Dark Sky Parks

(Photo Credit Jordan McGuire)

Rockport State Recreation Area (Dark Sky Preserve)

Location: Presque Isle County, MI

Distance: ~13 miles (20-minute drive)

Features: A 4,237-acre Dark Sky Preserve with clear views of the Milky Way and occasional northern lights. Includes a 300-acre abandoned limestone quarry, fossil hunting, hiking/biking trails, and a deep-water harbor for fishing or swimming. Plowed in winter for year-round access. Perfect for stargazing along Lake Huron’s shores.

Tips: Bring a blanket or telescope and settle on the beach at dusk for optimal viewing.

Thompson’s Harbor State Park (Dark Sky Preserve)

Location: Presque Isle County, MI

Distance: ~15 miles (25-minute drive)

Features: A 5,000-acre preserve with undeveloped Lake Huron shoreline, sand dunes, and rare dwarf lake iris. Designated a Dark Sky Preserve in 2016, it’s ideal for astrophotography and celestial viewing. Offers 6 miles of rustic hiking trails and winter plowing for accessibility.

Tips: Follow US-23 north, turn right on Trailhead Rd., and use a star chart for constellation spotting.

 

Negwegon State Park (Dark Sky Preserve)

Location: Alcona County, MI

Distance: ~33 miles (45-minute drive)

Features: An undeveloped park with 7 miles of pristine Lake Huron shoreline and a sandy beach. A Dark Sky Preserve since 2016, it’s great for aurora borealis and meteor showers. Features 10 miles of hiking trails but no winter plowing, so visit in spring, summer, or fall.

Tips: Take US-23 south to Black River Rd., then Sand Hill Rd. Bring a telescope for enhanced stargazing.

Headlands International Dark Sky Park

Location: 15675 Headlands Rd, Mackinaw City, MI

Distance: ~75 miles (1.5-hour drive)

Features: A 600-acre park along 2 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2011—one of only a few globally. Offers unobstructed night sky views, ideal for seeing stars, planets, and the northern lights. Features 7 miles of trails, a guest house, an observatory, and year-round access with plowed roads. Regular stargazing programs and events are hosted, making it a premier destination for astronomy enthusiasts.

Tips: From Posen, take US-23 south to I-75 N, exit at Mackinaw City, and follow Headlands Rd. Check the park’s website (midarkskypark.org) for event schedules, like meteor shower viewings. Arrive before dusk to explore trails or the waterfront pavilion, and bring a red flashlight to preserve night vision.