Michigan state parks news - March 2023

Warmer weather isn't in the cards quite yet, but it?s not too early to book those late summer and fall camping reservations.

Since campsite reservations can be made up to six months in advance, reservations are already available for Labor Day weekend and into September. Overnight lodging reservations are available up to a year in advance.?Visit MiDNRReservations.com.

If you find that your favorite campground is temporarily closed for a?planned park enhancement, it's likely a result of $250 million in COVID-19 federal relief (or dedicated American Rescue Plan Act)?funding.

Visit?Michigan.gov/DNRClosures to find a list of planned closures. You can also status of ARPA-funded projects at?Michigan.gov/StateParksProgress.

Thinking about boating? Now is the time to register your boat with the Michigan Secretary of State. Registrations expire every three years on March 31.

While you're thinking about boating, we invite you to bookmark the DNR's boating page.?You'll find safety information, current closures, laws, tips to prevent the spread of invasive species (watch the "Stop the Aquatic Hitchhikers" video) and easy access to boating access site and harbor locations, including?the digital harbor guide and reservation info.

Ride Michigan's 4,000 miles of off-road vehicle trails and routes and the state?s six scramble areas without an ORV license or permit during two?Free ORV Weekends, June 10-11 and Aug. 19-20. All other ORV rules and laws still apply, and the Recreation Passport is required where applicable.

Typically, there's an entrance fee at Holly Oaks ORV Park (although no Recreation Passport requirement), but the fee will be waived for these special weekends.

Recycle boat shrink-wrap and other materials into something new, like Trex,?with the EZ-Fill recycling program.?All you have to do is:

• Complete and submit the registration form.
• Purchase?your recycling bag(s) for a one-time fee of $7.
• ?Deliver to a registered drop-off location near you.