The following rules, regulations and policies were put in place to enhance safety, create a welcoming environment and protect these outdoor spaces for future generations.
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State parks and recreation areas are open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Only registered campers are allowed in the park after 10 p.m. with the exception of specified events.
A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks, recreation areas, state forest campgrounds and scenic sites, as well as DNR-managed boating access sites, state forest campgrounds and designated trailhead parking. It’s also required for parking at state-managed harbors where posted.
Alcohol possession is limited or prohibited at certain state parks and boating access sites.
Pets, such as dogs, are welcome in state parks and campgrounds, some overnight lodging facilities, state forest campgrounds, state-managed harbors, state-designated trails and boating access sites. However, to protect local ecosystems and visitor safety, they are restricted from designated swim beaches, endangered species habitats and other posted areas.
Leash laws do not apply on state park lands if the dog is being used for hunting, field trials or while being trained for hunting purposes on land open to such use.
Yes, you may fish at state parks and recreation areas. You must purchase a fishing license if you are 17 years of age or older to fish. If you are under 17, you may fish without a license, but you are required to observe all fishing rules and regulations. Any adult actively assisting a minor must have a fishing license. Please note, a license is required when targeting fish, amphibians, crustaceans and reptiles.
Learn about fishing license requirements »
Buy your fishing license online, buy a fishing license at a retailer or download the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and purchase through the app.
All state recreation areas are open to hunting unless designated closed. All state parks are closed to hunting unless designated open.
Find state parks and recreation areas where hunting is allowed »
Visitors with mobility impairments may use wheelchairs, including electric wheelchairs and Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs), in all public areas open to pedestrians. For everyone’s safety, these devices should be operated at walking speed.
Electric skateboards, scooters, one-wheel skateboards and other unlicensed wheeled motorized devices are prohibited on park roads and in parking lots unless the person has a mobility impairment.
Find guidance for operating power-driven mobility devices on park lands »
A permit is required for any event held on DNR-managed land that involves 20 or more participants or requires a fee/donation for entry, including weddings, 5K races and festivals.
Any business or individual conducting commercial operations on state-managed lands, including state parks, trails and boat access sites, must secure an official permit.
All research activities within state parks, recreation areas, boating access sites and rail trails are required to have a use permit. Most research projects require no fees, bonding or insurance, but will require submittal of a report at the conclusion of the project in place of monetary payment.
While metal detecting is not allowed at designated historic and archaeological sites, it's allowed in areas specifically designated as open to metal detecting. Any items found must be reviewed by park staff and may be retained for further investigation.
Recreational gold panning is allowed on state-owned land, provided the state holds both surface and mineral rights. Amateur panners must obtain a permit and adhere to annual extraction limits. Please note that power sluicing is strictly prohibited.
Fireworks such as Roman candles and bottle rockets are prohibited in Michigan state parks at all times; however, smaller novelty fireworks such as party poppers, snappers/drop pops, snakes, smoke bombs, sparklers and ground spinners are still permitted.
Cremains may be scattered in state parks, recreation areas and boating access sites under the following conditions:
Check-in begins at 1 p.m., and checkout is by 11 a.m.
Boaters must check in upon arrival at the harbor office.
Quiet time is all the time. Noise levels must be controlled
Fishing is not allowed in the harbor unless otherwise posted.
Fish cleaning is only allowed in harbors if there’s a provided fish cleaning station. Additionally, it's illegal to dispose of fish or animal waste in public waters.
For safety reasons, bike riding is not allowed on the harbor sidewalks or docks. All bicycles must be stored in bike racks or on your vessel.
Grilling is allowed in provided areas only.
Pets must be kept quiet, on a 6-foot leash and under an owner’s immediate control. All pet waste must be properly disposed of in trash receptacles. No pets allowed in buildings except service animals.
Michigan is a “No Discharge” State (effective on all freshwater bodies). It's illegal to discharge raw and/or treated sewage and oil or oily waste from a watercraft within the water of the state.
Swimming is not allowed in the harbor for safety reasons.
