Michigan has just 1 state park on Lake Erie. Why it's worth checking off your list
This summer, don't miss out on a trip to southeast Michigan to explore Lake Erie's shores at William C. Sterling State Park — Michigan's only state park located on the lake.
The state park features 1 mile of sandy shoreline along the western coast of Lake Erie in Monroe County, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. A trip to the Sterling State Park offers a chance to camp out, fish, swim, hike and more.
"The park protects more than 500 acres of Great Lakes marsh and restored lake plain prairie habitat, and is well known for its access to walleye and perch fisheries," Pure Michigan says.
Here's what to know.
William C. Sterling State Park is Michigan's only state park along the Lake Erie shoreline.
The state park is located along the western coast of Lake Erie near the city of Monroe in southeast Michigan. The park is about an hour south of Detroit and less than 30 minutes north of the Ohio border.
The park is just minutes from River Raisin National Battlefield Park and the Ford Marsh unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.
The state park is connected to nearby River Raisin National Battlefield Park through the River Raisin Heritage Trail. The trail is currently undergoing upgrade work, set to finish in July 2025, the state park's website says.
To visit the state park, you will need a Michigan recreation passport or a daily pass, the park's website says. Rates vary by vehicle type, and whether you're a Michigan resident or not.
Recreation passports can be purchased when renewing your license plate registration at the Secretary of State or at a state park, recreation area or Michigan DNR customer service center, the DNR website says.
If you're a Michigan library cardholder, you can also get a day trip to the park for free with the Michigan Activity Pass. This includes one night of camping for one vehicle, camping fees will still apply.
At Sterling State Park, visitors can relax at sandy beaches and swim, paddle or kayak in Lake Erie. The park offers kayak rentals from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Vast nature offers opportunities for biking and hiking.
You can reel in catches with shoreline or offshore fishing on Lake Erie, along with the Great Lake marsh and lagoons at the park, including walleye and perch. Hunting is available at the state park, though potential hunters should contact park officials for the rules, the park's website says.
The park features a beach house with restrooms and changing stalls, a boat launch, fish cleaning station, observation platform on Marsh Trail, picnic area, picnic shelter and a playground.
Recreational metal detecting is another option in part of the park, as long as its within state law and doesn't harm the park's natural and cultural resources. Park workers must look at any items found and may keep them for investigation.
During the summer season, weekly nature programming takes place at the state park, with the 2025 schedule to be released soon. In the winter, the park offers snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
If you're looking for a longer stay, the state park includes the Sterling full-amenity cottages, 10 new cottages along the Lake Erie shoreline operated by Vista Recreation. The cottages sleep seven each, with bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen with supplies and appliances and more, though linen and towels are not provided.
The Sterling modern campground provides a camping venue, with most sites paved and near the Lake Erie shoreline. Camping sites include 20 or 30 amp service and some 50 amp service, and sanitation stations.
