As the one Great Lake totally throughout the United States, Lake Michigan’s shores may be loved from 4 completely different states. While many state parks provide direct entry to its ocean-like waters, some nature lovers choose the tranquility and serenity of certainly one of Michigan’s smaller lakes. Just a stone’s throw from Lake Michigan is Indian Lake State Park, a peaceable outside haven hidden in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that gives quite a lot of actions. Home to the Upper Peninsula’s fourth-largest inland lake, the state park covers 567 acres of verdant woodlands, ample marshes, and sandy areas. Indian Lake itself consists of over 8,600 acres of water floor, making sufficient room for everybody to splash round.
Indian Lake State Park has a wealth of recreation that spans from fishing and boating to mountain climbing and paddling. Visitors can chill out and swim on the designated seashore space with its sandy shoreline, discover the park’s surroundings on a nature program, and hire out a kayak to drift on the water. Anglers prefer to convey their gear to fish for a number of species teeming within the lake. When you’ve got modified out of your swimsuit, you’ll be able to stroll alongside the 1.4-mile Dufour Creek Trail, which passes by lush cedars and hemlocks.
Indian Lake splits the park into two zones — one aspect affords trendy tenting, whereas the opposite permits you to spend the evening in a extra rustic setting. Cabin leases can be found, too, for many who’d like extra snug lodging. Before you make the drive there, double-check that you just put the appropriate handle within the GPS, as there’s one other state park with the identical title in Ohio. Coming from Marquette takes 1.5 hours, whereas the drive from Sault Ste. Marie takes longer at two hours. You could make the journey from Escanaba in about one hour.
Camping at Indian Lake State Park
Manistique, a metropolis with boardwalk bliss and attraction, is your entry level to Indian Lake State Park. While you’ll be able to ebook a keep within the metropolis and make a day journey out of it, tenting provides you the chance to raise your outside expertise. There are two campgrounds at Indian Lake — one on the west aspect and one other on the south. The trendy campground is located on the southern shore, that includes 145 websites. Nine of those are ADA-accessible, whereas seven are tent-only spots. Additionally, some present 50-amp electrical energy, and quite a few campsites boast waterfront views.
The trendy campground is provided with water, restrooms, pit bogs, a sanitation station, and a dumpster. There are stairs on the campground that take you straight to the seashore space, the place you will discover a waterfront picnic shelter. This campground can be the place the 2 cabin leases are situated. Accommodating as much as 4 friends, these are small, one-bedroom cabins with ADA accessibility. Inside, there is a loft mattress with a decrease full-size mattress and a cot. Linens aren’t included, however the cabins include electrical energy and home equipment like a mini fridge, heater, fan, and microwave. Outside, you can begin a campfire within the ring, grill some meat, and have a picnic.
On the park’s west aspect is the semi-modern campground, with 72 websites open from mid-June by Labor Day. Divided into six loops, these campsites can be found on a first-come, first-served foundation. Amenities listed here are lowered to ingesting fountains and vault bogs, in addition to a 20-amp electrical energy provide at every spot. Either approach, you should utilize the services on the different campground for a nominal price. With the appropriate tenting suggestions (that nobody tells you about), you are all set for a enjoyable time on the state park.
Take benefit of water-based recreation at Indian Lake State Park
With your sleeping preparations settled, make your strategy to the small expanse of sandy seashore, measuring roughly 75 yards in size. With its clear and shallow waters, you’ll be able to safely wade within the lake and take in the solar. If you wish to enterprise out into the deeper finish, your greatest wager is to take action by way of boat. The day-use space has a paved ramp to simply get on the water. Keep in thoughts that almost all of the lake mattress is shallow water (beneath 15 ft deep), so be sure to solely cruise on small boats.
Another choice is paddling on the lake. Head to the west aspect’s day space to seek out the hand launch and set afloat. Don’t fear if you do not have your individual tools — you’ll be able to hire a kayak from the park workplace. While you are navigating the lake in your vessel of alternative, why not set your rod to reel in some fish? Indian Lake is stocked with quite a few species, equivalent to perch, northern pike, brown trout, and bluegill. You also can goal different varieties, like walleye, sturgeon, and muskellunge, together with rock and smallmouth bass. Feel free to fish from the shoreline, too.
Beyond swimming, boating, and fishing, you’ll be able to have leisurely picnics at Indian Lake State Park. Reserve both of the 2 picnic shelters to take pleasure in snacking with lake views — each have water, tables, and grills. As the adults put together the meals, youngsters can play horseshoes, run across the playground, and play volleyball. Although the shelters have electrical shops, one shelter requires a booked reservation to make use of them. More adventures await within the Upper Peninsula — drive for an hour and 20 minutes to succeed in Fiborn Karst Preserve, a once-thriving mining website house to Michigan’s longest-known cave.