Now that Labor Day is over it may seem that fun in Michigan’s parks and wilderness areas is over. Don’t despair if you had to work on the holiday weekend or the weather was bad. Many Michigan parks are open all year round and some even offer fall and winter activities. The fall and winter seasons are less crowded and can offer spectacular fall color displays and wildlife viewing. Insects are less likely to bother you and the cool crisp air makes hiking enjoyable. Even if swimming gets chilly you can walk the beaches looking for driftwood and pretty rocks.
These three state parks have heated modern restrooms that are open all winter- Mitchell, Traverse City and Rifle River. These eight parks are open year round: Algonac, Bay City, Fort Custer, Ludington, North Higgins Lake, Tahquamenon Falls and Waterloo Recreation Area-Portage campground. Many other parks are open well into the fall.
Even if you don’t have a camper or tent you can enjoy the outdoors by renting one of the cabins, teepees or yurts in Michigan’s park systems. Some Michigan parks offer 3 room cabins that sleep 6-8 people and there are campgrounds that offer small cabins that sleep 4. These cabins have bunk beds with mattresses, electricity (to run a heater if needed), and fire pits and picnic tables outside. Water and modern restrooms with showers are nearby. Most are handicap accessible.
Lakeport, Mitchell, Pinckney, Waterloo, Holland, Interlochen, Metamora-Hadley, Tawas Point, Onaway, Van Riper, Tahquamenon Falls, Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, Proud Lake, Port Crescent State Park and Orchard Beach are state parks with modern cabins. Lime Island near Sault St. Marie has some rustic, ( pit toilet cabins) for rent with solar panel lighting and limited electricity. Little Presque Isle near Marquette has rustic, hike to cabins for rent, no electricity. Thompson’s Harbor near Cheboygan has a rustic cabin with propane heat for rent. (Call 231-627-9011).
The teepees at Baraga State park, Cheboygan State Park, Interlochen State Park and Wilson State Park and yurts- (domed, tent like structures on a platform) at several other parks are in more primitive areas and have pit toilets and hand pumps. Some yurts are accessible only by hiking or skiing. Yurts are available at Pickney Recreation area, Van Riper State park and Porcupine Mountains State Park. Most have bunk beds, wood stoves and furnish axes and saws to cut wood.
Cabins, teepees, yurts are very popular and need to be reserved well in advance of your planned stay. You can do that by calling, 800-447-2757 or go on-line at: midnrreservations.com
Lodges take camping into the deluxe range with modern bathrooms in the lodge, several bedrooms, furnished kitchens including appliances and beds as well as bunks. Outside amenities include picnic tables, grills and fire-pits. Some actually have private yards or beach access. They generally sleep 8 people or more. Lodge reservations are made by calling the individual park.
Lodges are found at Tahquamenon Falls State Park , (906-492-3415). Traverse City State Park,(231 922-5270), P.H. Hoeft State Park at (989-734-2543), Twin Lakes State Park, (90 6-482-0278 or 906-288-3321), Mears State Park, (231-869-2051), Grand Haven, (616-847-1309), J.W. Wells State Park, (906-863-9747), Fayette Historic State Park, ( 906-644-2603), Highland Recreation Area, (248-889-3750). The River Hawk Lodge is located in Proud Lake Recreation Area in Oakland County, (call 248-685-2433). This lodge sleeps up to 24 people and has conference facilities to rent.
There is no excuse not to take a weekend this fall and go camping. Rent a cabin and avoid weather blues that could come with a tent. Or take your camper to a less crowded park. Bird watching, fishing, hunting, hiking, canoeing, and campfires are outdoor activities that can be enjoyed all through the fall.
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