You can book your camping trip to Sterling State Park with online reservations through the Michigan DNR. Select Sterling as the park and pick the dates, number of people and equipment for your stay.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sterling State Park, Lake Erie: Michigan park worth visiting in 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
11 hours ago
- New York Post
Summer travel forecast to shatter records for Fourth Of July — here's how many Americans will be on the move
There's going to be a real tournami. The American Automobile Association predicts that a record number of Americans will travel across the country over the July 4th holiday week from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. During that period, 72.2 million people will reportedly journey at least 50 miles from home — an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019, per the forecast. 'Following Memorial Day's record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week,' said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. 'The top 10 heaviest travel days in TSA history have all happened within the past year, and we expect to see more heavy volumes this summer,' said Kristie Jordan Smith, a TSA official at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) milanmarkovic78 – Indeed, a record 62 million travelers will be commuting by car over Independence Day weekend, marking an uptick of 1.3 million from last year. Meanwhile, the number of air travelers is also 'projected to set a new record,' per the autoclub, which expects that 5.84 million travelers will jet to their destinations — 8% of all July 4 travelers. That marks a 1.4% increase over the previous record of 5.76 million during Independence Day week of last year. Coney Island beach in New York, which is the third biggest July 4 destination this year, according to AAA booking data. Stock fresh – According to AAA booking data for the July 4 travel period, the top three domestic destinations are Orlando (FL), Seattle (WA), New York, (NY) while internationally the most US travelers are flocking to Vancouver (Canada), Rome (Italy) and Paris (France). 'Cruises, beaches, and fireworks are the main motivators for travelers heading to these cities,' AAA writes. 'Alaska cruises are in peak season, Florida and Hawaii are in high demand for their resorts and attractions, and New York and Boston host two of the most popular fireworks shows in the nation.' AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz claimed that the expected travel surge is as much an 'emotional decision' as it is a practical or economic one. 'People don't have to spend a lot of money when they go on these trips, but people want to get away and not be home,' she said. The Transportation Security Administration is bracing for the tournami. 'The top 10 heaviest travel days in TSA history have all happened within the past year, and we expect to see more heavy volumes this summer,' said Kristie Jordan Smith, a TSA official at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), CBS reported. Airport officials are hoping to curb the congestion by implementing facial recognition technology. Customs officials claim that wait times are already down 25% thanks to this expeditious tech, which is now operational at nine flight hubs across the country.
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Boston Globe
Nearly 62 million Americans will hit the road over July 4, AAA predicts
Advertisement 'Because gas prices have been so much lower than this time last year, it's going to be a bit of a rise, but there's no indication we will hit where we were last summer,' said Aixa Diaz, an AAA spokesperson. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Even with the increase in road trips, gasoline demand isn't projected to get a significant boost as vehicles' improving fuel efficiency curbs consumption. Demand — which was down about 1 percent from last year as of last week — will decline this year and next, and retail gasoline prices will drop across most of the US through the end of 2026, according to the Energy Information Administration. Oil prices had slumped for much of this year as OPEC and its allies revived supply faster than expected and US President Donald Trump's trade war weighed on the outlook for demand. Those dynamics had helped keep gasoline prices in check, but now hostilities between Iran and Israel are emerging as key drivers of the market, raising fears of disruption to crude production and a potential blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. Advertisement The surge in oil prices from the Israel-Iran conflict is 'setting the stage for additional price hikes at gas pumps across the country,' said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. 'Motorists should prepare for what will likely be modest price increases — for now — but the situation has the potential to worsen at any moment.' While road trips are the most popular form of travel, a record 5.84 million people are expected to fly during the holiday period as well, up 1.4 percent from last year, AAA said. The slower growth for air travel is a consequence of rising costs, with a round-trip domestic flight averaging $810, 4 percent more than last year, the group said. Still, the Transportation Security Administration screened more than 3 million passengers in a single day over the Memorial Day holiday, nearing its busiest day ever.
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Buzz Feed
Social Norms People Are Completely Rejecting
