Petoskey State Park is a 303 acres (122.6 ha) state park

State park

State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...

 in Emmet County

Emmet County, Michigan

Emmet County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 31,437. The county seat is Petoskey.The county was formed April 1, 1840, from Mackinac County. It was first named Tonedagana County and renamed Emmet County on March 8, 1843...

, Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

. The home of the "Petoskey stone," Michigan's state stone, the park is located in Bear Creek Township

Bear Creek Township, Michigan

Bear Creek Township is a civil township of Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,269.-Communities:*Petoskey is at the northeast corner of the township, but is administratively autonomous....

, on the road between the cities of Petoskey

Petoskey, Michigan

Petoskey is a city and coastal resort community in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,080. It is the county seat of Emmet County....

 and Harbor Springs

Harbor Springs, Michigan

Harbor Springs is a city and resort community in Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,567 at the 2000 census.Harbor Springs is in a sheltered bay on the north shore of the Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. The Little Traverse Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse on...

. The park has frontage on Little Traverse Bay

Little Traverse Bay

Little Traverse Bay is a small bay, 170 feet deep, off Lake Michigan in the northern area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Harbor Springs and Petoskey are on this bay.The Little Traverse Light marks its entrance....

 on Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...

 and is surrounded by heavily vegetated sand dunes. Common visitor activities are swimming, sun bathing, hiking and biking in summer, cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...

 and snowshoeing in winter.

Facilities and activities

• Swimming: There is a mile-long sand beach.
• Playground
  Playground
  A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
  
  
• Hiking
  Hiking
  Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
  
  : Two trails total three miles in length. One climbs the Old Baldy sand dune.
• Cross-country skiing
  Cross-country skiing
  Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
  
  : Trails are not groomed.
• Picnicking
• Camping
  Camping
  Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
  
  : Two campgrounds offer 168 modern sites and a mini cabin.

External links

• Petoskey State Park Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the state of Michigan charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor and accepted by the Natural Resources Commission...
  
  
• Petoskey State Park Protected Planet (World Database on Protected Areas)