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Upper Michigan State Parks

Whether you're camping from your motorcycle or your RV,  if you want to see and experience some of the best sights in the U.P. then you're going to have to visit Michigan's State Parks.

To access the parks, you can pay by the day or purchase an annual sticker.  It's $6 daily or $24 yearly for Michigan residents, and $8 daily and $29 yearly for us non-residents.  If you're going to be doing a lot of riding in the U.P over the summer it pays to buy the annual sticker. 

I've listed the parks below along with some comments about each.  I've not been to them all, but hope to see them all now that I've listed them on this website. The only one I've bike camped in was Bewabic State Park and while I may do it again these days I tend to prefer a soft bed when I call it a day.  If I were younger man I'd probably be bike camping all the time. I should note, one option is mini-cabins now available in many state parks and private parks.  These little cabins offer a nice alternative to the hard ground.  

 

Baraga State Park
1300 US-41 South,
Baraga MI 49908
(906) 353-6558
 

I've ridden by this park many times.  Looks like a pretty nice park.  Sits right on the bay.

Bewabic State Park
1933 US-2 West
Crystal Fall, MI 49920
(906) 875-3324
 

I camped from my bike here in 2006.  It's a nice park with a great crystal clear lake.  

Brimley State Park
9200 West 6 Mile Road
Brimley, MI 49715
(906) 248-3422


 

I've never been to this park. However, since it happens to be on a road that I want to ride between the Sault Ste. Marie and Whitefish Point, I suspect I'll be stopping by this summer.  Let you know what I find.

Craig Lake State Park
P0. Box 88
Champion, MI 49814
(906) 339-4461
 

I hear this is as rustic a park you're find in the Michigan park system.  I don't even know if you can get a motorcycle into the park for lack of a paved road.  I'll have to give it a try one of these days.

Fayette Historic State Park
13700 13.25 Lane
Garden, MI 49835
(906) 644-2603
Recommend

Seems like old ghost towns are being restored everywhere you look these days, but I really recommend you make the ride to Fayette. The road was repaved in 2008 and makes for a nice ride.  The park is well worth your time.

Fort Wilkins State Historic Park
P0. Box 71
Copper Harbor, Ml 49918
(906) 289-4215
Recommend

 

This is an interesting old fort with some history.  It would be a shame to ride all the way up to Copper Harbor and not visit this park.

Indian Lake State Park
Rt. 2, Box 2500
Manistique, MI 49854
(906) 341-2355
 

I grew up not far from this campground and spent a lot of my childhood here.  It's a nice campground on a great swimming and fishing lake. It's much to crowed for me these days.  For more quiet place to camp, choose the "north" park up the road.

Lake Gogebic State Park
H.C. 1, Box 139
Marenisco, Ml 49947
(906) 842-3341
 

I've only been to this park once and that was a quick ride through on the way to somewhere else.  Seems like a nice campground and I have friends who like fishing the lake, which is the largest inland lake in the U.P.

Laughing Whitefish Falls Site
N7670 Hwy. M-35
Sundell, MI
(906) 341-2355

Not really a park or a campground, it's referred to as a Scenic Site.  A well known waterfall that sits at the end of a short hike through the woods.  It an interesting waterfall, but somewhat hard to find.

F. J. McLain State Park
Rt. 1, Box 82, M-203
Hancock, Ml 49930
(906) 482-0278
 

I visited this park for the first time on 2008.  I went there to see the lighthouse.  Seems like a nice campground and I was surprised there weren't more people there.

Muskallonge Lake State Park
Rt.1, Box 245
Newberry, MI 49868
(906) 658-3338
 

I visited this park a couple years ago.  It may be the most remote Lake Superior Campground in Upper Michigan.  Don't take the road from Grand Marais, Its part paved, part gravel and not in very good shape.  Better to ride up H-37 from Newberry.

Palms Book State Park
Rt. 2, Box 2500
Manistique, MI 49854
(906) 341-2355
Recommend

I haven't met anyone who's been to the Big Spring that wasn't glad they went.  It's as eerie as it can get looking down into the ice cold spring waters.  Was a time you could watch massive trout swim under the raft, but someone mentioned that they were gone. Hope not.

Porcupine Mountains State Park
412 South Boundary Rd.
Ontonagon, MI 49953
(906) 885-5275
Recommend

I've hiked, backpacked and photographed the Porkies over the years.  It's waterfalls are some of the best you'll find anywhere in the Midwest.  If you camp, choose the Presque Isle Campground at the south end of the park.  Rustic yes, but its the best park in the Porkies.

Straits State Park
720 Church St.
St. Ignace, Ml 49781
(906) 643-8620
 

I've never been to this park.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park
41382 West M-123
Paradise, Ml 49768
(906) 492-3415
Recommend

 

I discuss this park in my Road Trip to Whitefish Point.  The falls are the largest in the Midwest and you don't want to ride by this one.  Besides they have a micro-brewery right in the parking lot of the largest set of falls.  Can't beat that.

Twin Lakes State Park
Rt.1, Box 234
M-26,Toivola, MI 49965
(906) 288-3321
 

This is really a nice campground.  It sits on the shore of sand bottom lake and has all the things you would want in a state campground.  If I were bike camping, this would have made a great stop.

Van Riper State Park
P0. Box 88
Champion, MI 49814
(906) 339-4461
 

Never been to this park

Wagner Falls Scenic Site
Rt. 2, Box 2500
Manistique, MI 49854
(906) 341-2355
Recommend

If you like waterfalls as much as I do, then this is a nice stop with a short hike to the falls.  No camping here.

J.W. Wells State Park
N7670 Hwy. M-35
Cedar River, MI 49813

This park is a nice pull over for those headed into the U.P. from Wisconsin on Highway M-35.  Great place to give the backside a rest.  It has a nice beach and facilities.  Keep in mind that this stretch of road has many places to pull off the road and access the beach where it doesn't cost you anything.

   

 

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Michigan State Map - see State of Michigan's online state map to plan your next road trip.