The National Park Service oversees more than 430 individual units spanning more than 85 million acres across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. These units, often referred to as "parks," come with at least 19 different naming designations. Learn more about the National Park System, and the different naming designations.
Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula is home to the headquarters of two National Park units: Keweenaw National Historical Park in Calumet and Isle Royale National Park in Houghton. Additionally, Michigan has several other national park sites in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Explore the details below to discover more about Michigan's National Park sites and affiliated locations!
Site Details: Keweenaw National Historical Park preserves and interprets the story of the regions copper mining industry, from its rise and dominance to its eventual decline. The stories of people and copper in the Keweenaw Peninsula have been intertwined for more than 8,000 years. Indigenous peoples crafted tools and trade items from copper, while the 1800s mineral rush brought investors and immigrants who built industries and cosmopolitan communities. Though the mines have since closed, their legacy remains etched into the landscape and its people. Keweenaw National Historical Park has two units: the Calumet Unit and the Quincy Unit. Unlike many national parks, Congress directed the National Park Service to collaborate with the park’s advisory commission and partners, including state and local governments, private businesses, and nonprofit organizations. A key part of this collaboration is the Keweenaw Heritage Sites program, managed by Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission. With over 20 heritage sites located in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties, these sites feature significant cultural and/or natural resources, offering unique insights into the story of copper mining in the Keweenaw Peninsula and surrounding areas. The Lake Superior Collection Management Center, located at Keweenaw National Historical Park in Calumet, cares for the museum and archival collections of Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Entrance Fees: No,an entrance pass is not required. However, some Heritage Sites charge a fee or request a donation. Contact a specific Heritage Site site for more information.
Site Details: Explore a rugged, island archipelago isolated far from our connected communities. Isle Royale offers adventures for backpackers, hikers, boaters, paddlers, and divers. Cross Lake Superior and make a commitment: Become a part of this island, and let it become a part of you. Find peace and refuge in island wilderness – because Isle Royale, in turn, finds refuge in us. It is only accessible by ferry, seaplane, or private watercraft. Island is closed annually from November 1 - April 15.
Site Details: Designated as the first national lakeshore in the United States, Pictured Rocks is known for it's sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild Lake Superior shoreline. Pictured Rocks has over 100 miles of hiking trails, including 42 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coastal features and affects every ecosystem, creating a unique landscape to explore. Hiking, camping, sightseeing, and four-season outdoor opportunities abound.
Site Details: Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacular views across the lake. An island lighthouse, US Life-Saving Service stations, coastal villages, and picturesque farmsteads reflect the park’s rich maritime, agricultural, and recreational history.
Site Details: The North Country National Scenic Trail is 4,800 miles long, traversing eight states from North Dakota to Vermont. When complete, it will connect to the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in the West and to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in the East. While the North Country NST is administered by the National Park Service the trail crosses lands managed by many different public agencies and private landowners. The Park Service works in cooperation with Federal, State, local agencies, private organizations, and landowners who host, develop, or maintain portions of the trail. Much of the work is performed by volunteers managed through the North Country Trail Association (NCTA). Please contact NCTA or your nearby chapter to get involved.
Entrance Fees: No fees are charged for hiking on the trail but fees may be required for parking, camping, or entrance at various sections along the trail. Contact a specific site for more information.
Visitor Center(s): 1403 E Elm Ave, Monroe, MI 48162
Founded: Established in October 2010, opened to the public in May 2011.
Site Details: River Raisin NBP preserves, commemorates, and interprets the January 1813 battles of the War of 1812 and their aftermath. River Raisin NBP is the only national battlefield marking a site of the War of 1812. Battles that resulted in the greatest victory for Tecumseh’s Confederation and the British and the greatest defeat for the U.S. The aftermath led to U.S. Indian laws that forced the removal, relocation, and assimilation of native nations, an aftermath that continues today.
Headquarters: The Partnership's administrative headquarters are in Detroit, Michigan.
Visitor Center(s): With over 100 sites and experiences to be explored, visit MotorCities for more infomation.
Founded: November 6, 1998
Site Details: MotorCities National Heritage Area celebrates Michigan’s rich automotive history and labor heritage that put America on wheels and became the automotive capital of the world. The MotorCities National Heritage Area Partnership is a nonprofit corporation that is part of the National Heritage Area System of the National Park Service.
Entrance Fees: Contact a specific site for more information.
Visitor Center(s): The memorial is within Straits State Park operated by the State of Michigan.
Founded: December 20th, 1975
Site Details: The 52-acre memorial is owned and administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and is an affiliated area of the National Park Service. Overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, the Father Marquette National Memorial tells the story of that 17th-century missionary-explorer and the meeting of French and Native American cultures deep in the North American wilderness. This site is accessible to people of all mobility levels and includes a 15-station outdoor interpretive trail and panoramic views of the Mackinac Bridge. The park also offers camping, picnicking, hiking and other seasonal activities. Father Marquette National Memorial is also included as part of the North Country National Scenic Trail. The site is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
