A little winter lodging with your cross country skiing?
Tue, Jan 5, 2010 - By Michigan DNR
All Michigan State Parks are open in winter and allow cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Grooming on the cross country ski trails is done at 22 state parks.
Ten campgrounds are open in the winter: Tahquamenon Falls, Waterloo Recreation Area/Portage, Fort Custer, Bay City, Ludington, Algonac, Mitchell, Traverse City, Rifle River Recreation Area and North Higgins Lake State Park.
Four parks have heated restrooms in the winter: Traverse City, Rifle River, Mitchell and Tawas Point.
Many of these parks have winter activities scheduled including cross country skiing by lantern light. Check out the GO-Get Outdoors Calendar. Activities are being added daily.
Rustic Cabins
Rustic cabins are generally located in quiet areas of the parks. The number each can accommodate is different. They range from two to 24 campers. Each cabin provides single-sized beds or bunks with mattresses, a table, chairs, brooms, and a propane heater or wood stove for heat. When planning trips, campers should consider bringing bedding, cookware, lanterns, a first-aid kit, ax or handsaw, and flashlights.
**Except for the cabins at Sleeper State Park and Holly Recreation Area, the rustic cabins do not have electricity.
| Rustic Cabin Location | Grooming? |
| Bald Mountain | No |
| Brighton | No |
| Cheboygan | Track set only |
| Fort Custer | No |
| Harrisville | No |
| Hartwick Pines | Groomed and Track Set |
| Holly** | No |
| Island Lake | No |
| McLain | No |
| Ortonville | No |
| Porcupine Mountains | Groomed and Track Set |
| Rifle River | Groomed and Track Set |
| Sleeper** | Groomed and Track Set |
| Van Riper | No |
| Waterloo | No |
| Wells | No |
| Wilderness | Groomed Only |
Mini Cabins
Mini Cabins open throughout the winter season are listed below. These one-room cabins are located on a campsite within the campground and are generally slightly smaller than a rustic cabin. Because they are located on campgrounds, all have electricity. Mini-cabins are designed to sleep four people with bunk beds and mattresses provided. Campers must provide all bedding, cookware, tableware. A first-aid kit, lanterns, flashlight, ax or handsaw and a portable cook stove are recommended.
| Mini Cabin Location | Grooming? |
| Bay City | No |
| Fort Custer | No |
| Fort Wilkins | Groomed and Track Set |
| Harrisville | No |
| P.H. Hoeft | Groomed and Track Set |
| Ludington | Track Set only |
| McLain | Groomed only |
| Mitchell | No |
| Muskegon | Groomed and Track Set |
| N. Higgins Lake | Groomed and Track Set |
| Port Crescent | Groomed and Track Set |
| Sleeper | Groomed and Track Set |
| S. Higgins Lake | No |
| Tawas Point | No |
| Traverse City | No |
Camper Cabin Location
Camper Cabins open and heated for visitors throughout the winter season are listed below. The camper cabins sleep up to six people with two sets of bunk beds in their own rooms and a futon in the main living area. Another difference is the view. The front deck is the ideal place to enjoy the view of the sun coming up over one of our many lakes. Camper cabins offer electricity, refrigerators and microwaves. Visitors must supply their own bedding, dishes and cookware.
| Camper Cabin Location | Grooming? |
| Fort Wilkins | Groomed and track set |
| Holland | No |
| Mitchell | Groomed Only |
| Pinckney | No |
| Tahquamenon Falls | Groomed and Track Set |
| Port Crescent | Groomed and Track Set |
| Tawas Point | No |
| Waterloo/Portage | No |
| Proud Lake | Track Set Only |
| Van Riper | No |
Lodges
Lodges that are open throughout the winter season are listed below. Lodges vary by location and can accommodate from 6 to 24 people. Lodges come furnished and fully equipped with full bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms and some even have a washer, dryer and linen service.
| Lodge Location | Grooming? |
| Highland | |
| P.H. Hoeft | Groomed and Track Set |
| Porcupine Mountains | Groomed and Track Set |
| Wells | No |
| Proud Lake | Track Set Only |
| Traverse City | No |
| Fayette | Groomed and Track Set |
| Tahquamenon Falls | Groomed and track set |
| Twin Lakes | Groomed and Track Set |
Yurts
Yurts open throughout the winter season are listed below. Yurts are sturdy, tent-like structures that originated in central Asia. They offer a new adventure in camping providing visitors with a snug, weather tight shelter that is close to all available winter activities.
| Yurt Location | Grooming? |
| Pinckney | No |
| Porcupine Mountains | Groomed and Track Set |
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