Harrisville State Park is a public recreation area covering 107 acres (43 ha) on the shore of Lake Huron off U.S. Route 23 in Harrisville and Harrisville Township, Alcona County, Michigan.[5] The state park contains more than 100 acres of heavily forested land as well as a mile-long sandy beach.[6] It is considered an important location for birders, with large and varied migratory populations of warblers and other song birds.[7] The park is administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.[5]
Harrisville State Park | |
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Location in Michigan Harrisville State Park (the United States) | |
Location | Harrisville / Harrisville Township Alcona County, Michigan |
Coordinates | 44°38′58″N 83°17′35″W / 44.64944°N 83.29306°W [2] |
Area | 107 acres (43 ha) |
Elevation | 587 feet (179 m) [2] |
Designation | Michigan state park |
Established | 1920[3] |
Visitors | 151,273 (in 1996)[4] |
Administrator | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
Website | Harrisville State Park |
Harrisville State Park was among 13 parks established in 1920 following the creation of the Michigan State Parks Commission a year earlier.[8] It originally covered only six acres (2.4 ha).[9] The park's Cedar Run Nature Trail was cut through the forested areas of the park as early as 1945.[10]
Harrisville State Park offers outstanding birding opportunities in May when numerous warbler species may be seen. Other species include nuthatches, woodpeckers, wrens, thrushes, vireos, and sparrows.[7]
The park features a swimming beach, bathhouse, picnic areas, sports fields, carry-in boat launch, 195 campground sites, cabin, and mini-cabins.[5] The 2-mile (3.2 km) Cedar Run Nature Trail crosses forested areas of the park.[6] A section of beach north of the campers area is pet friendly.[5]
The park offers bike rentals, in coordination with the opening of the Alcona Heritage Route Multi-use Trail. The trail is a three-quarter mile paved, multi-use trail out of the park that connects to the trail to Harrisville.[5][11]