After-hours assistance:
If the campground office is closed when you arrive, please use the yellow phone located at the campground office. You'll be automatically connected to our call center during the following hours:
If you arrive after the call center has closed, please refer to the office window for site availability and self-registration instructions.
Quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Please keep noise to a minimum, including radios, generators or other amplified devices. All activities must be quiet enough that they do not disturb neighbors or neighboring sites.
A responsible adult (18 years or older) must register and sleep at the campsite each night.
Campsites are for overnight stays. If a campsite is left empty for more than 24 hours, it’s considered abandoned.
Automatic cancellation policy enforcement:
Check in for your campsite reservation no later than 3 p.m. one day after your scheduled arrival date to avoid being automatically cancelled. If you need to arrive later, you must adjust your arrival date by calling 1-800-44 (PARKS) or visiting MiDNRReservations.com. If you don't check in or update your arrival date, our system will automatically cancel your reservation and you’ll incur the loss of two nights' fees, the non-refundable reservation fee, $10 cancellation fee and the reduced-stay fee. Staff are unable to override this process.
For liability reasons, the DNR cannot accept mail or personal deliveries (ie. Amazon packages containing food or camping gear) on behalf of campers. Instead, we recommend having your items shipped to a local post office or a designated package shipping outlet.
Pets are welcome in all campsites and some overnight lodging locations. Pets must be kept quiet, always be on a 6-foot leash, under owner’s immediate control and never left unattended. All pet waste must be properly disposed of in trash receptacles.
No pets allowed in buildings, including toilet and shower buildings, except qualified service animals.
Campfires are permitted in designated fire rings (only) and must never be left unattended. Do not burn garbage.
While you're welcome to bring your own camper unit or RV into campgrounds, please note that only permitted vendors are able to transport camper unit or RV rentals in and out of state parks.
Visitor hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Please remember that only two vehicles are allowed in each campsite.
The use of fuel-powered generators is not allowed during established quiet hours (10 p.m. to 8 a.m.).
The use of electric and solar-powered generators are allowed for help with medical and other needs.
To help reduce impacts to park infrastructure and protect natural resources, non-registered campers are required to pay a $10 fee and have a Recreation Passport to utilize sanitation or dump stations except for locations where infrastructure can't withstand additional use.
Locations that do not allow non-registered campers to utilize sanitation/dump stations include Baraga, Burt Lake, Cheboygan, Fort Custer, Hoeft, North Higgins Lake, Port Crescent, Rifle River and Twin Lakes state park/recreation areas.
If you're using state lands for commercial operations an agreement with the DNR is required.
Commercial operations are defined as "any activity that involves, directly or indirectly, the buying or selling of goods or services, or the exchange or attempt to offer to exchange goods or services for money, barter or for anything of value.
Discharge of firearms, air guns, slingshots or arrows aren't permitted in campground boundaries.
If you are arriving by foot, bicycle or nonmotorized watercraft, we'll always find space for you. Even when the campground is at full capacity, we reserve sites for self-supported "Leave No Trace" campers. A safe designated area will be assigned upon arrival; please note that amenities may vary. The following requirements apply:
Check-in starts at 3 p.m. and checkout is by 1 p.m.
Camping fees and registration procedures are posted at the information kiosk at each campground.
"Paying and holding" for a state forest campground campsite spot before you actually arrive is prohibited. To legally claim a site, you must set up a legally established camp. To be considered a legally established camp, the site must meet one of the following: a) opening or setting up of a tent; b) parking and occupancy of an enclosed, self-contained camping unit; or c) sleeping or occupying a sleeping bag or sleeping in any other manner between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
The use of fuel-powered generators is not allowed during established quiet hours (10 p.m. to 8 a.m.).
The use of solar-powered generators are allowed for help with medical and other needs. Generally speaking, electricity is not offered in state forest campgrounds.
No more than 6 horses per campsite are allowed in equestrian state forest campgrounds or trail camps.
Backpacking or car camping (also known as dispersed camping) is permitted on state forest land as long as your site is located more than one mile from a state forest campground. It's free of charge.
