Michigan dark sky parks, sanctuaries are best spots to see northern lights, stars
Staring into Michigan's night sky can provoke a sense of wonder — but not if you're living around Detroit.
Thankfully, there are a handful of parks and wildernesses in the state that are suitable for viewing the northern lights when they're visible or stargazing in general.
There are seven state parks designated as year-round dark sky preserves, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources — including one on the south side of the state — to protect the parks from light pollution.
Michigan also has three international dark sky parks and one international dark sky sanctuary.
The full list:
Dark sky parks in Michigan
Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area International Dark Sky Sanctuary
Address: 29200 West Side Road, Beaver Island
Website: Dark Sky Island
The skinny: The isolated 55 square miles of Beaver Island in the middle of northern Lake Michigan is known for great views of the Milky Way, meteor showers, galactic events, satellite flares and the northern lights. It's the only international dark sky sanctuary in Michigan and was designated in 2024. The sanctuary includes the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area and Miller's Marsh. It's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Dr. T.K. Lawless Park
Address: 15122 Monkey Run St., Vandalia
Website: Dr. T.K. Lawless Park
The skinny: The Cass County park is named after Chicago-based physician Dr. Theodore Kenneth Lawless, who posthumously deeded the park's 850 acres to the county in 1971. It was designated as a Dark Sky Park in 2019. It's located 9 miles east of Cassopolis in Michigan's southwest corner. The park is only open at night when there are special star viewing events.
Headlands International Dark Sky Park
Address: 15675 Headlands Road, Mackinaw City
Website: midarkskypark.org
The skinny: The park is free and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. It's located about 2 miles west of downtown Mackinaw City. From its website: "The Park contains approximately 550 acres of pristine woodlands, more than two miles of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline and many species of rare and endangered plant life. Visitors to the Headlands may experience sightings of the many wild animals native to the area including: bald eagles, osprey, white tail deer, wild turkeys, coyotes and occasionally a black bear. Marked nature trails guide hikers, bicyclists, cross-country skiers, and nature photographers to experience the park throughout the changing seasons."
Keweenaw Dark Sky Park
Address: 14252 US Highway 41, Copper Harbor
Website: Keweenaw Michigan Dark Sky Park
The skinny: The dark sky park at the top of the Keweenaw Peninsula is surrounded by Lake Superior on three sides. The park is headquartered at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, which is open to the public and accessible 24 hours a day, year round.
Lake Hudson Recreation Area
Address: 5505 Morey Highway, Clayton
Website: Michigan.org page
The skinny: Near the Michigan-Ohio border, this park offers dark sky observation for those looking to stargaze toward the southern part of the state. "Skies are generally dark, but skyglow is frequently a problem toward the east, and sometimes in other directions," according to the Michigan DNR. "Local astronomical observers setting up at Lake Hudson usually use the Picnic or Beach parking areas, as there generally is less night activity there."
Negwegon State Park
Address: Ossineke
Website: Michigan DNR page
The skinny: Designated as a dark sky preserve last year, Negwegon State Park "is a rustic, undeveloped area open for hunting, walk-in camping and hiking" along the coast of Lake Huron, just south of Alpena. For more information, call 989-724-5126.
Port Crescent State Park
Address: 1775 Port Austin Road, Port Austin
Website: Michigan.org page
The skinny: Near the tip of Michigan's thumb along Saginaw Bay, this park has "565 acres of woods, offer excellent hunting opportunities, wet lands and the best sand dunes and beaches on the eastern side of the state," according to Michigan.org. For more information, call 989-738-8663.
Rockport State Park
Address: Alpena
Website: Michigan.org page
The skinny: Like Negwegon State Park, Rockport was designated a dark sky preserve in 2016 after being founded as a state park just four years earlier. Former Free Press travel writer Ellen Creager called it "the strangest park" in Michigan when she wrote about it last year. "The park features virgin pines, a bat cave, deep-water pier, sinkholes and beautiful Lake Huron beaches," she wrote.
Thompson's Harbor State Park
Address: Posen
Website: Friends of Thompson's Harbor website
The skinny: Another park based along the Port Huron coastline (about 7-and-a-half miles of it), Thompson's Harbor is undeveloped and "provides a rustic retreat for hikers exploring the park's 6 miles of trails," according to Michigan.org. The park is supported by nonprofit Friends of Thompson's Harbor. For more information, call 989-734-2543.
Wilderness State Park
Address: 903 Wilderness Park Drive, Carp Lake
The skinny: Wilderness State Park is massive. It "offers visitors a variety of year-round recreational activities within it's over 10,000 acres including 26 miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline, numerous trails, six rustic cabins, three rustic bunkhouses and over 250 modern campsites," according to Michigan.org. It's to the west of Headlands International Dark Sky Park, past Trails End Bay. For more information, call 231-436-5381.
Keith Matheny contributed.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan dark sky parks: Best spots to see northern lights, stars