Winter is here and you think your camping season is over? Think again, if your brave enough to battle the snow and cold you still have opportunities to get out and hit the campgrounds.     You could even combine these camping excursions with an ice fishing trip. In February we are going to actually sleep out on the ice. We are going to rent a sleeper shanty and pile the guys into it for the weekend and see if we can pull some fish sticks through the ice. Ice fishing isn’t your thing, then maybe combine a winter camping adventure with a snowmobile outing. You can combine any winter camping trip to make other winter activities a little more memorable. For the complete list of Michigan State Parks and Rec Areas that are open to winter camping go to the Michigan DNR’s website or check out their press release below. Happy Camping!
Press Release

Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas Offer Winter Camping

The Department of Natural Resources wants to remind winter outdoor enthusiasts that there are state parks and recreation areas that remain open to offer camping opportunities throughout the winter season. “For your winter camping adventures, there are state parks or recreation areas that remain open for camping and other outdoor recreation year-round. Some offer rustic camping with no amenities, while others offer semi-modern campsites with electricity,” said Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.

“Some parks also have cabins, mini-cabins, lodges or yurts available to rent all year, and all are heated with wood or propane stoves. So GO-Get Outdoors and enjoy the winter season.”

Mitchell, Rifle River, and Traverse City offer site electricity and heated restrooms in the winter. Other campgrounds that are open all winter and offer site electricity are Algonac, Bay City, Fort Custer, Ludington, North Higgins Lake, Tahquamenon Falls, and the Waterloo Recreation Area-Portage Lake Campground.

Many of the camper cabins and mini-cabins have reduced pricing for the winter months. The following parks have facilities located on lakes or nestled in the woods, and offer one or more of these winter lodging opportunities with a wide variety of amenities for the winter season:

Upper Peninsula
Fort Wilkins, McLain, Porcupine Mountains, and Wells

Northern Lower Peninsula
Hartwick Pines, Hoeft, Interlochen, Ludington, Mitchell, Rifle River, South Higgins Lake, Tawas Point, Traverse City, and Wilderness

Southern Lower Peninsula
Bald Mountain, Brighton, Fort Custer, Highland, Holland, Holly, Island Lake, Ortonville, Pinckney, Port Crescent, and Waterloo

Reservations for campsites, cabins, mini-cabins and yurts can be made on-line at:

www.midnrreservations.com or by calling 800-447-2757. To reserve a lodge, contact the park directly. For more information about a specific state park or recreation area, winter camping opportunities, events or accessibility, visit the DNR’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr

, under the Recreation and Camping section, or contact the Lansing Office at 517-373-9900 (TTY/TDD711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired).

Motor vehicle entrance permits are $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A non-resident annual is $29 and a non-resident daily is $8. Resident annual senior discount permits are $6 and can only be purchased in person at a state park or recreation area, or the main office in downtown Lansing and will require a valid driver’s license and vehicle registration. In 2009, Michigan state parks will be celebrating their 90th anniversary. Special events will be planned and announced at a future date.
 

 

 

 

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