Michigan state park news - May 2025

The unprecedented March 28-30 ice storm devastated 12 counties (Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque) in northern Michigan.

Since then, DNR teams from across the state have been working tirelessly to assess the damage and continue the monumental cleanup process. Reopening these outdoor facilities and locations has been and will continue to be a significant undertaking, necessitating a carefully prioritized and phased approach.

The sheer scale of the ice storm is staggering, affecting nearly 1 million acres of state forest land, 19 state parks, 55 state forest campgrounds, 169 boating access sites, 3,290 miles of state-managed trails and 3,400 miles of state forest roads. 

As a result of this effort, all state park campgrounds and overnight lodging locations, such as cabins, lodges and tiny houses, have opened by their scheduled spring 2025 opening date or will reopen this Thursday. Please note that some of these locations may look different, with more open spaces, damaged trees and extra natural debris.

Find a dedicated map and dashboard with the latest status (open, partially open, closed) of state parks, state-managed trails, boating access sites and state forest campgrounds, safety updates and more on the DNR storm recovery page.

Two trails in the northern Lower Peninsula are recipients of the 2025 Pure Michigan Trail designation, an annual recognition that spotlights some of the state’s best trail experiences:

• The Betsie Valley Trail, a 22-mile pathway extending from Frankfort through Elberta and Beulah to Thompsonville in Benzie County.
• The Chain of Lakes Water Trail, a 100-plus mile inland water trail made up of 12 lakes and interconnected rivers located in northwest Michigan.

The Pure Michigan Trail and Trail Town Designation Program is a partnership between the DNR and Pure Michigan and is designed to help boost the state’s position as the “Trails State.”

Read the entire Showcasing the DNR story about this year’s recipients.

More than 10,000 people, in Michigan and across a dozen other states, participated in this spring’s Run for the Trees: Happy Little (Virtual) 5K. Registrants picked their pace and place – anywhere outdoors –  throughout the week of Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 25).

The event is a collaboration between the DNR and Bob Ross Inc., and this year Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin joined this initiative. Participants received a Happy Little T-shirt, sticker, commemorative bib and finisher’s medal.

The 2025 event brought in a total of more than $200,000 for tree-planting and forest protection efforts, with each state receiving a portion based on their participant numbers. Event proceeds included nearly $40,000 in donations; when signing up registrants could elect to donate beyond the price of their race entry.

Registration for the 2026 Run for the Trees: Happy Little (Virtual) 5K will open this fall. Watch the registration site for more details.

As you prepare your boat, kayak, canoe or personal watercraft for the 2025 boating season, it’s a good time to review what you can do to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Michigan’s waterways are some of the finest in the world. To protect them from invasive species, state law requires the following actions:

• CLEAN. Ensure that the watercraft, trailer and any conveyance used to transport them are free of aquatic organisms, including plants.
• DRAIN. Remove all drain plugs and drain all water from bilges, ballast tanks and live wells.
• DRY. Allow boats, trailers and gear to dry in the sun for 5 to 7 days, or wash with a pressure washer and dry surfaces with a towel.
• DISPOSE. Throw unused bait in the trash. Do not release bait into the water or release fish or baitfish to water bodies other than where they were caught.