The campground at Lakeport State Park has 250 sites, multiple playgrounds, a camp store, and, most importantly, access to Lake Huron. The best placeto find coral fossils are along the shores of Lake Huron, Knightstep said. 800-292-7800, phone lines are open 24/7. Here are the five coolest rocks in Michigan that every rock hunter has to find in his or her lifetime. The state park is located where the Grand Traverse Bay meets Lake Michigan, an area that is notorious for hard-hitting storms. Michigans only state park on Lake Erie, Monroes Sterling State Park offers outdoor recreation an easy drive from metro Detroit, Toledo and Cleveland. Located less than 20 minutes from Port Huron, Lakeport is the most accessible campground and rock hunting beach on this list for folks who hail from metro Detroit. Besides the 49 acres of old growth forest, the state park includes 9,000 acres for mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and camping. This application contains a complex map. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Hello! As far as activities go, P. H. Hoeft State Park has you covered! Read more about P. H. Hoeft State Park here. I have seen a lot, and I have taken photographs and videos at almost every single beach we have visited. Beachcombing on the Lake Michigan shore is a popular pastime as well. Paul H. Hoeft was a lumberman and businessman who owned vast tracks of land in and around the Rogers City area. After walking the short trail out to the lakeshore, youre greeted with access to miles of rocky Lake Superior shoreline. One of the Traverse City regions most spectacular state parks, Leelanau sits at the northernmost tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, the pinky finger of the Michigan mitten. Wells State Park offers 150 modern campsites as well. The park also offers lakeside camping and a memorial to Father Marquette. No matter where you are in our great state, odds are, you arent far from either of these things. Yooperlite | Photo Courtesy of Scott Castelein What are Yooperlites The western half of the Upper Peninsula, in particular the Keweenaw Peninsula, is the best rockhouning region in Michigan. Look for the Bow Man, believed to represent an archer, the most famous of the carvings. Seven miles of undeveloped Lake Huron shoreline greet visitors to this northern Michigan retreat midway between Cheboygan and Alpena. Visitors may camp in one of 250 campsites or 9 rustic cabins. Plus, when youre walking a Lake Michigan beach, the view is usually pretty nice, too. Mackinaw Citys restored Mill Creek recreates the 18th-century lumber era in the Great Lakes with a recreated saw mill. Though there can be exceptions, your best chance at finding these fossils is in the presence of other stones. The eastern portion of Michigans Upper Peninsula was the first region that I truly had a problem forcing myself to leave a beach to stop looking for rocks. Be sure to leave a few rocks for the next hunter, though! The park sits atop the embankments of the Hardy Dam Pond, a flood plain of the Muskegon River, making this a popular spot for fishing, boating and swimming. State park, historic sites and visitor center events. The best places to rockhound in Michigan are the Keweenaw Peninsula, Isle Royale, Manitou Island, Marquette County, and the shorelines of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. HAP is one of the oldest dedicated private lands public access programs in the nation. If youve enjoyed looking for rocks during the day, wait until you try finding them at night! Brachiopods are bottom dwelling bivalve that lived in ancient oceans. The park features nearly 350 campsites as well as a quarter mile of magnificent sandy beach. Be sure to research the rules before your quest for the perfect Petoskey stone! We're located near the three major rockhounding trailheads around Lake Superior, meaning an entire weekend of rock collecting can be in your future. We are planning a brief vacation (mid-June) and would appreciate any suggestions on places to rock hound. When you camp in the same park where you rockhound, you can hit the ground running and arrive before those just coming in for the day, furthering your chances of finding a special stone. Walking trails give added comfort to those getting out for their first time or those with mobility challenges. Hunting, fishing, boating, camping and hiking occupy visitors to Brimley State Park, just west of Sault Ste. ! limit. St. Clair Shores Rocks kicked off around June 2017, says city council member and group founder Candice Rusie. The Charlevoix stone at first glance looks a lot like its close reletive, the Petoskey stone, but generally are much smaller. And as an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission on qualifying purchases after clicking on those links, at no additional cost to you. You are also only allowed to take 25 pounds of rock per year from Michigan state land. Tiny Budd Lake in Harrison is the home of Wilson State Park, a 36-acre wooded recreation area in northeast Michigan. It isnt a huge campground, but weve been told that it doesnt often fill up given its location. https://www.mindat.org/search.php?search=Michigan+. Call 517-284-9453 or