The following applies:
State parks and recreation areas:
Camping and lodging rates & operating dates in state parks »
Pavilion rates & operating dates in state parks »
Pavilion rates at Belle Isle Park »
Harbors:
Transient slip rates in harbors »
Seasonal slip rates in harbors »
State forest campgrounds:
A non-refundable reservation fee – $8 for online bookings or $10 via the call center – applies to all camping, overnight lodging, harbor and pavilion reservations.
You can manage your booking at MiDNRReservations.com or call 800-447-2757.
Guests staying in pet-friendly lodging accommodations will be charged an additional nightly fee of $10 per pet for cabins or $15 per pet for lodges.
When the booking window opens, inventory becomes available Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m.
Harbor slips, campsites and state park lodging not already reserved in advance may be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
You can also call 1-800-447-2757.
If you need to shorten your trip or cancel your camping reservation, the following guidelines and fees apply. You can manage your booking at MiDNRReservations.com or call 800-447-2757.
Modifying and/or canceling your reservation ahead of time
Campsite reservations cannot be modified or canceled more than five months in advance of the arrival date.
The reservation fee – $8 for online bookings or $10 via the call center – is nonrefundable. Additionally, the following fees will be assessed.
Modifying and/or canceling your reservation after checking in for your reservation
If you’ve already checked in for your reservation and choose to reduce the length of your stay, you’ll be charged a reduced-stay fee. See sliding modification/cancellation formula below. If you check out before 1 p.m., that night’s camping fees will be included in the refund formula. If you check out after 1 p.m., that night’s camping fees will NOT be included in the refund formula
Sliding modification/cancellation formula
| Months reservation held | % of unused nights charged |
|---|---|
| up to 2 months | 10% |
| 2 to 3 months | 15% |
| 3 to 4 months | 20% |
| 4 to 5 months | 30% |
| 5 or more months | 40% |
Tags: cancel reservation, change reservation, modify reservation, campsite reservation, camping reservation
If you need to shorten your trip or cancel your overnight lodging reservation, the following guidelines and fees apply. You can manage your booking at MiDNRReservations.com or call 800-447-2757.
Overnight lodging reservations cannot be modified or canceled more than five months in advance of the arrival date.
The reservation fee – $8 for online bookings or $10 via the call center – is nonrefundable. Additionally, the following fees will be assessed.
Modifying and/or canceling your reservation after checking in for your reservation
If you’ve already checked in for your reservation and choose to reduce the length of your stay, no refund will be issued.
If you need to shorten your trip or cancel your harbor reservation, the following guidelines and fees apply. You can manage your booking at MiDNRReservations.com or call 800-447-2757.
The reservation fee – $8 for online bookings or $10 via the call center – is nonrefundable. Additionally, one of the following will be assessed.
Reservations are held until 5 p.m. on the scheduled arrival date. If you arrive after 5 p.m. on the scheduled arrival date, you MUST contact the harbormaster to notify staff of late arrival. If you're late, and you fail to call, the reservation will be cancelled as a no-show with the loss of a two-night fee.
Tags: cancel reservation, change reservation, modify reservation, harbor reservation, slip reservation
If you need to shorten your trip or cancel your picnic pavilion reservation, the following guidelines and fees apply. You can manage your booking at MiDNRReservations.com or call 800-447-2757.
Changes and cancellations can be made any time after a reservation has been created.
The reservation fee – $8 for online bookings or $10 via the call center – is nonrefundable. Additionally, one of the following will be assessed.
Reservations are held until 8 p.m. on the scheduled arrival date. Failure to register on arrival will result in a no-show cancellation with the loss of all fees
Camping reservations are held until 3 p.m. one day after the scheduled arrival date. Failure to check in within 24 hours of the check-in time will result in a “no-show” status and will incur the loss of two nights' fees, the reservation fee, $10 cancellation fee and the reduced-stay fee.
No. Selling or renting a camping, overnight lodging, harbor slip or pavilion reservation is defined as commercial activity and is prohibited. Reservations must be canceled if they cannot be used by the original reservation holder. Park staff will not honor a campsite sold or transferred to another party.
