MARQUETTE, MI— The 22 backcountry campsites at Craig Lake State Park will be by reservation only next year.
The Department of Natural Resources says the move will prevent park degradation and make it easier to locate campers in emergencies.
The annual number of visitors to the park has continued to climb the past few years. Nearly 69,000 people visited Craig Lake last year. Park Supervisor Debra Gill says having to choose a site will alleviate natural resource degradation issues tied to unauthorized, dispersed camping. She notes in emergency situations, being able to look up visitor location information before getting into the field will allow staff to have a faster response time by knowing exactly where they’re going.
Reservations for May 20 through November 1, 2023 will be available beginning November 20 of this year.
