Top Metroparks and State Parks in Michigan

Megan Lasley

We’re lucky enough to live in a state that offers beautiful parks, lakes, campgrounds, and so much more to fulfill your itch to get outside. To make visiting my recommendations easier, I suggest purchasing a Huron-Clinton Metroparks Pass ($40 for residents or $45 for non-residents) and a Michigan State Recreation Passport ($12 when purchased during license renewal and $17, plus a $5 convenience fee, when purchased at state parks). Doing so saves time and money and allows you to easily enter any park. Without a pass, most Metroparks require a $10 daily fee, and most state parks require an $18 daily fee. Please note that this depends on the location you visit.

With so many parks to choose from, you can’t go wrong. But, I ‌have a few personal favorites like Ludington State Park and Mayberry State Park.

Let’s explore some of the best Metroparks and State Parks in Michigan below.

  • 1

    Delhi Metropark

    Delhi Metropark - East Delhi Road, Ann Arbor MI

    Delphi Metropark offers all the natural beauty of a park right in your backyard (well, almost). Explore the playground, mature oak trees, rolling lawns, bike, canoe, kayak, or just come relax. Located on a quiet bend of the Huron River, Delhi Metropark often has water-friendly visitors like herons, turtles, and deer.

  • 2

    Dexter-Huron Metropark

    Dexter-Huron Metropark - Huron River Drive, Dexter MI

    Take in the sights and sounds of Dexter-Huron Metropark by hiking, picnicking, biking, fishing, or paddling along the Huron River.

  • 3

    Dodge #4 State Park

    Dodge #4 State Park - Parkway Street, Waterford Township MI

    This small but mighty park offers a sandy beach and a one-mile shoreline on Cass Lake. This park is ideal for a quick trip during the summer or winter for water-related activities.

  • 4

    Hudson Mills Metropark

    Hudson Mills Metropark - North Territorial Road, Dexter MI

    This Metropark has something for everyone from the 18-hole golf course to the two 24-hole disc golf courses, hiking paths, and bike paths.

  • 5

    Huron Meadows Metropark

    Huron Meadows Metropark - Hammel Road, Brighton MI

    Spend the day with mother nature at Huron Meadows Metropark. Activities available include golfing, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

  • 6

    Indian Springs Metropark

    Indian Springs Metropark - Indian Trail, White Lake MI

    This quiet, beautiful park is home to towering trees and native ecosystems. Aside from its beautiful landscape, this Metropark offers visitors activities to enjoy, including golf, a hike-bike trail, volleyball, a splash pad, playgrounds, cross-country skiing, and sledding.

  • 7

    Island Lake Recreation Area

    Island Lake Recreation Area - Kensington Rd, Brighton MI

    Island Lake Recreation Area offers 4,000 endless acres of state land in Southeast Michigan. Popular activities at this park include mountain biking, paddling, hiking, swimming, triathlon training, picnicking, hunting, fishing and trapping, and shooting.

  • 8

    Lake St. Clair Metropark

    Lake St. Clair Metropark - Metro Parkway, Harrison Township MI

    Lake St. Clair Metropark is perfect for adventurous nature lovers. Visitors can enjoy bird watching, windsurfing, kiteboarding, boating, bicycling, hiking, in-line skating, golfing, or swimming.

  • 9

    Ludington State Park

    Ludington State Park Beach - Michigan 116, Ludington MI

    My absolute favorite park, Ludington State Park, offers three campgrounds, sandy beaches, scenic sand dunes, an iconic lighthouse, wetlands, marshlands, and forests. Seated between the 5,000-acre Hamlin Lake and seven miles of Lake Michigan, the park offers beautiful shoreline scenery, no matter your location.

  • 10

    Maybury State Park

    Maybury State Park - Eight Mile Road, Northville MI

    Another favorite, Maybury State Park, offers visitors almost 1,000 acres of land to explore. Popular activities at this park include hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, youth organizational camping, fishing, educational programming, a riding stable, and a working farm.

  • 11

    Stony Creek Metropark

    Stony Creek Metropark - Main Park Drive, Shelby Township MI

    This expansive 4,435-acre Metropark is perfect for the water fanatic. At the heart of Stony Creek Metropark sits the 500-acre Stony Creek Lake, where visitors can spend all day on the water.

  • 12

    Wolcott Mill Metropark

    Entrance to Camp Rotary - Wolcott Mill Metropark, 29 Mile Road Ray

    At this park, take a step into both nature and history. At Wolcott Mill Metropark, visitors can find a working farm with animals like sheep, goats, and pigs, one of America’s last remaining grist mills, a park, picnic shelters, and a trail system.

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