Crystal clear water, sparkling white beaches, and gentle waves to play in are what you’ll find at Petoskey State Park! Petoskey State Park is by far one of Michigan’s most beautiful state parks. You will find it at the north end of Little Traverse Bay between Petoskey and Harbor Springs. This park is located near the top of the state and surrounded by abundant natural beauty and things to do!
Campgrounds
Tannery Creek Campground has nearly 100 sites for great camping. The amenities at this park include drinking water, picnic tables, RV sanitation, public toilets, and RV electric hookups. This park is in the perfect location for biking, hiking, fishing and swimming!
The Dunes Campground is a bit smaller and offers 80 campsites. These campsites also offer electrical hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. This campsite not only has public restrooms, but showers as well.
Both of these parks are perfect for those traveling with furry companions as they are pet friendly. Not only that, they are connected by trails that you can take your four-legged friend exploring on.
Things To Do
Petoskey State Park has much to offer for everyone! Multiple picnic tables and grills located around the park offer a great place to gather and share a meal with family and friends. There are also many fishing spots at the park so you can catch that meal before making it!
The beach itself is a reason to visit Petoskey State Park. With clean, bright sand for miles, you and the kids can dig holes, bury each other, and build sand castles for hours! Your beach fun is only limited by your imagination! Jump in the waves, go skim boarding, or take great photos of your kids playing in the “Big Lake.” Or bring your kite and experience some of the best kite flying around thanks to the breezes off of Lake Michigan!
One of the favorite pastimes here is looking for Petoskey stones. The Petoskey stone is the official state stone of Michigan. These stones are actually prehistoric fossils of coral polyps. They formed a very long time ago when Michigan was actually covered in seawater. When the plates shifted and the ground moved above seawater, this coral could no longer survive. The glaciers moving along the shore deposited them, making the Michigan shoreline the best place to find these gems.
Trails
Old Baldy Trail is a favorite trail of many visitors to the park. This hike takes you up Old Baldy Dune to the most amazing view of the park and beach. The trail is a little bit of a challenging climb, but there are plenty of observation decks where you can take in this amazing park along the way.
Portage Trail, the longest trail in Petoskey, is a full mile from beginning to end and connects the Tannery Creek and Dunes campgrounds. This trail is great for nature lovers as it takes you through the forests. This trail isn’t just for summer hiking either. You can hit this trail in the winter for some cross-country skiing!
Things To Do Around Petoskey
There is so much to do when visiting Petoskey, no matter your age. If you’re in the mood for shopping, check out Petoskey’s Historic Gaslight District. Here you can find a great assortment of shops, boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. While taking a stroll down the sidewalk in this adorable city, your way will be lit by historic gaslights!
For the artists and history buffs, Petoskey has what you’re looking for! Crooked Tree Arts Center has a beautiful gallery filled with the works of more than 35 different artists. With that much variety, you’re sure to find something you love! Then just head down the road to the Little Traverse History Museum to get your fill of Petoskey’s history!
If you enjoy a fine glass of wine, then you’ll love Petoskey! Between the beautiful Petoskey Farms Vineyard & Winery and the modern Walloon Lake Winery, you’ll get to experience some of the most delicious wines northern Michigan has to offer.
Looking for something to do with the kids? Check out Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf for some fun mini golfing! If you’re looking for some rainy day fun, take your kids to Busy Bodies Bounce Town where they can jump their little hearts out! Or if you want to connect with nature and maybe even get in a little fishing, then visiting Bear River Valley Recreation Area is a must! This area is one of the best white water recreation areas around. You can walk the trails and take in the view of the rushing water, or get in a raft and experience the thrills for yourself! Either way, the scenery at Bear River Valley is unbeatable!!!
Start planning your trip to Petoskey State Park and see for yourself what this amazing park and city have to offer. You’re guaranteed to come home with loads of amazing, beautiful photos and tons of great memories!
