The Department of Natural Resources today announced the reopening of all temporarily closed state forest campgrounds for the 2008 camping season.

With the recent Legislative approval to restore $500,000 of General Fund appropriation to the Recreation and Trail Program, DNR Director Rebecca Humphries has authorized a land use order, effective May 12, removing 20 state forest campgrounds from their temporarily closed status.

DNR staff is quickly working to open all state forest campgrounds for the 2008 camping season. Depending on local weather conditions, campgrounds typically open by mid-May. Some state forest campgrounds will require maintenance repairs to the water wells during the month of May.

The 143 state forest campgrounds with over 3,000 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These rustic campgrounds have from five to 50 campsites, vault toilets and hand water pumps. They are found throughout the 3.5 million acres of state forests and most are located on a lake or river. State forest campgrounds are not on the DNR's campground reservation system.

The campgrounds to be reopened are listed below. For specific campground availability and information, please call the nearest Operations Service Center, or refer to the department Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr, and click on the Recreation, Camping and Boating menu.

State Forest Campgrounds to Be Reopened May 12, 2008

ATLANTA MANAGEMENT UNIT
Twin Lakes -- Cheboygan County
Black Lake Trail Camp -- Cheboygan County
Thunder Bay River -- Alpena County

CADILLAC MANAGEMENT UNIT
Long Lake -- Wexford County

GAYLORD MANAGEMENT UNIT
Pinney Bridge -- Antrim County
Stoney Creek Trail Camp -- Cheboygan County

GRAYLING MANAGEMENT UNIT
Walsh Road Trail Camp -- Crawford County
Muskrat Lake -- Oscoda County
McCollum Lake -- Oscoda County

GWINN MANAGEMENT UNIT
Pike Lake -- Marquette County
N. Horseshoe Lake -- Marquette County

NEWBERRY MANAGEMENT UNIT
Shelldrake Dam -- Chippewa County
High Bridge -- Luce County
Headquarters Lake -- Luce County
Bass Lake -- Luce County

PIGEON RIVER COUNTRY
Johnson's Crossing -- Otsego County

SHINGLETON MANAGEMENT UNIT
Mead Creek -- Schoolcraft County
N. Gemini Lake -- Schoolcraft County
S. Gemini Lake -- Schoolcraft County

TRAVERSE CITY MANAGEMENT UNIT
Forks -- Grand Traverse County