Michigan has claim to a range of beautiful parks and outdoor areas that are a major tourist attraction for Michiganders and those beyond the Mitten. It’s easy to find state parks, campgrounds and outdoor recreation areas throughout the state, which makes it simple to find summertime things to do in Michigan.

Of course, many of Michigan’s most charming state parks are located on or near one of the Great Lakes. It doesn’t get much more beautiful than exploring a state park near the water. I’m actually more of an ocean kind of girl, but since we’re so far from the ocean here in Michigan, you really can’t go wrong enjoying the gorgeous lakes.

If you’re looking for some summertime fun, I’ve put together a list of 30 beautiful Michigan state parks to get on your to-visit list. I’ve only been to a few of these parks, but the ones I’ve visited are breathtaking. Last summer, I traveled to Sleepy Hollow State Park in Laingsburg and did some hiking, which offered an endless array of beautiful views of nature. Another one on the list that I’ve visited is Ludington State Park Beach, which offers some great views of lighthouses.

If you’re looking for some interesting Michigan state park trivia, Michigan’s 103 state parks and recreation areas cover 306,000 acres with 14,100 campsites in 142 campgrounds and over 900 miles of trails. The state parks get 28 million annual visitors. Michigan’s state parks system was launched in 1919. There are three Michigan state parks that pre-date the creation of the park system in 1919, and those include Mackinac Island State Park (1895), Michilimackinac State Park (1909) and Interlochen State Park (1917). According to Michigan.gov, Michigan has 103 state parks and 138 state forest campgrounds. “In Michigan, you’re never more than a half hour away from a state park, state forest campground or state trail system,” they state.

• Sleepy Hollow State Park

  Sleepy Hollow State Park

  Sleepy Hollow State Park contains over 2,600 acres including a river winding its way through the woods, fields and trails. Lake Ovid nestled in the middle of it all was developed by damming the Little Maple River and covers 410-acres. The park offers a year-round opportunity for recreation with 181 modern campsites.

• Fayette Historic State Park

  Fayette Historic State Park and Harbor

  Find unmatched scenery and take a walk back in time at Fayette Historic State Park. The park is located on the shores of Big Bay de Noc - on Lake Michigan between Snail Shell Harbor and Sand Bay - on the southern side of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

• Hartwick Pines State Park

  Hartwick Pines State Park, Visitors Center & Logging Museum

  Hartwick Pines State Park, Grayling, is one of the largest state parks in the Lower Peninsula. It is named for its 49 acres of old-growth pine forest, some of the last remaining in the state. The park's rolling hills overlook the valley of the East Branch of the AuSable River, four small lakes and unique timber lands.

• Harrisville State Park

  Harrisville State Park

  Harrisville State Park is set along the sandy shores of Lake Huron. The park is home to a day-use area nestled in a stand of pine and cedar trees, a modern campground, a designated swim beach, trails, overnight lodging options and more. Great Lakes beach safety.

• Bald Mountain State Recreation Area

  Bald Mountain Recreation Area

  This 4,637 acre recreation area has several picnic areas, a modern accessible shooting range, large hunting areas, several fishing lakes, two trout streams, a sandy swimming beach and 15 miles of marked hiking and biking trails. Immensely popular for its eight miles of groomed cross-country skiing trails and snowmobiling, sledding and ice fishing.

• Hiawatha National Forest

  Hiawatha National Forest - Home

  Hiawatha National Forest

• Yankee Springs Recreation Area

  Yankee Springs Recreation Area

  The rugged terrain, bogs, marshes, lakes, streams and unique beauty of the park's 5,200 acres lend itself to many forms of recreation--metal detecting, hiking, biking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and ice fishing are popular winter activities. Nine lakes are located within the park boundaries providing fishing and water sports of all kinds during warm weather.

• Wilderness State Park

  Wilderness State Park

  Wilderness State Park, located just 11 miles west of Mackinaw City, is home to 26 miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline, 20-plus miles of trails, a designated swimming and pet-friendly beach and unique camping opportunities. The park is also a designated dark sky preserve offering stellar views of the sky and is just 9 miles from Headlands Dark Sky Park (an Emmet County park).

• Warren Dunes State Park

  Warren Dunes State Park

  Warren Dunes State Park provides 1,952 acres of recreational opportunities along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan. Its rugged dune formation, rising 260 feet above the lake, offers spectacular views and is excellent for hang gliding (permit is required). The park is home to 3 miles of shoreline, 6 miles of hiking trails and two popular campgrounds.

• J. W. Wells State Park

  Wells State Park (J.W. Wells)

  J.W. Wells State Park is located along 3 miles of Lake Michigan's Green Bay, just 30 miles south of Escanaba in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and across the bay from Door County, Wisconsin. The 700-acre park is home to a modern campground, a designated swim beach, a picnic area, rustic cabins and a trail with three warming shelters.

• Van Buren State Park

  Van Buren State Park

  Van Buren State Park is set along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The park is home to high dune formations, a modern campground, 1 mile of sandy beach, woodland trails and a day-use area. The day-use area offers picnic tables and grills, a picnic shelter and two modern restroom buildings.

• Tahquamenon Falls State Park

  Tahquamenon Falls State Park

  Tahquamenon Falls State Park encompasses nearly 50,000 acres and stretches 13-plus miles in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The park is home to multiple campgrounds, overnight lodging facilities, a boat launch, more than 35 miles of trails and multiple overlooks to the Upper and Lower Falls.