emailDNR-Wildlife@Michigan.govfor assistance with reading or interpreting. Its an easy walk by boardwalk from the state park to downtown Grand Haven shopping, dining and the Musical Fountain. Visitors to the Grayling area can see traces of that old forest at Hartwick Pines State Park, home to some of the last few acres of remaining virgin forest. Visit the parks Saginaw Bay Visitors Center to learn more about the marsh. You can find Lake Superior agates all along the shores of Lake Superior, but especially anywhere between Muskallonge State Park and Whitefish Point, Knightstep said. 723 acres of Lake Huron beach, wetlands, forest and dunes make up Sleeper State Park, located in Michigans thumb. Although we didnt get lucky and find any agates, others on the beach had, and we went home with some beautiful stones of other varieties. A mesh bag works great when you're in the sand and near the water. The remainder of the park includes a short hiking trail open year-round. Click the box above to learn more about Michigan's state forests. That might seem like a lot, but believe me, you will get there quicker than you think! Although there is beach access throughout the park, most notably at the campground and day-use area, our favorite hunting spot is only accessible if youre willing to take a short hike. more. It's a great place to hike, bike and fossil hunt! The best place to find the Petoskey stones is Lakeport Day Use Beach in Lakeport, Mich., Knightstep said. Between the crashing waves of Lake Superior and the fish-laden waters of Muskallonge Lake in Michigans Upper Peninsula sits a state park that offers the best of two worlds. For additional variation, the Presque Isle region has been known to yield magnificent veined sandstone and even chalcedony geodes. Inland, the park offers access to Hamlin Lake, with quieter and warmer waters appealing even when Lake Michigans surf is too cold for swimming. Get all your hunting information here, including hunting season dates, rules and regulations, and much more. These seemingly normal, gray rocks are rich with fluorescent sodalite and glow a vibrant orange and yellow under a UV light. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. RockSeeker.com is reader-supported. Those I know who do collect have said the abandoned Champion mine site west of Marquette is a good location to collect. Always be prepared, especially when youre outdoors! Richly brown and foamy thanks to the Tahquamenon Rivers high levels of tannin, the falls are often compared to root beer. While in the area, ezhibiigadek asin is worth checking out to learn about some of the oldest physical history Michigan has to offer, as well as Sleeper State Park and Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse to see more of what Lake Huron has to offer. Bringing things back down further south, 376 miles south as the car drives, to be exact, we have Lakeport State Park. Heading out in the rain or right after a storm can be productive times, too. These areas provide exceptional waterfowl hunting opportunities. We have found multiple fossils and (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? With all that in mind, lets take a look at our favorite campgrounds in Michigan that offer on-site rock hunting! HAP is one of the oldest dedicated private lands . Tips for Finding Petoskey Stones. The spring is generally the best time of year to find Petoskey stones because wave action and winters ice have brought new stones to the shores of Lake Michigan. Coral fossils are part of a large group of invertebrates called the Coelenterates, which means "hollow-intestine," referringto their hollow body cavity, according to the Department of Environmental Quality. Please view our directory listingfor general contact information. We found so many fossils that we had to decide which ones to keep and which ones to toss back. The glittering glass and steel towers of downtown Detroit surround a surprisingly quiet oasis of green at William G. Milliken State Park, one of Michigans newest state parks. When hunting rocks of any kind, its extremely important to be aware of any state or federal regulations. Because of the regions high iron concentration, they have deep reds and burned oranges. If any Petoskey Stone weighs over 25lbs, the DNR has the right to confiscate it. 2023 Michigan Economic Development Corporation. This historic state park located deep within Michigans thumb is small in size, but worth a visit to see Michigans only known prehistoric Native American rock carvings in the Lower Peninsula. Modern Rockhounding and Prospecting Handbook $19.73 A must have for every serious rockhound! Hello! http://exploringthenorth.com/rocks/east.html, http://www.exploringthenorth.com/rocks/west.html. While in the area, Leelanau State Park is great for hiking and Northport is our favorite town in the Leelanau Peninsula. The secret is out on Michigan rock collecting, and the shores of Lake Superior near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a magnet for Yooperlite hunting in Michigan. The parks two distinct units offer a combined 250 modern campsites and access to Lake Huron for swimming, boating and fishing. Devonian. 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