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Rockport Recreation Area

kids kneeling by stream surrounded by rocks

Rockport Recreation Area

The DNR is in the process of developing an update to the 2008 Phase 1 and 2010 Phase 2 general management plans for Rockport State Recreation Area in Alpena and Presque Isle counties. The process typically takes one year to complete. 

This planning effort is an update to the park's 2008 Phase 1 General Management Plan, which was originally developed as part of a regional assessment that included Negwegon and Thompson’s Harbor state parks. That initial effort established Rockport as the central "hub" for the three sites. This designation allowed Negwegon and Thompson’s Harbor to remain in a relatively undisturbed, natural state, while Rockport would accommodate greater development and visitation. This regional approach was directly influenced by the 2007 Northeast Michigan Integrated Assessment, which aimed to create a sustainable future through tourism, coastal access and economic development.

A draft master plan for Rockport State Recreation Area was developed in 2024, building on recommendations from prior planning efforts and a community input process. Additional public input will be gather as part of the current management plan update process.

A park's general management plan defines a long-range (10- to 20-year) planning and management strategy to protect and preserve the site’s natural and cultural resources and provide access to land- and water-based public recreation and educational opportunities.

Public input opportunities

Public and stakeholder input is essential to this process. There will be a stakeholder input meeting in early November. Later this fall, we'll launch an online survey for visitors and the community. We'll announce more ways to participate soon.

Related resources

About the park

 Rockport State Recreation Area covers 4,237 acres and 5.9 miles of Lake Huron shoreline, offering unique natural and cultural resources. Visitors can explore geologic formations from former quarry operations, natural sinkholes and a variety of trails. The park also features a deep-water port and boating access site, popular for fishing and SCUBA diving. Rockport is a Dark Sky Preserve, and its Besser Natural Area protects rare plants and old-growth pine forests within 17 unique natural communities.

Contact

For more information, contact Matt Lincoln, DNR Parks and Recreation Division land specialist, at LincolnM@Michigan.gov.