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Saginaw Bay Visitor Center

Saginaw Bay Visitor Center

Interpreter Jonathan Massung teaches in the wet lab

Saginaw Bay Visitor Center at Bay City State Park

3582 State Park Drive
Bay City, MI 48706
Phone: 989-667-0717
Email: Jonathan Massung, interpreter

2023-24 hours:

April 1 - Memorial Day: Friday - Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.

Memorial Day - Labor Day: Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.

Labor Day - Thanksgiving: Friday - Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.

January winter break to complete construction

January - March 31: Saturday - Sunday, noon - 4 p.m.

A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into park.

The Saginaw Bay Visitor Center, located in Bay City State Park on the shores of Saginaw Bay, helps visitors discover Tobico Marsh, one of the largest coastal wetlands on the Great Lakes. 

Nestled under a canopy of sheltering hardwoods on the edge of the marsh, the modern visitor center stands on the site of the historic Jennison Nature Center, built in 1940 and named for George B. Jennison, a prominent local conservationist. In 1995 the aging nature center was given a $1 million makeover. A 10,000-square-foot building, which more than doubled the size of the original facility, reopened in 1996 with a 100-seat auditorium and new exhibit hall.

The Wetlands Wonders Gift Shoppe is located within the center and run by volunteers from the Friends of Bay City State Park. The shop has a wide variety of educational resources for all ages, as well as a large selection of nature-related gifts.

Things you might see on your hike

Programs for adults, families and classrooms

Education programs for the public

Weekly program schedule

Classroom programs

Field trips and outreach