Get all your fishing information here, including rules and regulations, license info, the weekly fishing report and much more. Use the link above to visit the fishing home page, or go directly to your area of interest below:
Get all your hunting information here, including hunting season dates, rules and regulations, and much more. Use the button above to visit the hunting home page, or go directly to your area of interest below:
Information on DNR shooting and archery ranges, rules and regulations, resources to get started and more. Use the button above to visit the target shooing and archery home page, or go directly to one of the pages below:
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Want to find tasty morel mushrooms in the forest? Click the box above for tips and tricks to fill your basket.
Find cross-country ski, ice fishing , snowmobiling info and much more.
Find facility info, overnight info, an event calendar and much more.
Find a great trail experience near you - whether you want to hike, bike, snowmobile or ride an ORV. From long, paved linear trails to rugged forest terrain, Michigan offers trail opportunities for all abilities and interests.
Visitor Centers across the state provide education programs, field trips, archery, fishing, trails and much more. Click the box above to see all our locations, or click the individual location below.
We administer grants that enable our local partners to promote the lifestyles we all enjoy by providing recreational opportunities, enhancing wildlife habitat and ensuring public safety. Visit the grants home page by clicking on the button above, or view a specific area of interest below:
Recreational Safety and Hunter Education
Learn about Michigan's diverse range of fish, plants, trees, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. Click the box above to see all species, or click the species group below.
DNR educators across the state provide fun, educational activities, programs and workshops year-round for adults, families and kids. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below.
DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below.
DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. Click the box above to learn more about Michigan's state forests.
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Approximately 97% of state parks funding for operations and maintenance is generated by user fees and royalty revenues. This includes:
Michigan's General Fund tax dollars provide the remaining 3% of state parks funding.
To address dam deficiencies, the DNR, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, is moving forward with a phased plan to lower the water level of Hall Lake. Located in Yankee Springs Recreation Area in Barry County, this project is a planned safety initiative designed to increase safety while protecting outdoor recreation. Funding was secured through an EGLE Dam Risk Reduction Grant.
The project calls for an initial drawdown of 3 feet this fall and another 3 feet in 2026.
Fall drawdown and boating accessAs part of the EGLE emergency drawdown order, a phased plan to lower Hall Lake's elevation will begin after Labor Day. The boating access site will be closed during this period, and its reopening will be reevaluated after the drawdown is complete.
A separate, additional drawdown is planned for 2026. That one will be to move the lake to its new level and replace the culvert under Gun Lake Road.
Background
Following a routine spring inspection and subsequent engineering analysis, EGLE issued an emergency drawdown order due to the poor condiation of the dam with a recognized deficiency for loading conditions. Hall Lake Dam is classified as a "significant hazard" dam which indicates that a dam failure could cause economic and environmental damage or disrupt essential downstream services, such as Gun Lake Road, though a loss of life is unlikely.
Discussing a possible drawdown of Hall Lake Dam with the public was an integral part of considering the dam’s future, including feedback via a March 12, 2025 public information session and online survey in March 2024. Thank you to everyone that provided valuable input.
Visitors to Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park can soon look forward to significant improvements funded by an $8.5 million federal relief investment from Gov. Whitmer's Building Michigan Together Plan. These enhancements will modernize the park’s facilities, enhance visitor access and traffic flow and improve accessibility.
This extensive project, largely shaped by feedback from the 2021 general management planning process and detailed in the Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park General Management Plan, builds upon a 2011 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant that enabled the acquisition of property to improve park circulation.
Campground closure
The park's modern campground closed July 7, 2025, and will remain closed through the 2026 season. The campground will reopen April 1, 2027.
Day-use area impacts
The Lake Michigan beach day-use area is expected to remain open; however, visitors should anticipate occasional closures for intersection work.
Planned work
Pedestrian crossing enhancements
The Michigan Department of Transportation will begin a $1.6 million enhancement project in spring 2026. A new double left-turn lane will be added from U.S. 31 to Three Mile Road, and the existing traffic signal will be updated. The day-use beach entrance will be moved east to align with this signal, which will also be updated. An ADA-compliant pedestrian crossing will be installed at the intersection.
View proposed intersection design »
Questions - If you have any questions about the project, please contact DNR Parks and Recreation Cadillac District Supervisor Kasey Cline.
A park's general management plan defines a long-range (10- to 20-year) planning and management strategy to protect and preserve the site's natural and cultural resources and provide access to land- and water-based public recreation and educational opportunities.
Developing a park general management plan requires logic, teamwork, public involvement and integrity. The plan should ultimately reflect a logical sequence of events and help guide decision making in a carefully considered way. The key to this process is active involvement of DNR staff, other state agencies, stakeholders (such as other recreation providers and user groups) and the public. Public input is an integral part of the development these plans.
The Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee is a citizens’ advisory committee to the NRC and the DNR. This diverse panel of individuals ensures that the public has a voice in the operations, planning and development of Michigan's premier state park system.
