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State parks · The Island Sea

Lake Huron State Parks

16 state parks on the Michigan shore, about 20,859 acres where an area is recorded. The biggest is Thompson's Harbor State Park; the oldest, Mackinac Island State Park (1875). The busiest on record, Harrisville State Park, counted 151,273 visitors in 1996.

Parks

16

Acres recorded

21k

States

1

Oldest

1875

Chart of Lake Huron with 16 state parks markedAlbert E. Sleeper State ParkBay City State ParkCheboygan State ParkFort Michilimackinac State ParkHarrisville State ParkHoeft State ParkLakeport State ParkLime Island State Recreation AreaMackinac Island State ParkNegwegon State ParkPort Crescent State ParkRockport State Recreation AreaStraits State ParkSturgeon Point State ParkTawas Point State ParkThompson's Harbor State Park
Michigan · 16

Room to roam

The biggest state parks on Huron

By recorded area. Big parks often run well inland from the beach.

5,109 acres (8.0 sq mi) · Presque Isle Co., MI

Thompson's Harbor State Park

Established 1988, near Rogers City.

4,237 acres (6.6 sq mi) · Alpena Co., MI

Rockport State Recreation Area

Established 2012, near Alpena.

4,118 acres (6.4 sq mi) · Alcona Co., MI

Negwegon State Park

Established 1962, near Alpena.

2,389 acres (3.7 sq mi) · Bay Co., MI

Bay City State Park

Established 1922, near Bay City.

1,250 acres (2.0 sq mi) · Cheboygan Co., MI

Cheboygan State Park

Established 1960, near Cheboygan.

980 acres (1.5 sq mi) · Chippewa Co., MI

Lime Island State Recreation Area

Established 2011.

Lake Huron state parks in Michigan 16

Every vehicle entering a Michigan state park needs a Recreation Passport, bought with your license plate registration or at the park. Michigan DNR

Alcona County 3

Alpena County 1

Bay County 1

Cheboygan County 1

Chippewa County 1

Emmet County 1

Huron County 2

Iosco County 1

Mackinac County 2

Presque Isle County 2

St. Clair County 1

All Michigan Great Lakes state parks

Beyond the parks

More on Lake Huron

Lake Huron field guide154 Huron beaches30 Huron lighthousesHuron boat launchesRip currents and where to swim
How many state parks are on Lake Huron?

This directory lists 16 state parks and recreation areas on or beside the U.S. shore of Lake Huron in Michigan. Together they cover about 20,859 acres where an area is recorded. Canadian provincial parks are not included. County, city and national parks are not counted here.

What is the biggest state park on Lake Huron?

Thompson's Harbor State Park, at 5,109 acres (8.0 sq mi). Next come Rockport State Recreation Area (4,237 acres) and Negwegon State Park (4,118 acres). Areas are as the park's record gives them; some include inland tracts well back from the water.

What is the oldest state park on Lake Huron?

By the year each park's record gives as its founding: Mackinac Island State Park (1875), Harrisville State Park (1920), Hoeft State Park (1920). Some parks grew out of older federal or city land, so "established" means the year it became a park, not the year the land was first protected.

Do I need a pass to visit a Lake Huron state park?

Every vehicle entering a Michigan state park needs a Recreation Passport, bought with your license plate registration or at the park. A few parks are run by towns, counties or commissions and set their own rules; each park page says so.

Parks from Wikipedia's state park categories, facts from each article's infobox and its Wikidata record, retrieved 2026-10-11. A park is listed when it sits on or beside the shore. Shoreline from Natural Earth (public domain). Charts are not for navigation. Corrections to contact@greatamericanlakes.com.