McClain State Park Closes Campsites

McClain State Park is beginning to experience some issues with their campsites. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced today that the park has closed a total of 32 lakefront campsites due to unsafe conditions and extreme Lake Superior shoreline erosion. Campsites 86-103 will remain permanently closed, but campsites 72-85 will be re-evaluated in the spring for safety and accessibility. If sites 72-85 are reopened, they will be available for local sale only, meaning that they will only be available at the park on a first-come, first-served basis. This provides staff the ability to monitor the sites and close them if safety issues occur, without canceling campers’ advance reservations. Campers can expect a different look to the park due to the site closures, including a different traffic layout and signs. The DNR Parks and Recreation Division currently is working on a management plan for the park to address the zoning, erosion and infrastructure issues that have affected the landscape of the park. Engineering studies also have been conducted to assess the long-term impact to the park from the erosion.