In late March, a historic and devastating round of ice storms hit Northern Michigan. In addition to many homes being damaged and several thousands of residents dealin with multiple days of lost power, acres of state land and Michigan DNR campgrounds were impacted as well. Over 12 counties were impacted throughout the northern and northeast part of the state.The DNR has reported that 19 state parks and 55 state forest campgrounds were impacted by this storm.
The state has announced that on Thursday May 15th they will be re-opening several state campgrounds. This re-opending required a significant effort by the DNR to clear fallen trees and debris over the last 60 days. The state has created a dashboard for users to check the status of various campgrounds and recreational facilities. It is located here.
The following popular state park campgrounds are expected to open on Thursday.
Straits State Park
Aloha State Park
Onaway State Park
Ostego Lake State Park
Burt Lake State Park
Petoskey State Park is closed with the exception of the day use and beach areas.
It should be noted that there are still 63 DNR campgrounds, facilities and boating access sites are still closed to the public. As the traditionally popular Memorial Day camping weekend approaches, it is recommended that travelers check the DNR Ice Storm Recovery Dashboard for the most recent updates.
Additionally – it is noted that P.H. Hoeft State Park and Cheboygan State Park will remain closed due to previously scheduled construction and renovations.