by Joan H. Young

Created on: September 27, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Michigan has six national parks if you do some creative counting. National Parks are technically defined as areas administered by the National Park Service (NPS), which leads to the official number of a half-dozen sites.

Two of Michigan’s National Parks are National Lakeshores, one is a National Heritage Area, one a National Historic Park, the fifth is a National Scenic Trail, and one is an actual National Park.

 * Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear is the largest moving sand dune on earth. Its impressive size defies description until one sees it. The park stretches along 35 miles of Lake Michigan coast. One can follow the scenic drive, explore the visitor center, hike, camp, or climb the 400-foot-high dune. In winter, skiing is popular. Nearby attractions include lighthouses, and a maritime museum.  A portion of the dune appeared, from the water, like a sleeping bear to Native Americans. The 71,000 acre park includes North and South Manitou Islands, visualized as her cubs. The nearest town is Glen Arbor.

 * Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Anyone intent on seeing the natural wonders of the upper Midwest should visit Pictured Rocks. The rocks are the angled edge of a layer of pre-Cambrian stone which has thrust through the surrounding sand, producing cliffs. Due to the various bands of rock which erode at different rates, fantastic formations have been sculpted by wind and water. The different rocks also contain minerals which leach colored stains, from which the named “pictured” is derived. One can drive to many areas, with access to the Lake Superior Shore, and inland lakes as well. Backpacking through the park is allowed, with a permit. The park’s 70,000 acres are located between Grand Marais and Munising. The most spectacular section of the park is bracketed by the formations known as Chapel Rock and Miner’s Castle. To best see the rocks themselves, take a commercial boat tour from Munising.

 * MotorCities National Heritage Area

A National Heritage Area is meant to preserve the cultural legacy of an area which has national significance. MotorCities is designed to showcase the rise of the automobile and labor industries. The organizational address is Detroit, but the area includes a diverse collection of sites spread over sixteen counties in southeast Michigan.  Included are museums, historic homes, gardens, factory tours, self-guided driving tours, libraries and archives, and even cemeteries.

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