• Holland State Park

  Holland State Park

  Holland State Park is best known for sugar sand beaches, beautiful sunsets and views of the iconic "Big Red" lighthouse. The park is home to two large campgrounds, an accessible playground, opportunities for paddling and fishing, and connections to nonmotorized trails.

• Sleeping Bear Dunes

  Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service)

  Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450' above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacular views across the lake. An island lighthouse, US Life-Saving Service stations, coastal villages, and picturesque farmsteads reflect the park's rich maritime, agricultural, and recreational history.

• North Higgins Lake State Park

  North Higgins Lake State Park

  North Higgins Lake State Park - located along the north shore of Higgins Lake at the former site of the world's largest seedling nursery - is home to a modern campground, mini cabins, a boating access site, a designated swim beach, a picnic area and trails popular for hiking and cross-county skiing.

• Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

  Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

  Over 9,400 acres of bottomland-hardwood forests, marshes, pools, grasslands and croplands attract a variety of wildlife, migratory fowl, shorebirds and songbirds. 12 miles of trails popular with mountain bikers, hikers and cross-country skiers. Hunting, fishing and boating. Environmental education and photography. Wildlife observation tower and platforms with spotting scopes, give you close-up views of bald eagles and white-tail deer.

• Petoskey State Park

  Petoskey State Park

  Petoskey State Park, situated on Little Traverse Bay, is home to 1 mile of beautiful beach along Lake Michigan, two modern campgrounds and trails. Located just 3 miles northeast of Petoskey and 6 miles south of Harbor Springs, the park is a popular destination for those wanting to find Petoskey stones.

• Seven Lakes State Park

  Seven Lakes State Park

  An endless variety of topography and ecosystems form the area called Seven Lakes. Its land was a combination of farmland, rolling hills and forests. About 230 acres of water with several miles of shoreline await the park user.

• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

  Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service)

  Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coastal features and affects every ecosystem, creating a unique landscape to explore. Hiking, camping, sightseeing, and four-season outdoor opportunities abound.

• River Raisin National Battlefield Park

  River Raisin National Battlefield Park (U.S. National Park Service)

  River Raisin NBP preserves, commemorates, and interprets the January 1813 battles of the War of 1812 and their aftermath. Battles that resulted in the greatest victory for Tecumseh's Confederation and the British and the greatest defeat for the U.S. The aftermath led to U.S.

• Muskegon State Park

  Muskegon State Park

  Muskegon State Park is home to 3 miles of breathtaking shoreline (2 miles along Lake Michigan and 1 mile on Muskegon Lake), Snug Harbor, forested dunes, two campgrounds, picnic areas, multiple trails and more. One of the park's popular features is the blockhouse that was originally built by the CCC in the 1930s to provide opportunities for visitors to see in all direction.

• Muskallonge Lake State Park

  Muskallonge Lake State Park

  Muskallonge Lake State Park is located 28 miles northwest of Newberry in Luce County. The 217-acre park is situated between the shores of Lake Superior and Muskallonge Lake and the area is well known for its forests, lakes and streams. Muskallonge Lake State Park was the former site of Deer Park, a lumbering town in the late 1880s, and prior to its lumbering history, an Indian encampment.

• Isle Royale National Park

  Isle Royale National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

  Explore a rugged, isolated island far from our connected communities. Isle Royale offers adventures for backpackers, hikers, boaters, paddlers, and divers. Cross Lake Superior and make a commitment: Become a part of this island, and let it become a part of you.

• Maybury State Park

  Maybury State Park

  Maybury State Park, a busy day-use park, is home to an oasis of lush, green forest amidst developed land. The park contains 1,000 acres of gently rolling terrain, open meadow and mature forest. The park offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including an extensive trail system for hiking, biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing, youth organizational camping, fishing, educational programming and a working farm.

• Keweenaw National Historical Park

  Keweenaw National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

  The stories of people and copper in the Keweenaw Peninsula have been intertwined for more than 7,000 years. Indigenous Peoples made copper into tools and trade items. Investors and immigrants arrived in the 1800s in a great mineral rush, developing thriving industries and cosmopolitan communities.

• Ludington State Park Beach

  Ludington State Park

  Ludington State Park, situated between the 5,000-acre Hamlin Lake and 7 miles of sandy Lake Michigan shoreline, features scenic sand dunes, three campgrounds, the iconic Big Sable Point Lighthouse, 21 miles of marked trails and more. A 1-mile stretch of the Big Sable River runs through the park and provides excellent opportunities for fishing, paddling and tubing.

• Lake Gogebic State Park

  Lake Gogebic State Park

  Located on the edge of an extensive upland area set in the heart of the Ottawa National Forest, Lake Gogebic State Park is an ideal point from which to explore the western Upper Peninsula. Many points of interest are within easy reach of the park.

• William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor

  William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor

  William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor is located in the heart of Detroit, just east of downtown, along a portion of the city's Detroit Riverwalk, which provides easy access for fishing, biking, walking and rollerblading. The park is divided into three areas, including the harbor, the picnic shelter area and the popular berm area.

• Fisherman's Island State Park

  Fisherman's Island State Park | Visit Charlevoix, Michigan | Charlevoix the Beautiful!

  Get detailed information on the local Attraction, Fisherman's Island State Park, located in or around Charlevoix, Michigan.

• Burt Lake State Park

  Burt Lake State Park

  Established in 1921, Burt Lake State Park is situated on the southeast corner of beautiful Burt Lake. The park is home to 2,000 feet of sandy shoreline, a shallow designated swim area, modern camping, boating, fishing, sightseeing and much more.

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