Interlochen State Park

Interlochen State Park is a 187-acre natural area nestled between Green Lake and Duck Lake in Grand Traverse County, featuring mature red pine forests. The park provides access to two connected lakes where visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, and shoreline trails.

The park was established in 1917 as Michigan's first state park, created to protect the native red pine forests. The state purchased the land for $60,000 to ensure the preservation of this ecological landscape.

The adjacent Interlochen Center for the Arts established its National Music Camp here in 1928, shaping the area's creative identity. This cultural presence remains visible through performances and events that connect the park to the broader arts community.

The park offers around 490 camping sites, including 59 rustic spots and modern facilities with electrical hookups, plus three rental cabins. Visitors should plan trips during warmer months and check at the park entrance for current conditions and activity availability.

The protected land preserves rare stands of pre-European settlement red pines that remain accessible to visitors today. These mature trees offer a glimpse of how northern Michigan's forests looked centuries ago before widespread logging transformed the landscape.