South Higgins Lake State Park

106 State Park Drive, Roscommon MI

(989) 821-6374   michigandnr.com

South Higgins Lake State Park is located on the shoreline of Higgins Lake, which is a large body of water known for its clarity and fishing potential.  The south side of the park borders Marl Lake and 700 acres of forested woods with hiking trails. The campground  consists of 400 modern camp sites that are located in a highly shaded area. The park is very popular during the summer months and early reservations are encouraged (you can book six months in advance). Campers need a park pass in addition to the fee for camping.The rate when we stayed was $27 per night and we purchased a yearly recreation pass good for all Michigan state parks for $30(non-resident).  Near the entrance is a very spacious area for water fill-up and dumping (four stations each.)  There is a campstore within the park that has snacks, novelty items, art, basic supplies, firewood, as well as boat rentals, pontoons, kayaks, etc.

Appearance:

This is a very nice and modern campground.  The roads leading into the campground areas are paved, whereas interior roads are gravel.  All roads are well-maintained.  The campground is heavily wooded with mature trees, and yet, the sites are surprisingly spacious – some of the largest we have had while camping.  It is a beautiful state park and Higgins Lake is a lovely place to swim, boat, canoe, fish, etc. The sites in the 100 section are so shaded that the grass was patchy.  This was not a problem when we stayed, although in rain they may become very muddy.  There are some full hook-up sites, but most are electric only, but with water supplies throughout the park.  Each section to the park had its own trash dumpster, which for some sites makes it a good hike to toss the trash. Every site had a very large fire ring and picnic table.

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Activities:

The park has hiking trails within the park as well as over 6 miles of trails surrounding Marl Lake.  The trails are mainly flat, and in heavily wooded areas.  Be sure to load up with bug spray!  The lake offers a host of activities to enjoy and there are designated swim and beach areas within the park.  Horseshoes, volleyball, fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing are just a few of the things the park has to offer. There is a boat launch available with ample space for boat storage.

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Pet/Family Friendly:

In the 100 section there is a large playground, softball diamond, horseshoe pit, picnic tables,basketball courts and a swimming beach.  Throughout the park there are other small playground areas, a slide here and there, seesaws, etc.

The park is dog-friendly and several campers were there with their pets.  The 400 section of the campground has a dog-friendly beach with waste bags and containers.  We really enjoyed being able to take our dogs to the beach and they loved it too!

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Restrooms/Showers:

We were completely impressed with  the facilities.  They were super clean and very modern. Each section had a centrally located bath house that was convenient for all campers. There were six separate shower stall in our section of the campground with individual locking doors and a nice sized changing area.  The water was hot, with good pressure and unlike most state park facilities, the water was not on a timer!  What a nice surprise!  The bath facilities alone will keep us coming back to this park time and again.

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Overall:  We loved this park and plan to return again!  If you are looking for a beautiful, clean, and economical place to stay – look no further. 🙂