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Pet-friendly recreation
Pet-friendly recreation
Pets are welcome in Michigan state parks and campgrounds, state forest campgrounds, state-managed harbors, state-designated trails and boat launches (some sites have restrictions during part of the year) with the exception of designated swim beaches, areas protected for endangered species, such as piping plover, and areas marked otherwise.
Enjoy the outdoors with your pets, but please follow these simple rules:
- Pets must always be on a 6-foot leash and under an owner's immediate control.
- Always clean up after your pet. Please carry a waste bag with you at all times.
- Dogs should not be left unattended (in campers or tied up). This helps ensure that barking won't disturb camping neighbors.
- Keep pets from interacting with wildlife.
- Pets are not allowed in state buildings (ie. offices, bathrooms, showers, overnight lodging facilities) with the exception of the pet-friendly lodging options listed below.
Pet-friendly lodging
Up to two pets (cats and dogs only) are allowed at several overnight lodging locations. There is an additional fee of $10 per night/pet/cabin or $15 per night/pet/lodge. Overnight lodging options can be booked up to 12 months in advance at
- Cheboygan State Park - Poe Reef cabin
- Craig Lake State Park - Teddy Lake Yurt and small cabin
- Harrisville State Park - Mini cabin #186
- Lime Island State Park - Mini cabin #4
- Little Presque Isle Cabins - Cabins #4 and #5
- Leelanau State Park - Hemlock and Cedar mini cabins
- Ludington State Park (beginning Jan. 1, 2024) - Cedar mini cabin
- Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park - Crosscut 2, White Birch 2, Whitetail 8, Union River 8, Gitche Gumee 8; Union Bay East 4 Yurt, Union Bay West 4 Yurt, Little Union River 4 Yurt and Kaug Wudgoo Lodge
- Port Crescent State Park - Mini cabin A
- Sleepy Hollow State Park - Modern cabin and rustic cabin
- Van Riper State Park - Rustic Peshekee Cabin and Mini Cabin #2
Pet-friendly shoreline
Pets are allowed along the shoreline with the exception of designated bathing/swimming areas within state parks and areas signed otherwise (ie. piping plover nesting habitat). Pets must be kept on a 6-foot leash even if they are in the water. The following are some highlighted locations:
- Algonac State Park - along the St. Clair River.
- Baraga State Park - along the Lake Superior shoreline (.25 miles).
- Bewabic State Park - along the Fortune Lake shoreline other than the designated swim beach.
- Brighton Recreation Area
- Brimley State Park - along the Lake Superior shoreline other than the designated swim beach.
- Burt Lake State Park - a designated pet-friendly beach is located on the south end of the park.
- Clear Lake State Park - along the Clear Lake lakeshore other than the designated swim beach and boating access site.
- Craig Lake State Park - along the park’s shoreline.
- Dodge #4 State Park- designated pet-friendly beach (just outside the designated swim area).
- Duck Lake State Park - along the Lake Michigan shoreline (.5 miles) and Duck Lake.
- Fayette Historic State Park - along the Lake Michigan shoreline other than the designated swim beach.
- Grand Mere State Park - along the Lake Michigan shoreline (.5 mile).
- Harrisville State Park - a designated pet-friendly beach, open to non-campers, is located in the modern campground.
- Hoffmaster State Park - along the Lake Michigan shoreline other than the designated swim beach.
- Holland State Park - along the Lake Macatawa shoreline in the day-use area, located directly across from the Lake Mac Campground.
- Holly Recreation Area - along a section of Heron Lake shoreline south of the designated swim beach.
- Leelanau State Park - along the Lake Michigan shoreline in the park's northern unit.
- Ludington State Park - along the Lake Michigan shoreline, located between the beach house and the Big Sable River. The majority of shoreline is closed to protect endangered piping plover habitat.
- McLain State Park - along a portion of Lake Superior shoreline.
- Mears State Park - along the southernmost section of Lake Michigan shoreline.
- Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area - along the Lake Minnawanna shoreline other than designated swim beach.
- Menominee River State Recreation Area - along the Menominee River.
- Muskegon State Park - along the Lake Michigan shoreline other than the designated swim beach and areas marked for piping plover nest habitat.
- Negwegon State Park - along the majority of Lake Huron shoreline.
- Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park - along the Lake Superior park shoreline.
- Port Crescent State Park - along the Lake Huron shoreline (3 miles) other than the designated swim beach in the modern campground.
- Proud Lake Recreation Area - along the Huron River and Proud Lake shorelines other than the designated swim beach in the modern campground.
- Rifle River Recreation Area - along the park's lakes, river and stream other than the designated swim area.
- Saugatuck Dunes State Park - along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
- Silver Lake State Park - along the Lake Michigan shoreline (3 miles) and the park's inland lake, Silver Lake, in all areas other than the designated swim beach.
- Sleeper State Park - along the Lake Huron shoreline except for the designated swim beach
- Sleepy Hollow State Park - section of shoreline located 100 yards north of the Lake Ovid swimming beach.
- South Higgins Lake State Park - two pet-friendly beach areas, one along a section of shoreline in the day-use area (along the east park boundary) and a campers-only area (along the west boundary of the campground).
- Straits State Park - along the Lake Huron shoreline.
- Tawas Point State Park - pet-friendly beach located between the campground and the lighthouse on Tawas Bay.
- Twin Lakes State Park
- Van Buren State Park - along the Lake Michigan shoreline other than the designated swim beach.
- Van Riper State Park - along the entire length of Lake Michigamme and Peshekee River shorelines other than the designated swim beach.
- Wilderness State Park - a pet-friendly beach is located down a small path in the picnic area (just east of the headquarters building). The majority of the park's shoreline closed to pets to protect endangered piping plover habitat.
- Warren Dunes State Park - a section of Lake Michigan shoreline (2.5 miles) located just north of the designated swim beach.
- Young State Park - along a section of shoreline east of the boating access site.