Closures affect many Michigan state parks properties

Heads up, for those planning an excursion to Wolverine State parks. The Department of Natural Resources has announced many of Michigan state parks properties are closed or closing temporarily for revamps. Michigan received a $250 million windfall through the American Rescue Plan Act, a 2021 federal COVID-19 relief package. The state is hustling the projects, as the money must be committed for use by the end of this December, and spent by the end of 2026.

“Slight disruptions” at many Michigan state parks properties

“Although these investments will cause slight disruptions in the form of temporary closures, these federal COVID-19 relief funds are helping us erase a decades-long backlog of repair and maintenance and help build a new state park in Flint, while providing a unique opportunity to upgrade Michigan’s valued state park system,” Parks and Recreation Chief Ron Olson said.

Here’s the list of affected Michigan state parks camping properties

Algonac to Fort Wilkins

Algonac State Park: No camping reservations to allow for improvement projects. Includes converting some sites to full-hookup, improving a sanitation station, and road repaving. The anticipated reopening will be announced at a later date.

Bay City State Park: Modern campground closed through May 23 for park entrance enhancements and flooding remediation efforts.

Brighton Recreation Area: The Bishop Lake modern campground will close March 1 – July 14 for electrical and road upgrades. The Horseman’s Equestrian Campground will close June 1 – October 15 while road repairs take place.

Brimley State Park: Modern campground opening delayed to May 23 to accommodate electrical upgrades. Further upgrades require the campground to close again after Labor Day.

Cheboygan State Park: Modern campground temporarily closed to upgrade electrical and water distribution systems. Reopening is slated for spring 2024.

Fort Custer Recreation Area: Modern campground closed through July 31 due to multiple park enhancement projects. If construction is completed ahead of schedule, the campground’s east loop may reopen early. All other park amenities remain open.

Fort Wilkins Historic State Park: Modern campground’s west loop and mini cabins will close in August until spring 2025 for construction of a new toilet and shower building. The campground’s east loop, sanitation station and camper cabin will remain open.

Indian Lakes to Muskallonge

Indian Lake State Park: Some campsites will be temporarily closed as the second phase of a shoreline restoration project takes place.

Interlochen State Park: Day use area will be closed through the summer to upgrade the park’s water and sewer system and upgrade the day-use toilet building. Additionally, the modern campground’s north loop will be closed for the 2024 season and the south loop will be closed through Labor Day.

Ludington State Park: The east loop of the Cedar campground will be closed until April 19 to update the campground’s lift station.

Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area: The campground’s 2024 opening is delayed until at least July 31 to repave campground roads, replace electrical and water lines/spigots in the modern campground and make sewer improvements at the camp store.

Muskallonge State Park: Modern campground (located in section 3) is closed through June 21 to replace one of the toilet and shower buildings.

Pinckney to Tahquamenon Falls

Pinckney Recreation Area: Bruin Lake campground anticipated to remain closed until June 1 due to upgrades to the sanitation station, north toilet and shower building, and campground roads.

Port Crescent State Park: The modern campground is closed throughout the 2024 season for new roads, water and sewer lines, electrical, a sanitation station and other improvements. The park’s beach house is under construction and slated to reopen by Memorial Day. The park’s day-use area and Port Austin State Harbor will remain open during construction.

Rifle River Recreation Area: Day-use pavilion is closed through June 15 and the Grousehaven modern campground will close September 2, 2024, through spring 2025, while the park makes several upgrades including road and parking lot repaving.

Seven Lakes State Park: Modern campground tentatively closed May 1 to June 30, 2024, due to a road paving and electrical improvement project.

Sleeper State Park: Modern campground is closed until at least May 24 or longer due to sewer system upgrades. Advance reservations currently are paused through June 23.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park: The park’s Lower Falls-Hemlock loop is open for winter camping but will be closed from May 1 until at least until July 1 for work to replace the toilet and shower building. Reservations will not be taken until a completion date is official. Lower Falls-Portage loop will open for the season as planned on May 15, but will be closing on September 6 for another project expected to run through at least May 2025. The park’s Rivermouth Pines and Modern campground loops will remain open for all of 2024.

And here’s the rest of them

Tawas Point State Park: Modern campground will be closed from September 3, 2024, to April 30, 2025, for electrical upgrades.

Twin Lakes State Park: The park will close for the 2024 season due to projects including replacing the campground toilet and shower building, updating the wastewater treatment system and paving the park roads.

Waterloo Recreation Area: Sugarloaf and Portage Lake campgrounds will be closed April 1 – May 31 to resurface playgrounds, replace a fishing pier and update water systems.

Wilderness State Park: Pines campground (sites No. 501 – 599) opening delayed to May 22 due to construction projects performed by the Michigan National Guard. All other campsites in the park open May 15.

Yankee Springs Recreation Area: Main day-use beach house, picnic shelters and Gun Lake campground will close for the entire 2024 season due to electrical and building updates, and sewer replacement. The park’s day-use area and boating access site will also experience intermittent closures throughout 2024 while road, fishing pier and sewer upgrades take place.

Young State Park: Modern campground closed through late summer for a project to fix drainage issues, replace both toilet and shower buildings, pave roads and replace the old sewer pumps in the two existing wet wells.

Here’s where to go for more information

• The DNR maintains an updated list of closures and delayed openings: Click here to see it. 
• Closure information is also posted on park, campground and trail pages, as well as the DNR’s camping reservations site here.

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