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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Park hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Only registered campers are allowed in the park after 10 p.m. with the exception of occasional events.
A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, DNR-managed boating access sites (boat launches), state forest campgrounds and parking at state trailheads.
Alcohol possession and use is limited or prohibited at certain state parks and boating access sites. See the full list of alcohol restrictions.
Pets are welcome on a 6-foot leash in state parks, campgrounds, some state park cabins, state forest campgrounds, non-designated bathing beach areas, most harbors, the majority of trails and many boat launches. Learn about pet-friendly recreation and rules.
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.
Many parks and recreation areas have access to fishing. With the exception of Free Fishing Weekends, if you are over the age of 17 you are required to have a license to fish. 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 a list of parks and recreation areas where hunting is allowed.
Wheelchairs, including power-driven wheelchairs, and other power-driven mobility devices (known as OPDMDs) are allowed in areas open to pedestrians and while operated at walking speed. A number of criteria apply.
Some events on public lands, such as weddings, 5K races, festivals, tournaments, require a permit. Learn about the types of events and requirements.
Businesses and individuals using public-owned lands, such as state parks, trails and boat access sites, for commercial operations must obtain a 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 will require no fees, bonding or insurance, but will require submittal of a report at the conclusion of the project in place of monetary payment. Learn how to obtain a land use permit for research.
Metal detecting is allowed in designated parks when it is conducted in ways that do not damage the resources or violate state laws. Any items found must be reviewed by park staff and may be retained for further investigation. See a list of parks where metal detecting is allowed.
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.
Check-in for harbor arrival starts at 1 p.m., and checkout is by 11 a.m. Extensions will be granted at the discretion of the harbormaster.
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. It's illegal to dispose of fish or animal waste in the waters of the State of Michigan. Fish cleaning is not allowed at the harbor unless a fish cleaning station is provided.
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.
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. Learn about electric shock drowning.
Campsites:
Lodging:
In the off-season, please use the yellow phone if staff is not in the campground office.
Yellow phone:
If you arrive during the times below and staff is unavailable at the campground office, please pick up the yellow phone and it will automatically connect you to the call center:
If you arrive after call center hours, you can check the campground office window for information on site availability and instructions on how to self-register.
Pets are allowed 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.
Don't move firewood. Invasive insects and diseases have destroyed MILLIONS OF TREES in Michigan – often after hitching a ride on firewood. Hauling firewood, even a short distance, from one part of the state to another is a common way for these invasive species to infest new locations. Please purchase local or certified heat-treated firewood sold in state parks, local stores and roadside stands.
You can always transport your own or rented camping unit or RV in and out of a state park; however, if a rental is being delivered and set up for you at the park, you must rent from a permitted vendor.
Camping is permitted in designated sites only.
Campground and park visitors are not allowed between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
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.). To help visitors with medical needs, electric and solar-powered generators are allowed.
Quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. during which time campers can not knowingly cause noise that disturbs others.
Reasonable sound levels must not be exceeded at any time.
Radios, generators or other amplified devices may not create excessive noise.
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/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 State Park, Burt Lake SP, Cheboygan SP, Fort Custer SP, Hoeft SP, Holly Recreation Area, North Higgins Lake SP, Port Crescent SP, Rifle River RA and Twin Lakes SP.
Discharge of firearms, air guns, slingshots or arrows aren't permitted in campground boundaries.
If you’re traveling distances without a motor vehicle or similar means of transportation, and you’re in need of overnight camping, space is available at state parks and state forest campgrounds even when the location is at full capacity. In these specific, need-based cases, sites are made available to individuals who are self-supporting, leave-no-trace tent campers carrying their camping gear on their bike, in a backpack or within a canoe or kayak. A safe area within the park, with varying levels of amenities, will be assigned. The following requirements apply:
Selling or renting a state-managed campsite, cabin, lodge, or harbor slip is defined as commercial activity and is prohibited. Reservations must be canceled if they cannot be used by the original reservation holder, they cannot be sold or transferred to another party. Park staff may not honor a reservation that has been sold and transferred.
State forest campgrounds are first come, first served and cannot be reserved. The only exception is Elk Hill Equestrian River Trail State Forest Campground (Otsego County). Advance reservations are available at takes advance reservations at MiDNRReservations.com.
Camping fees and registration procedures are posted at the information kiosk at each campground.
Paying and holding a campsite in advance of arrival is prohibited. 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 of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. To help visitors with medical needs, electric and solar-powered generators are allowed.
You many not camp with more than 6 horses per campsite at an equestrian state forest campground or trail camp.
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:
View a map of state forests and state forest campgrounds.
The map can be used as a measurement tool to determine state forest boundaries and which locations are more than one mile from state forest campgrounds. Camp registration cards are also available at customer service centers.
See the following documents for rates and operating dates at facilities. If you need assistance reading these documents or would like them in an alternative format, please call 517-284-7275.
NEW! Camping and lodging fee adjustments: To help ensure the long-term sustainability of state parks and that rates are keeping pace with fixed costs, camping and lodging fees are being adjusted. New nightly rates will be effective Aug.1, 2025. Find info on the adjustments.
There is a non-refundable fee that is assessed when making reservations online a MiDNRReservations.com ($8) or by phone at 1-800-447-2757 ($10).
As part of the pet-friendly lodging program, there is an additional fee of $10 per night/pet/cabin or $15 per night/pet/lodge (only applies to lodging where pets are allowed).
When the booking window opens, inventory becomes available Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m.
Visit MiDNRReservations.com or call 1-800-447-2757 to make a reservation.
Harbor slips, campsites and state park lodging not already reserved in advance may be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Once checked in at the park, if you choose to reduce the length of your stay a refund will be calculated as a percentage of unused camp night fees based on the number of months the reservation has been held (see sliding modification/cancellation formula below).
If you check out before 1 p.m., that night’s camp fees will be included in the refund formula. If you check out after 1 p.m., that night’s camp fees will NOT be included in the refund formula.
You may cancel or modify your camping reservation online at MiDNRReservations.com or by calling 800-447-2757. Please note that the original nonrefundable reservation fee, a cancellation fee and a reduced-stay fee will be assessed.
Once campsite reservations are made, they cannot be canceled or modified more than five months before the arrival date.
The following fees will be assessed if you cancel or modify your camping reservation:
Reservations that are canceled on the same day the reservation was created will be assessed the $10 cancellation/modification fee only.
Modifications to reservations that do not affect the length of stay will be assessed the $10 cancellation/modification fee only.
Modifications to reservations that result in an increase in the length of stay will be assessed the additional nights’ fees only and NOT the $10 cancellation/modification fee.
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 (assessed on remaining unused nights using the 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
