Michigan’s 85 roadside parks. Source: Michigan Department of Transportation

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Park #

Park Name

Location

Route #

County

Information

1

Deer Lake

8 miles west of AuTrain

M-28

Alger

Located on Deer Lake.

2

Grand Island Harbor Sc. Turnout

One mile west of Munising

M-28

Alger

Great view of Grand Island in Lake Superior.

3

Scott Falls/Rathfoot Park

One mile east of AuTrain

M-28

Alger

Viewing platform, stairs to beach, Face in the Rock, Historical Marker for “Lake Superior,” Scott Falls across from park.

4

Kiva

2 miles south of Kiva

US-41

Alger

5

Birch Lake

North of Elk Rapids

US-31

Antrim

Access to a small, inland lake.

6

Standish

3 miles south of Standish

M-13

Arenac

7

Omer

One mile southwest of Omer

US-23

Arenac

8

Tioga Creek

West of Three Lakes

M-28

Baraga

Tioga Creek wanders through the park. Trailhead for Tioga Falls starts at the park.

9

Baraga Cliff

4 miles north of Keweenaw Bay

US-41

Baraga

Dramatic 80-foot sandstone cliffs provide scenic views of Keweenaw Bay and Lake Superior.

10

Canyon Falls

One mile south of Alberta

US-41

Baraga

Trailhead to hiking path for Canyon Falls. Series of falls in deep canyon carved in black rock.

11

Woodland

3 miles east of Woodland

M-66

Barry

12

Benzie Scenic Turnout

Arcadia

M-22

Benzie

Views of Lake Michigan with a, 180-degree panorama.

13

Benzonia

5 miles south of Benzonia

US-31

Benzie

14

Artesian Flow

Watervliet

M-140

Berrien

Jonas Roadside Park has artesian spring.

15

Bronson

1.5 miles west of Bronson

US-12

Branch

Historical Marker for “The Old Chicago Road.”

16

Burlington

2 miles west of I-69

M-60

Calhoun

17

Lake Michigan Shores

4 miles northeast of Charlevoix

US-31

Charlevoix

Views of Big Rock Point and Little Traverse Bay with water access. Connects to Charlevoix-to-Petoskey bike path.

18

Huron Shores

14 miles east of Cheboygan

US-23

Cheboygan

Cover photo on 2009 State Transportation map.

19

Mackinac Straits

7 miles northwest of Cheboygan

US-23

Cheboygan

Halfway between Cheboygan and Mackinaw City.

20

DeTour

8 miles west of DeTour Village

M-134

Chippewa

View of Les Cheneaux Islands.

21

Hyde

8 miles west of Escanaba

US-2

Delta

22

Fumee Creek

4 miles east of Iron Mountain

US-2

Dickinson

View of waterfall from park, new stairs and viewing platform built in 2004.

23

Lennon

One mile north of Lennon

M-13

Genesee

24

Meridian

7 miles north of Wooden Shoe

M-30

Gladwin

Wooded park on the high banks of Tittabawassee River.

 

25

Memory Lane

At East City Limits of Bessemer

US-2

Gogebic

Historical Marker for “Gogebic Iron Range,” one of the last 3 great iron ore fields in the U.P.

26

Watersmeet

8 miles east of Watersmeet

US-2

Gogebic

27

Gateway

7.5 miles south of Watersmeet

US-45

Gogebic

28

Fife Lake

One mile northeast of Fife Lake

US-131

Grand Traverse

29

Acme

4 miles east of Traverse City

US-31

Grand Traverse

Located on East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay. Part of local township’s shoreline preservation efforts.

30

Jonesville

3 miles northeast of Jonesville

US-12

Hillsdale

31

Keweenaw Scenic Turnout

East of Hancock City Limits

US-41

Houghton

Located at the entrance to the Keweenaw National Historic Park. Views of the Portage Lake lift bridge.

32

Memorial Airport

4 miles south of Laurium

US-41

Houghton

Historical Marker for “The Copper Country.” Virtually the only area in the world with substantial native copper production.

33

Brown

3 miles south of Bay Port

M-25

Huron

Historical Marker for “The Great Fire of 1881.” A million acres were devastated in Sanilac and Huron counties.

34

Jenks

2 miles west of Port Austin

M-25

Huron

Features a view of Saginaw Bay, with beach access, restroom and picnic facilities.

35

Thompson Scenic Turnout

10 miles southwest of Port Austin

M-25

Huron

Thompson Park features 2 large grindstones and access to sandy beach on Saginaw Bay, picnic tables and benches.

36

White Rock

South of Atwater Road, Sherman Twp.

M-25

Huron

Views of Lake Huron and White Rock. Steps to beach, observation deck, walking trails connecting to non-motorized path on M-25. White Rock is a large, white, offshore boulder used as a boundary marker to define the territory released by the Native American tribes of Michigan to the United States under the Treaty of Detroit in 1807.

37

Red Cedar

4 miles east of Okemos

M-43

Ingham

Historical Marker for “Grand River Trail” which began as the Grand River Indian Trail and later became a plank road in 1848. Now M-43 (Grand River Avenue).

38

Bellamy Creek

2 miles west of Ionia

M-21

Ionia

Bellamy Creek winds through park, providing an setting for many wedding photos and gatherings.

