Rockport State Recreation Area
View of the old quarry
Map showing the location of Rockport State Recreation Area
Map showing the location of Rockport State Recreation Area
Location within the state of Michigan
Map showing the location of Rockport State Recreation Area
Map showing the location of Rockport State Recreation Area
Rockport State Recreation Area (the United States)
LocationAlpena, Presque Isle counties, Michigan, USA
Nearest cityAlpena, Michigan
Coordinates45°11′59″N 83°23′42″W / 45.1997°N 83.3949°W / 45.1997; -83.3949
Area4,237 acres (17.15 km2)
Established2012
Governing bodyMichigan Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteOfficial website

Rockport State Recreation Area is a 4,237-acre (17.15 km2) state park located along the shore of Lake Huron in Alpena and Presque Isle counties in the state of Michigan. It is operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and was established in 2012. The park contains limestone formations and an old limestone quarry.[1][2] There is a deep water boat launch that can accommodate all sizes of watercraft.[3] The park is located along the Lake Huron Flyway and is used to gauge the health of Lake Huron and its shoreline environment. Several ship wrecks can be found off-shore in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary including the Portland and the Portsmouth.[4] The park was previously known as "The Rockport property" and is not far north of Alpena, Michigan.[5]

In Alpena County, about 11 miles south is the Michigan Nature Association's Julius C. and Marie Moran Peter Memorial Nature Sanctuary. The sanctuary encompasses 95 acres and Grass Lake. dwarf lake iris, bird's-eye primrose and eastern white cedar surround it, and running through it is Hamilton Road, Michigan's first declared "Natural Beauty Road" (1971).[5] Rockport State Recreation Area was designated a Michigan "dark sky preserve" in 2016.[6]

Rockport State Park is Michigan's 100th state park and a dark sky preserve. It contains a 300 acres (120 ha) abandoned limestone quarry, Devonian fossils, sinkholes and a protected deep water harbor.[A] It is a U.S. 23 route heritage site.[9] It is part of the "Alpena Blueway" paddling route.[10][11][12]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ "... Rockport State Park, Michigan’s 100th State Park and an official Dark Sky Preserve includes a deep-water protected harbor, an old limestone quarry of approximately 300 acres, a unique series of sinkholes, Devonian Period fossils, the Besser Natural Area, and a broad range of land types, vegetative cover, cultural resources, and recreation opportunities[7][8]

Citations

  1. ^ "Rockport Becomes the Newest Michigan State Park" (Press release). Michigan DNR. 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2012-02-14.[dead link]
  2. ^ Travis, Jordan (April 12, 2012). "DNR to secure permission for Friends of Rockport to clear trails". The Alpena News. Ogden Newspapers Inc. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  3. ^ "Rockport Boating Access Site". Michigan's Recreational Boating Information System.
  4. ^ Michigan DNR. "The Rockport Property Executive Summary" (PDF). p. 2.
  5. ^ a b "Michigan's Newest State Park: Rockport". Michigan Nature Association. March 9, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  6. ^ Jackson, Angie (18 February 2016). "Michigan designates 3 new dark sky preserves". MLive.
  7. ^ "Rockport State Recreation Area". Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  8. ^ VanderWeide, Melody (March 24, 2023). "Rockport State Park 2023: Hit the Fossil Motherlode Explore a Ghost Town and Kayak to Shipwrecks". Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  9. ^ U.S. 23 Heritage route Discover Heritage Route 23
  10. ^ Alpena Blueway Discover Heritage Route 23
  11. ^ "Alpena Blueway - Michigan Water Trails". Michigan Water Trails. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  12. ^ "Lake Huron, Michigan. Alpena Blueway". National Rivers Project. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

External links


Protected areas of Michigan
Categories