Michigan State recreation officials announced that the “Rockport Property,” previously managed as part of the state forest system, was transferred to the Parks and Recreation Division to become the newest state park in Michigan.
There isn’t much information available about the park yet, for that matter, there isn’t much there yet except for an abundance of natural beauty, and the remains of past uses of the land by man. Here’s what the DNR website has to say about our newest park.
“Rockport State Park offers many unique and special features. With 4,237 acres of land located on the shores of Lake Huron, north of Alpena, the property includes a deep-water protected harbor, an old limestone quarry of approximately 300 acres, a unique series of sinkholes, a dedicated Natural Area (Besser Natural Area), and a broad range of land types, vegetative cover, cultural resources and recreation opportunities. At the harbor, the Department has a boat launch facility, and there is a small park developed by Alpena Township on land leased from the State.”
Located between Thompson’s Harbor and Negwegon State Parks this new park will be a perfect fit. This is an incredibly beautiful area, and as luck would have it, I visited it late last summer and of course, took a few photos which I am about to share.
The old deep water dock at Rockport State Park in Michigan
Lake Huron shoreline at Rockport State Park in Michigan
Middle Island, part of which is part of Rockport State Park in Michigan
A Lake Huron marsh at Rockport State Park in Michigan
A wildflower at Rockport State Park in Michigan
A dragonfly
Daisies and butterfly
Fringed gentian
Fringed gentian
Wildflowers
Unidentified hawk
Wildflowers
There’s an existing boat ramp for kayakers and fishermen there, and a very nice small park that has been leased to Alpena Township. I am hoping the DNR will map out some hiking trails soon, but the area is open to hiking now for those who don’t need a developed trail system. If you go, and I would recommend it to any one, please tread lightly, the marshes and many of the wildflowers are very fragile. I can’t wait to go back, I was there at the “wrong” time of the year, spring and early summer is the best for viewing the wildflowers.
The area is also rich in history, there are a number of shipwrecks in the waters of Lake Huron not far from the boat ramp, including one in the Besser Natural Area.
To get there, take US 23 north from Alpena to Rockport road, turn right to go east, and follow it to the end.
If I ever get back to Michigan, this is one place that I would love to check out. Thanks for sharing this info.
By: Bob Zeller on February 12, 2012
at 6:33 am
Not that we wouldn’t want you to return, at least for a visit, I’ll be returning there, possibly this spring, and I’ll take every one on a photo tour of the area.
By: quietsolopursuits on February 12, 2012
at 12:33 pm
Last one might be rough blazing star.
After the daisy, perhaps fringed gentian.
wonderful.
By: rork on February 12, 2012
at 10:37 am
Thanks for stopping by! You are correct about the identifications, I was too lazy to look them up last night.
By: quietsolopursuits on February 12, 2012
at 10:51 am
Love the wildflowers!
By: Cee Neuner on February 12, 2012
at 1:18 pm
Thank you Cee, but mine don’t come close to the photos you take of flowers!
By: quietsolopursuits on February 12, 2012
at 5:40 pm
I was thinking fringed gentian also for the two pictures after the butterfly and daisy. They are quite rare (in NH) and beautiful wildflowers. I’ve only seen one in my lifetime, so that’s a great find.
You’re lucky to have such a beautiful place to play.
By: New Hampshire Gardener on February 12, 2012
at 4:08 pm
You’ll have to visit northeastern Michigan some summer, they aren’t all that rare in that part of the state. I kept stumbling over them in the Pigeon River Country, and thought that they were “escaped” domestic flowers. Finally, I looked them up and found out that they were indeed wild, and somewhat rare. I hope to go back in the late spring and find some dwarf lake iris, those are so rare that they are on the endangered species list.
By: quietsolopursuits on February 12, 2012
at 5:44 pm
I’d love to visit that area someday. I looked up the dwarf lake iris-it’s a beauty.Since it only grows around 2 of the great lakes, it’s no wonder I’ve never heard of it. Hope you can get some shots of it this spring.
By: New Hampshire Gardener on February 12, 2012
at 6:00 pm
Well, like I told Bob, I’ll be going back there, hopefully this spring so that I can take every one on a photo tour of the area.
By: quietsolopursuits on February 13, 2012
at 10:19 am
Is that a red-tailed hawk? Just my 2 cents. Can’t wait til you go back and bring us along with you!
By: From Moments to Memories on February 13, 2012
at 10:36 pm
It was a very small hawk, I think an immature one from that year. It sounds funny, but I really didn’t get a good look at it. That shot was taken through the sunroof of my vehicle, and I was fumbling around trying to get shots with both cameras. I really have no idea which species it was.
By: quietsolopursuits on February 14, 2012
at 2:58 am
Yeah, I think it’s an immature red-tail. May I use one of your Rockport pix, with a credit back to this blog, on getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com?
By: sharkbytes on February 18, 2012
at 8:02 am
Thank you! It’s fine if you use a photo as long as it’s credited. If you let me know which one, I could Email you a better version of it.
By: quietsolopursuits on February 18, 2012
at 10:12 am
It will be smaller, so what you have here is fine. I’ll be checking your blog regularly. Great to find a fellow MI adventurer
By: sharkbytes on February 18, 2012
at 2:38 pm
I was thinking the same thing about your blog, very nice. I had no idea the Rockport property was even being considered for a state park, or I would have taken many more photos of the area.
By: quietsolopursuits on February 18, 2012
at 2:52 pm
[...] can’t believe the number of hits my blog has gotten through the search engines about the new Michigan Rockport State Park. The state just announced that Friday, and already people are looking for information about it. I [...]
By: My Week…Cold blue (heron) « Quietsolopursuits's Blog on February 18, 2012
at 6:14 pm
[...] Under Rodney Stoke’s direction, the Michigan DNR has been restructured, the Recreational Passport system expanded to include State Forest Campgrounds, and for the first time in I don’t remember how long, Michigan has opened a new State Park, the Rockport State Park. [...]
By: My Week…Spring is back « Quietsolopursuits's Blog on March 31, 2012
at 9:25 pm