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Michigan is a beautiful state with an abundance of natural wonders in the Lower and Upper Peninsulas, many of which have been protected as parkland and can be explored by visitors throughout the year. The state has 3,288 miles of coastline and over 115 Great Lakes lighthouses, some of which are located within state parks.
If you love to explore nature, view breathtaking scenery, or just have fun outdoors, Michigan is a great place to live or visit.
National Parks
The National Park Service maintains five parks in Michigan, and each national park offers something unique.
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore covers over 40 miles of Lake Superior's coastline. It's breathtaking sandstone rock formations can be seen by foot or by boat. The park has a lengthy hiking trail that goes from Munising Falls to Grand Marais. Several campgrounds are located within the park.
- Stretching 35 miles along Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore features pristine beaches, miles of hiking trails, several campgrounds, and much more. One of the park's most popular attractions is the Dune Climb, which offers a challenging ascent up a towering sand dune. Sleeping Bear Dunes requires a park entrance pass, which can be acquired at the visitor's center in Empire.
- Keweenaw Historical Park is located in the heart of Copper Country. During the Copper Boom in the 1800s, Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula produced a majority of the copper in the United States. The headquarters for the Keweenaw Historical Park is located in Calumet. A portion of the park is also located near Hancock and includes the famous Quincy Mine.
- Isle Royale National Park is a remote island, located northwest of Keweenaw Peninsula. Guests can board the Ranger III, the largest ship owned by the National Park Service, and cruise from Houghton through the Keweenaw Waterway and across Lake Superior to Isle Royale. The park offers nature trails, kayaking, canoeing, guided tours, and interpretive programs. Since there are nearby shipwrecks to explore, scuba diving is also an option.
- The River Raisin National Battlefield National Battlefield is located east of downtown Monroe. The battle at the River Raisin was one of the largest military encounters during the War of 1812. The battlefield area was designated as a Michigan historic site on February 18, 1956 and became a national park on March 30, 2009.
State Parks
No matter the season, Michigan's state parks provide scenic places to play and relax. The sandy beaches at the state parks along Lake Michigan are among the finest beaches in the U.S., including Grand Haven State Park, Muskegon State Park, and Warren Dunes State Park. When fall approaches, the trees at the state parks in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula are ablaze with color, providing spectacular scenery. Once the snow begins to accumulate in the winter, snowmobile trails and cross-country ski trails attract visitors to state parks in several parts of Michigan.
Michigan residents can purchase Recreation Passports as part of their vehicle registration renewal. The Recreation Passport provides residents with admission to state parks and boat launches.
You can find information about the following state parks using the links below. The parks are listed by the towns nearby.
City & County Parks
Michigan has an abundance of city and county parks that offer beautiful beaches, spectacular views, nature trails, athletic fields, playgrounds and much more. Links to descriptions, maps and photos for several county parks and notable city parks are available below. Please see the City Guides section for details on specific city parks, boat launches and more.
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Michigan has some of the best beaches in the
United States, especially along the Lake Michigan
coastline. Below are some beaches to visit during
the summer. Click a city for more details:
- Alpena: Starlite Beach
- Augusta: Fort Custer Recreation Area
- Baraga: Baraga State Park
- Bay City: Bay City Recreation Area
- Benton Harbor: Jean Klock Park
- Boyne City: Peninsula Public Beach and Young State Park
- Bridgman: Warren Dunes State Park, Weko Beach
- Cadillac: Kenwood Park and William Mitchell State Park
- Calumet: McLain State Park
- Charlevoix: Depot Beach, Ferry Park Beach and Lake Michigan Beach
- Cheboygan: Cheboygan State Park and Gordon Turner Park
- Chelsea: Big Portage Lake Beach
- Douglas: Douglas Beach
- Eagle Harbor: Eagle Harbor Beach
- East Tawas: East Tawas City Park, Tawas Point State Park
- Elberta: Elberta Beach
- Escanaba: Municipal Beach at Ludington Park
- Frankfort: Lake Michigan Beach
- Gladstone: Gladstone Beach
- Grand Haven: Grand Haven City Beach and Grand Haven State Park
- Hancock: Hancock Beach
- Harbor Springs: Zoll Street Beach and Zorn Beach
- Harrison: Wilson State Park
- Highland Township: Highland Recreation Area
- Holland: Dunton Park, Holland State Park and Tunnel Park
- Houghton: Raymond Kestner Waterfront Park
- Indian River: Burt Lake State Park and Devoe Beach Park
- Iron Mountain: Cowboy Lake Park and Lake Antoine County Park
- Lansing: Hawk Island County Park
- L'Anse: L'Anse Waterfront Park
- Ludington: Ludington State Park
- Mackinaw City: Colonial Michilimackinac Park
- Manistique: Lake Michigan Beach
- Marquette: McCarty's Cove and South Beach Park
- Montague: Medberry Park
- Munising: Bayshore Park and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
- Muskegon: Muskegon State Park
- New Buffalo: City Beach
- North Muskegon: Muskegon State Park
- Petoskey: Petoskey State Park
- Pinckney: Pinckney Recreation Area
- Port Austin: Bird Creek Park
- Portage: Ramona Park
- Sanford: Sanford Lake Park
- Saugatuck: Oval Beach and Saugatuck Dunes State Park
- South Haven: Oak Street Beach, Packard Park Beach, Dyckman Beach, Woodman Street Beach Access, North Beach, and South Beach
- St. Ignace: Kiwanis Beach
- St. Joseph: Silver Beach County Park, Tiscornia Park
- Tawas City: City Park
- Walker: Millennium Park
- White Cloud: Mill Pond Park
- White Lake Township: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area
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