Top state parks
State ParkGrand Mere State Park
State ParkWarren Dunes State Park
State ParkTahquamenon Falls State Park
State ParkIndian Lake State Park
State ParkBurt Lake State Park
State ParkWarren Woods State Park
State ParkWilderness State Park
State ParkSterling State Park
State ParkGrand Haven State Park
State ParkSilver Lake State Park
State ParkCheboygan State Park
State ParkHarrisville State Park
State Parks by county
All state parks (68)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Mere State Park | Berrien County | — | Stevensville | 4 |
| Warren Dunes State Park | Berrien County | — | Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert | 4 |
| Tahquamenon Falls State Park | Chippewa County | — | Newberry | 1 |
| Indian Lake State Park | Schoolcraft County | — | Manistique | 2 |
| Burt Lake State Park | Cheboygan County | — | Indian River | 1 |
| Warren Woods State Park | Berrien County | — | Three Oaks | 4 |
| Wilderness State Park | Emmet County | — | Saint Ignace | 1 |
| Sterling State Park | Monroe County | — | Detroit Beach | 5 |
| Grand Haven State Park | Ottawa County | — | Grand Haven | 5 |
| Silver Lake State Park | Oceana County | — | Hart | 3 |
| Cheboygan State Park | Cheboygan County | — | Cheboygan | 3 |
| Harrisville State Park | Alcona County | — | Hubbard Lake | 1 |
| Lake Gogebic State Park | Gogebic County | — | Wakefield | 1 |
| Baraga State Park | Baraga County | — | Baraga | 1 |
| Bay City State Park | Bay County | — | Essexville | 4 |
| Ludington State Park | Mason County | — | Ludington | 3 |
| Maybury State Park | Wayne County | — | Northville | 6 |
| McLain State Park | Houghton County | — | Hancock | 2 |
| Mears State Park | Oceana County | — | Hart | 3 |
| Brimley State Park | Chippewa County | — | Sault Ste. Marie | 2 |
| Cambridge Junction Historic State Park | Lenawee County | — | Brooklyn | 4 |
| Leelanau State Park | Leelanau County | — | Charlevoix | 1 |
| Twin Lakes State Park | Houghton County | — | Atlantic Mine | 1 |
| Waterloo State Recreation Area | Jackson County | — | Stockbridge | 4 |
| Wells State Park | Menominee County | — | Menominee | 2 |
| White Pine Trail State Park | Mecosta County | — | Big Rapids | 5 |
| William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor | Wayne County | — | Detroit | 7 |
| Young State Park | Charlevoix County | — | Boyne City | 4 |
| Straits State Park | Mackinac County | — | Saint Ignace | 1 |
| Tawas Point State Park | Iosco County | — | East Tawas | 3 |
| Thompson's Harbor State Park | Presque Isle County | — | Rogers City | 1 |
| Algonac State Park | Saint Clair County | — | Algonac | 5 |
| Aloha State Park | Cheboygan County | — | Cheboygan | 2 |
| Muskegon State Park | Muskegon County | — | North Muskegon | 5 |
| North Higgins Lake State Park | Roscommon County | — | Roscommon | 2 |
| Onaway State Park | Presque Isle County | — | Indian River | 1 |
| Orchard Beach State Park | Manistee County | — | Manistee | 4 |
| Palms Book State Park | Schoolcraft County | — | Manistique | 2 |
| Port Crescent State Park | Huron County | — | Bad Axe | 2 |
| Fisherman's Island State Park | Charlevoix County | — | Charlevoix | 2 |
| Fort Wilkins Historic State Park | Keweenaw County | — | Laurium | 1 |
| Fayette Historic State Park | Delta County | — | Escanaba | 1 |
| Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park | Sanilac County | — | Cass City | 3 |
| Saugatuck Dunes State Park | Allegan County | — | Douglas | 4 |
| Seven Lakes State Park | Genesee County | — | Fenton | 6 |
| Sleepy Hollow State Park | Clinton County | — | Laingsburg | 4 |
| South Higgins Lake State Park | Roscommon County | — | Roscommon | 2 |
| Hartwick Pines State Park | Crawford County | — | Grayling | 1 |
| Hayes State Park | Lenawee County | — | Brooklyn | 4 |
| Hoeft State Park | Presque Isle County | — | Rogers City | 2 |
| Holland State Park | Ottawa County | — | Beechwood | 5 |
| Mitchell State Park | Wexford County | — | Cadillac | 4 |
| Petoskey State Park | Emmet County | — | Petoskey | 4 |
| Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park | Ontonagon County | — | Ontonagon | 1 |
| Bewabic State Park | Iron County | — | Crystal Falls | 2 |
| Mike Levine Lakelands Trail State Park | Livingston County | — | Pinckney | 4 |
| Van Buren State Park | Van Buren County | — | South Haven | 4 |
| Wagner Falls Scenic Site | Alger County | — | Munising | 1 |
| Negwegon State Park | Alcona County | — | Hubbard Lake | 1 |
| Duck Lake State Park | Muskegon County | — | Whitehall | 4 |
| Historic Mill Creek State Park | Cheboygan County | — | Saint Ignace | 1 |
| Hoffmaster State Park | Muskegon County | — | Norton Shores | 5 |
| Interlochen State Park | Grand Traverse County | — | Kingsley | 2 |
| Newaygo State Park | Newaygo County | — | Howard City | 3 |
| Traverse City State Park | Grand Traverse County | — | Traverse City | 4 |
| Rockport State Recreation Area | Alpena County | — | Alpena | 2 |
| Dodge No. 4 State Park | Oakland County | — | Keego Harbor | 7 |
| Mackinac Island State Park | Mackinac County | — | Saint Ignace | 1 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph state parks
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.