There are things pretty much everyone does out of habit, politeness, or societal pressure — until someone finally says, "I'm done," and opts out. Whether it's skipping small talk or ditching social media updates, they just stop doing what's expected Recently, Redditor LazyMechanic3061 wanted to know about those things people are over when they asked: "What's a social norm that you absolutely refuse to follow, and why?" Below are the top and most often repeated responses people gave: "Posting every big life event, job change, buying a car, etc., on social media. I used to, but I know if anyone had actual interest, they would ask." —Tight-Message9940"That's not a social norm, that's just a social media norm."—Kruse "Out of control consumerism. I have zero desire to upgrade my car that runs fine, or to have the latest iPhone, or redecorate to follow some trend, etc. All of this need to appear to be better off than one actually is, spending money they don't really have, and for what? Appearances? Fuck people's opinions. IDC. I will never understand why so many people feel like they have to keep up with the Joneses, constantly spending and consuming to try to seem like they're 'with it'. It's ridiculous." —Own_Accountant_2618"It's crazy how many letters I got from dealerships after I paid off my car. 'Time up upgrade!' Uhhh, no, time to be stoked that I don't have a car payment."—crunchyfoliage "I will never understand why you would pay $100-plus to attend a live concert just to watch the whole thing through your phone's camera." —shootyoureyeout"THANK YOU! I finally found one I 100% agree I want to see a recording of the show, it will be on YouTube later with way better quality than my iPhone from the 80th row or even from the floor with 6' dudes bobbing their heads in front of me. JUST. LOOK. AT. THE. BAND! With the eyes God gave you!"—aurelianwasrobbed "I will wear white pants before Memorial Day if I damn well feel like it!" —21stCenturyJohnny"And after labor day!"—OkRepublic5837 "Asking people how they are if I'm not ready to respond to a negative answer." —throwaway31411235813"Don't say, 'How are you?' to someone you've never met, especially while they're at work. I know you don't care and don't want an honest answer. And I won't say it to you because I don't care either. We can have a pleasant exchange without getting fake personal."—Squid_ProRo "I'm a straight man who loves cooking, gardening, sewing. I like wine but don't like beer, and I choose white chocolate over dark. I have pink shoes that match my pink shirt. My favorite movie is Bring it On, and I'm a huge Taylor Swift fan. Why? Because I don't give a fuck what people think men should and shouldn't enjoy." —AnkleFrunk"My husband will drink a fruity drink if he wants to. He will wear pink if he wants to. He will have the most flamboyant shoes on and proudly show them off. He says he's 'peacocking.' And he doesn't give a freaking damn what anyone thinks. He likes what he likes, and that screams manliness to me because of how secure in himself he is. It's such a on keepin' on!"—MermaidOnTheTown "Living life for work and not living for life." —LastSpotKills"As a Gen Z dude, it drives me nuts seeing how many guys are only focused on working and getting money. Like I certainly am not a super star for health (a lot of it is genetic), but I get out, hike, shoot, ride horses, go to concerts, and fish. But a lot of these guys just go to work, watch football, and sleep."—kilroy-was-here-2543 "I won't treat anyone like they are on a pedestal. In my opinion, we are all humans… if you're a big boss or cleaning lady, everyone receives the same treatment." —OliveaSea"This is big for me, too. Hierarchies continue to exist when we play into them. My boss is my peer just like my coworkers, and I treat them all with respect, but don't shy away from healthy confrontation with any of them either."—uummmmmmmmmmmok "'Keeping the peace' and 'not rocking the boat.' I'm not giving up my own peace to keep the narcissistic asshats that clutter my life happy. Spent entirely too long doing it. Why yes, yes, I'll 'ruin the day' or 'be too serious' or 'just refuse to take a joke.' I'm half past giving a fuck and I'm just over and done with being a doormat dumping ground." —pardonmyass"My parents are both cycle-breakers from crappy families. They taught me family isn't just blood, and it's good to cut off a person who negatively impacts your life, regardless of DNA shared. I had to learn how to apply those lessons with some bad friends in my teens and early adult life, but I'm thankful my parents were able to shield me from a ton of family abuse and never told me to keep the peace."—magicrowantree "Make up, even as a teenager. It's a pain to apply, I'm not good at it, and now if I try to wear it, I feel like a clown, so I let my dark circles live their lives." —Fairfountain"Agree. I didn't even wear make up to my wedding. This is what I look like. There's nothing wrong with my actual human face."—skupalupa "Respecting your elders just because they are old. My grandmother is a monster who deserves not one single ounce of respect, yet she's given deference whenever she acts out in her racist and bigoted ways. Fuck her, fuck that." —mokes310"I'm finally coming to that realization at 50-damn-years-old. Talked to my big sister. Most of my uncles/aunts and especially our dad are all garbage people."—NoReference3721 "I refuse to play music, listen to podcasts, or watch videos through my phone speaker while in public." —powerandbulk"What's especially annoying is that most of the time people who blast music blast the same shitty music."—RadiantHC And lastly, "This is a very little and inconsequential one, but I won't wish people a happy birthday on Facebook. If I know them well enough, I'll tell them in person or with a text. If I don't know them well enough to do that, then they don't need to hear it from me at all." —IrenaeusGSaintonge"This is actually a good point."—mjflood14 You can read the original thread on Reddit.