39

Au Gres River

12 miles west of Tawas City

M-55

Iosco

40

Oscoda

2 miles north of Oscoda

US-23

Iosco

41

Alpha

6 miles south of Crystal Falls

US-2

Iron

42

Larson

5 miles east of Iron River

US-2

Iron

Historical Marker for “First Roadside Park,” believed to be America’s first. Established by Herbert Larson in 1918.

43

Austin Blair

6 miles south of Jackson

US-127

Jackson

Plaque honoring Governor Austin Blair.

 

44

Ada

3 miles east of Ada

M-21

Kent

45

Esrey

5 miles west of Copper Harbor

M-26

Keweenaw

Historic rock steps and rustic bench pavilions provide great views of Lake Superior. Home to rare conglomerate rock formations.

46

Hebard

One mile west of Copper Harbor

M-26

Keweenaw

47

Baldwin

7 miles east of Branch

US-10

Lake

48

Chase

7 miles east of Baldwin

US-10

Lake

49

Cambridge Junction

2 miles south of US-12

M-50

Lenawee

50

Old Flowing Well

6 miles east of McMillan

M-28

Luce

51

British Landing

Mackinac Island

M-185

Mackinac

52

Cut River Bridge

26 miles west of St. Ignace

US-2

Mackinac

Bridge with panoramic views of Lake Michigan, walking paths and access to Cut River and lake via scenic staircase.

53

Gros Cap

8 miles west of St. Ignace

US-2

Mackinac

Historical Marker for “Gros Cap and St. Helena Island.” French fishermen settled here in 1850s.

54

Bridge View Scenic Turnout

2.7 miles west of I-75

US-2

Mackinac

The history of US-2 and its use by Native Americans, explorers, settlers and soldiers is chronicled in a sign written in both English and Anishinabe (Native American language). Views of the Straits of Mackinac.

55

Cooley Bridge

4.7 miles west of M-37

M-55

Manistee

Park is named for Murray Van Wagoner.

56

Lake Superior

2 miles east of US-41

M-28

Marquette

Scenic view and access to 3 miles of sand beaches. Popular in summer for sunsets, bonfire parties in evening. Stopping point for open water kayakers along Lake Superior.

57

Michigamme

0.3 mile east of Michigamme

M-28/US-41

Marquette

Popular stop for a roadside picnic. Provides a scenic view of Lake Michigamme. Located on the site of the historic Michigamme Mine.

58

Leif Erickson

5 miles south of Republic

M-95

Marquette

Located on the Michigamme River.

59

Cunard

2 miles west of Hermansville

US-2

Menominee

60

Marl Lake

4 miles east of Edmore

M-46

Montcalm

Located on aqua-color Marl Lake. A nature conservatory.

61

Greenville

3 miles east of Greenville

M-57

Montcalm

62

Sheridan

One mile south of Sheridan

M-66

Montcalm

63

Hillman

West of Hillman

M-32

Montmorency

64

Northern Pine

8 miles north of Atlanta

M-33

Montmorency

65

White River

4 miles east of Hesperia

M-20

Newaygo

66

White Cloud/Ziegler

4 miles north of Newaygo

M-37

Newaygo

67

High Rollway

3 miles east of Newaygo

M-82

Newaygo

Views overlooking Muskegon River – especially beautiful fall color.

 

68

Zeke Lake

3 miles east of New Era

M-20

Oceana

69

Ogemaw

7 miles north of Alger

M-33

Ogemaw

70

Agate Falls

West of Trout Creek

M-28

Ontonagon

Park is located between Bruce Crossing and Trout Creek. Views of Agate Falls.

71

Ewen Pines

2 miles west of Ewen

M-28

Ontonagon

72

Military Hills

3 miles south of M-26

US-45

Ontonagon

This park has a plaque on a stone pillar: “In 1864 Abraham Lincoln commissioned this road extending from Green Bay to Fort Wilkins as a military highway to secure copper supplies for the union forces.”

73

Agnew

South of Grand Haven

US-31

Ottawa

74

Grand Lake

16 miles southeast of Rogers City

US-23

Presque Isle

Located on Grand Lake.

75

Huron Dunes

12 miles north of Huron Beach

US-23

Presque Isle

76

Four Mile Scenic Turnout

South of Forestville

M-25

Sanilac

Views of Lake Huron, with stairs from the park on the bluff down to the beach.

77

Lake Huron

South of Port Sanilac

M-25

Sanilac

Views of Lake Huron, with stairs from the park to the beach. Historical Marker for “Great Lake Storm of 1913” when sudden tragedy took 235 lives and 10 ships sank.

78

Manistique River

One mile south of Germfask

M-77

Schoolcraft

79

Greenscholl

3 miles south of Blaney Park

US-2

Schoolcraft

80

Thompson/Rogers Park

4 miles southwest of Manistique

US-2

Schoolcraft

View of Lake Michigan with beautiful sandy beach and picnic tables.

81

Vassar

One mile south of Vassar

M-15

Tuscola

82

Cass River

10 miles east of Richville

M-46

Tuscola

83

Mesick

4 miles west of Mesick

M-115

Wexford

84

Hodenpyl Dam Scenic Turnout

South of Mesick

M-37

Wexford

85

Manistee River

7 miles north of Manton

US-131

Wexford

 

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