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Michigan State Parks

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Fisherman''s Island State Park
Fisherman's Island State Park Sunset view © BDJM
Sunset with Great Lakes freighter.
Fisherman's Island State Park Snake in the Surf of Lake Michigan © Bob Clark
This snake was struggling in the heavy surf of Lake Michigan
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FISHERMAN''S ISLAND STATE PARK
FISHERMAN''S ISLAND STATE PARK
Bells Bay Road
Charlevoix, Michigan   49720

Phone: 231-547-6641
Reservations: 800-447-2757
Fisherman's Island State Park is not actually an island, but a 2,678-acre park with five miles of unspoiled Lake Michigan shoreline. The park encompasses a tiny island, Fisherman's Island, located a short distance offshore from the picnic area. Located just south of Charlevoix, it features a rustic campground with some of the sites nestled in the dunes along the lakeshore. The park road travels through the campground to the picnic area with access to the beach and miles of hiking trails. The interior terrain consists of rolling dunes covered with maple, birch and aspen broken up by bogs of cedar and black spruce.
Passes
The Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. Details and information on how to obtain your Michigan Recreation Passport can be found by visiting the MICHIGAN RECREATION PASSPORT web page.
Camping
Fisherman's Island-Rustic(800) 447-2757 81 site(s)Rustic Site, Vault Toilet
Swimming
1. Fisherman's Island State Park offers a beautiful shoreline for swimming.
2. The park has five miles of Lake Michigan coastline perfect for swimmers.
3. There are no lifeguards on duty, so swim at your own risk.
4. Swimming is allowed throughout the day during park hours from 8 am to 10 pm.
5. Water shoes are recommended due to rocky areas in some parts of the beach area.
6. The water can be cold even in summer months; wetsuits may be beneficial early or late season.
7. There aren't any designated swimming pools within the state park - it's all natural lakefront access!
8. Swimming conditions vary with weather and wave activity - always exercise caution when entering open waters.

Boating
The park, located in Michigan, offers a variety of boating options for visitors. However, it's important to note that there are no boat launch facilities within the park itself. Visitors can use nearby public launches at Charlevoix and Antrim County's Ferry Avenue access site on Lake Charlevoix if they wish to go sailing or motorboating. Canoeing is also popular along the shoreline but caution should be taken due to potential rough waters from Lake Michigan.
Fishing
You can enjoy shore fishing or boat fishing in the area. Species include trout, salmon and perch among others. Anglers may also find smallmouth bass and northern pike here. You'll need a Michigan Fishing License to fish these waters legally.


Location
Fisherman''s Island State Park is

Picnicking
Grills and picnic tables are located in a picnic area about three miles inside the park's main entrance.
Bicycling
Biking enthusiasts should note that there are no designated biking trails within this particular park. It's important to remember, while exploring the 2.5 miles of scenic roadways on bike, they're shared with motor vehicles and pedestrians alike.

It is crucial for cyclists to adhere strictly to safety rules due their sharing these roads with other users. Bikers must be cautious at all times as terrain can vary from paved surfaces to loose sand or gravel paths.

Night cycling isn't recommended due its limited visibility conditions and lack of lighting in certain areas.
Remember: helmets are not optional but a necessity when riding through any state parks in Michigan.
Cross-country Skiing
Several miles of trails makes winter nature observation a pleasant pursuit. Trails are not groomed.
Trails
Several miles of trails makes hiking and nature observation pleasant pursuits.

Fisherman's Island-Foot Trail Trail Length: 3.00 (Miles)Hiking

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
May 2 resident of Charlevoix
park review stars; one to five st.marys cement proposed land swap would take away 190 acres and some campsites and entrance to park would be moved south 6 to 8 miles Contact Michigan DNR
August 30 awesome place
park review stars; one to five Wonderful place to camp if you are seeking quiet and tranquility. The campsites were large and not crammed together like so many DNR properties. There is plenty of wildlife to see. The best thing was the unspoiled beauty of Lake Michigan. I recommend this to anybody wanting to get away from the rat-race.
July 6 Great Place to Camp by Alex
park review stars; one to five Some campsites backed up to the water and were very nice. The other sites, however, were a short walk from the water and somewhat secluded. The beach was nice but not very big. View was great.
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Michigan
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Michigan State Parks

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