Oct. 7, 2009
The Department of Natural Resources reminds fall and winter outdoor enthusiasts, including hunters, that there are many state parks and recreation areas that remain open and offer camping opportunities throughout the fall or winter seasons.
"For your fall or winter camping adventures, there are state parks or recreation areas that remain open for camping, hunting and other outdoor recreation through the fall or year-round. Some offer rustic camping with no amenities, while others offer semi-modern campsites with electricity," said Ron Olson, chief of DNR Parks and Recreation. "Some parks also have cabins, mini-cabins, lodges or yurts available to rent all year, and all are heated with wood or propane stoves. So,'GO-Get Outdoors' and still enjoy the fall and winter seasons."
Mitchell, Rifle River, and Traverse City offer site electricity and heated restrooms in the fall and winter. Other campgrounds that are open through the fall and winter seasons, and offer site electricity, include Algonac, Bay City, Fort Custer, Ludington, North Higgins Lake, Tahquamenon Falls, and the Waterloo Recreation Area-Portage Lake Campground. Seven Lakes State Park, located in Holly, also has extended its camping season to Nov. 1 in the Sand Lake Campground.
Many of the camper cabins and mini-cabins at these parks and recreation areas have reduced pricing for the winter months. The following parks have facilities located on lakes or nestled in the woods, and offer one or more of these off-season lodging opportunities with a wide variety of amenities:
Upper Peninsula
Fort Wilkins, McLain, Porcupine Mountains, and Wells
Northern Lower Peninsula
Hartwick Pines, Hoeft, Interlochen, Ludington, Mitchell, Rifle River, South Higgins Lake, Tawas Point, Traverse City, and Wilderness
Southern Lower Peninsula
Bald Mountain, Brighton, Fort Custer, Highland, Holland, Holly, Island Lake, Ortonville, Pinckney, Port Crescent, and Waterloo
Reservations for campsites, cabins, mini-cabins and yurts can be made online at www.midnrreservations.com or by calling the DNR central reservation system at 800-447-2757. To reserve a lodge, contact the park directly. For more information about a specific state park or recreation area, winter camping opportunities, events or accessibility, visit the DNR's Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr, under "Recreation, Camping & Boating," or contact the Lansing Office at (517) 373-9900 (TTY/TDD 711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired).
Although some campgrounds close, the parks are open year-round and many have events and opportunities to "GO-Get Outdoors" in all four seasons. For more information about events being held in Michigan state parks or recreation areas, visit the Get Outdoors Calendar at www.michigan.gov/dnrgogetoutdoors.
Motor vehicle permits for the remainder of the 2009 season can be purchased at any state park or recreation area, on the DNR's Web site through the Michigan e-Store, or by calling the Lansing Office. Motor vehicle entrance permits are $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A nonresident annual is $29 and a nonresident daily is $8.
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