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Burt Lake State Park
Burt Lake State Park is located just off I-75, about 30 miles south of the Straits of Mackinac. Whether it be for a stop-over on your trip through or staying for a week, it is a good example of the natural beauty that Michigan can offer.
Burt Lake State Park is on the south shore of Burt Lake. And it is a boater's paradise. It is close to the mid-way point on Michigan's Inland Waterway, which runs from Cheboygan on Lake Huron to near Petosky to the west (just a few miles from Lake Michigan). The waterway is approximately 45miles and includes two locks, four large lakes, and three rivers. If you have a boat, you can spend the entire day traversing the waterway. Caution though; even though Burt Lake and Mullet Lake are inland lakes, they are quite large, and on a windy day the waves can whip up, you will need at least a 20+ft boat. I have done the waterway in both 18ft boat and 22ft boat. That extra 4 feet really makes a difference on some days. One nice thing about Burt Lake though is when Burt is rough, Mullet might not be quite as bad, and since the state park is in the middle, you can choose which lake to explore for that day.
Before I became a RV'er, I was into boating, and owned several different boats... from 14ft to 32ft. We got out of boating when someone decided to work on his boat during winter storage and managed to blow up the building my boat was stored in. But that is another story. I did not attempt the waterway in my 32ft boat as there are several bridges that are too low, especially under I-75. But the waterway provides something for everyone, whether it is just pleasure boating, fishing, realxing, or exploring. Of course, if you have a RV, bringing a boat can be a challenge. Michigan is a legal double-trailer state, so people bring their boats behind their 5th wheel, behind a motorhome, or a second vehicle towing the boat.
One thing you should try - if your boat is sufficent - is to traverse Mullet Lake to the Cheboygan River, and into Cheboygan. There are several public docks in Cheboygan and you can find several resturants along the way.
If you are really adventurous (and your boat is sufficient), you can go through the locks at Cheboygan into Lake Huron. From there, it is about 16 miles to the Mackinac Bridge. You have not really boated until you have gone under that bridge. You can also get to Mackinac Island, but you will need to plan that trip ahead as there is a queue system to get into the Mackinac Island municipal marina. Or if you don't have a boat, Burt Lake State Park offers a very nice lake in it's own right, with a very nice sandy beach, tall pines in the campground, and proximity to other attractions in the area. Within an hour's drive, you can reach the Straits Area, including Mackinaw City, Mackinac Bridge, and Mackinac Island, as well as many other private and state campgrounds. You could easily spend a week or more in the area, staying at a different campground each night.
Some locations in the Straits Area are spelled "Mackinac" and some "Mackinaw". The spelling is the result of whether that area was settled by the French or English. But regardless of the spelling, the pronunciation is the same "Mack-in-awe". The town of Indian River is not large, and has a nice grocery store and a few gas stations. If you need something they do not offer, the town of Cheboygan to the North East or Gaylord to the South is not far.
Like many Michigan State Parks, Burt Lake is seeing some improvements, such as a few pull through sites and 50A service. I would recommend though that you look at the site description when reserving your spot. Most sites are fairly level, but there are a few sites that are tiny, and might require you to muster all of your skills when backing your RV into the site. A doggie beach is also available. You can let your dog run and play in the water, however, you must still obey the leash law when your pooch is in the water.
Burt Lake State Park. Websites: Burt Lake State Park
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