May 12 2008
State Forest Campgrounds to Reopen
The State of Michigan closed 20 state forest campgrounds last year supposedly because of budget difficulties. Perhaps the most controversial closure was of the Pinney Bridge Campground that served as the only legal camping site on the Jordan River Pathway. That closure essentially ended a nice weekend backpack possibility in the Lower Peninsula.
Well, today the State of Michigan announced that all 20 closed campgrounds will reopen. Excerpts and link:
Twenty state forest campgrounds that were temporarily closed last year because of tight state budgets will be reopened for the 2008 camping season.
The Department of Natural Resources made the announcement Monday.
The move comes after state lawmakers restored half a million dollars to the department’s recreation and trail program.
Michigan’s 143 state forest campgrounds will open in mid-May. Opening times by vary by local weather conditions.
The following state forest campgrounds are reopening:
–Alpena County: Thunder Bay River
–Antrim County: Pinney Bridge
–Cheboygan County: Black Lake Trail Camp, Stoney Creek Trail Camp, Twin Lakes
–Chippewa County: Shelldrake Dam
–Crawford County: Walsh Road Trail Camp
–Grand Traverse County: Forks
–Luce County: Bass Lake, Headquarters Lake, High Bridge
–Marquette County: N. Horseshoe Lake, Pike Lake
–Oscoda County: McCollum Lake, Muskrat Lake
–Otsego County: Johnson’s Crossing
–Schoolcraft County: Mead Creek, N. Gemini Lake, S. Gemini Lake
–Wexford County: Long Lake