iNterlochen State Park
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:06 pmI just returned yesterday from a trip to Interlochen State Park, 15 miles south of Traverse City, MI. This park was established in 1917 and is the oldest State Park in MIchigan. It was originally called "Pine Park" and was set aside as a public park to preserve the virgin pine for the people of the State of Michigan. The renown Interlochen National Music Camp is adjacent to this park.
http://www.interlochen.org/ People come from all over and stay here to attend the concerts etc. at the music camp and music can be heard in the campground as well. A drum unit was practicing near the park when I was setting up my camp and doing a pretty good beat. Foot tapping music.
The park encompasses 200 acres and is located between Duck and Green Lakes. It has a rustic campground on Green Lake whichis suitable for tents and pupups, although there are a couple of sites right on the entrance road which could fit a TT or small MH.
The parks two modern campgrounds are located on Duck lake and contain 428 campsites between them. The south campground has the more heavily wooded and smaller sites of the two. Here again, maybe more for tents, small TT's and popups.
The north campground where I was has larger sites,, some in the sun, some in the shade and some back in the woods for those who might like to camp farther back away from the crowd per say. All are nice level sites and large enough to accomodate pretty much anything. There are also a few scattered around that would be better suited for tents.
This is the road on which I was camped, down at the far end.
This was the site I was on. A corner site 45x45, very level. The rig next to mine on the left is my friend Brenda's. We had a view toward the lake although could not see it directly due to all the bushes along the lake shore. But you could see the water sparkling through the leaves. There are a number of nice lake front sites located along the far road where the bushes are
The park is beautifully located on Duck Lake and contains a park store with a cafe, necessary camping supplies and souveniers, a nice swimming beach, playground, nature trail walk in the south campground, boat launch and of course the numerous activities of the music camp.
And of course what's a camping trip without a dip in the lake. Tessa is not about to let her streak of wading in every stream, river and lake we come across go unbroken. I've never had a collie who loves water like this one does.
The park also contains a set of "Big Wheels" which were used in the old logging days to move logs when there was no snow on the ground. They were pulled by a strong team of draft horses.
There are also camping cabins available to rent. Two have one bedroom and one has two bedrooms. All sleep 6 and have microwaves and mini fridges. Two also have electic fireplaces. The park also has a rent a tent program. One tent is a big platform tent, one is a popup camper and the other is a tipi
Hope you enjoyed the tour of this park. Anybody coming to Michigan, be sure to put this one on your list of parks to camp at. It' well worth it and if you plan ahead, you can even get tickets for some big venue at the music camp as well. I plan to return to this park next year. Not sure if I will make it back this year or not. Fall is coming, my work schedule is changing, the days are getting shorter etc. etc. But I sure want to go back again. Enjoyed it very much.
http://www.interlochen.org/ People come from all over and stay here to attend the concerts etc. at the music camp and music can be heard in the campground as well. A drum unit was practicing near the park when I was setting up my camp and doing a pretty good beat. Foot tapping music.
The park encompasses 200 acres and is located between Duck and Green Lakes. It has a rustic campground on Green Lake whichis suitable for tents and pupups, although there are a couple of sites right on the entrance road which could fit a TT or small MH.
The parks two modern campgrounds are located on Duck lake and contain 428 campsites between them. The south campground has the more heavily wooded and smaller sites of the two. Here again, maybe more for tents, small TT's and popups.
The north campground where I was has larger sites,, some in the sun, some in the shade and some back in the woods for those who might like to camp farther back away from the crowd per say. All are nice level sites and large enough to accomodate pretty much anything. There are also a few scattered around that would be better suited for tents.
This is the road on which I was camped, down at the far end.
This was the site I was on. A corner site 45x45, very level. The rig next to mine on the left is my friend Brenda's. We had a view toward the lake although could not see it directly due to all the bushes along the lake shore. But you could see the water sparkling through the leaves. There are a number of nice lake front sites located along the far road where the bushes are
The park is beautifully located on Duck Lake and contains a park store with a cafe, necessary camping supplies and souveniers, a nice swimming beach, playground, nature trail walk in the south campground, boat launch and of course the numerous activities of the music camp.
And of course what's a camping trip without a dip in the lake. Tessa is not about to let her streak of wading in every stream, river and lake we come across go unbroken. I've never had a collie who loves water like this one does.
The park also contains a set of "Big Wheels" which were used in the old logging days to move logs when there was no snow on the ground. They were pulled by a strong team of draft horses.
There are also camping cabins available to rent. Two have one bedroom and one has two bedrooms. All sleep 6 and have microwaves and mini fridges. Two also have electic fireplaces. The park also has a rent a tent program. One tent is a big platform tent, one is a popup camper and the other is a tipi
Hope you enjoyed the tour of this park. Anybody coming to Michigan, be sure to put this one on your list of parks to camp at. It' well worth it and if you plan ahead, you can even get tickets for some big venue at the music camp as well. I plan to return to this park next year. Not sure if I will make it back this year or not. Fall is coming, my work schedule is changing, the days are getting shorter etc. etc. But I sure want to go back again. Enjoyed it very much.