike in one of the largest remaining freshwater coastal wetlands on the Great Lakes, the Tobico Marsh. Take these road tours and receive a $24 reservation refund. Michigan No Child Left Inside Coalition For more roadtrip ideas, visit
