Port Crescent State Park

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OVERVIEW | BEACHES | DAY USE PARK | CAMPGROUND | STEEL BRIDGE TRAILS | HIKING | DARK SKY PRESERVE | BIRDING | LOCATION

Port Crescent State Park has three miles of sandy shoreline beaches on Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay. The Day Use Park features several miles of hiking/skiing trails, a dark sky preserve, raptor viewing platform, and more! Popular activities at the park include fishing, canoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, birding, and hunting.

The waterfront campground has modern and rustic campsites and boasts 10 overnight lodging options, such as geodesic domes, hammock camping sites, camper cabins, and cottages. You’ll find modern bath facilities, beach access, a playground, and access to the trail system just steps from your campsite.

Beaches

Port Crescent State Park sits on 3 miles of sandy Lake Huron shoreline with beach pavilions & facilities in the day-use park.

You can also access the beach via the Steel Bridge Trailhead next to Dark Sky Lodge & Tavern, and via the Campground.

Enjoy catching some rays, going for a swim, a family picnic, and more at one of the best beaches in the Thumb of Michigan!

Day Use Park

Port Crescent State Park Day Use Park offers a wide variety of activities for visitors. (Recreation Passport Required)

Spend the day on the beach, have a picnic in the pavilion, go for a hike in the woods, do some birding or wildlife viewing, do some cross country skiing in the winter, or visit the Dark Sky Preserve after the sun goes down.

The 2.3-mile Day Use hiking trail takes visitors through wooded areas of pine and oak and rolling sand dunes. You may see wildlife like deer, geese or even a bald eagle! The trailhead is located at Parking Lot C in the summer and near the contact station in the park’s day-use area in the winter.

Campground

Port Crescent State Park campground has modern and rustic campsites and boasts 10 overnight lodging options, such as geodesic domes, hammock camping sites, camper cabins, and cottages.

You’ll find modern bath facilities, beach access, a playground, and access to the trail system just steps from your campsite. You’ll find modern bath facilities, beach access, a playground, and access to the trail system just steps from your campsite.

Port Crescent Organizational Area

Commonly referred to as the “Steel Bridge Trails”, the Port Crescent Organizational area is a 2.5-mile trail featuring three scenic overlooks that provide views of Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay as well as access to a sandy beach and the Pinnebog River. The terrain is primarily made up of sand dunes in a forrest setting that open to the shoreline.

You have a great chance of seeing wildlife including deer, foxes, beavers, turtles, and more. The birding on the trail is amazing! Bald Eagles, hawks, songbirds, seagulls and many other bird species frequent the area.

When there is snow, you’ll find groomed cross country ski trails. If you don’t have skis, Port Austin Hardware rents them.

Parking & trailhead access via the old steel bridge on M-25 (day-use visitors) is next to Dark Sky Lodge & Tavern. Campground guests can access the trails along the shoreline.

Hiking & Skiing

The Day Use park offers 2 unique hiking trails. The Dunes Nature trail is a 3/4 mile learning trail where visitors can learn about sand dune ecology, wildlife, plants and dune forests. The 2.5 mile Day Use trail takes visitors through wooded areas of pine and oak and rolling sand dunes.

The other trail is at the Steel Bridge Trailhead next to Dark Sky Tavern and has scenic overlooks of the Pinnebog river and Lake Huron as well as access to a sandy beach.

All of the trials offer views of the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron, wildlife & bird viewing opportunities, and cross country skiing in the winter months.

Dark Sky Preserve

When the sun sets and the stars come out, visitors can enjoy exceptional stargazing in the park’s dark sky preserve. The best viewing location is located near Parking Lot D, where there is a viewing platform.

Birding & Raptor Viewing Platform

Port Crescent State Park is Huron County's best known birding location. It is well known for observing raptors during their migration with a dedicated raptor observation deck. The park is also excellent for water birds and passerines. Its unique location at the tip of the Thumb means that good numbers of birds collect here in spring and fall. Snowy Egret, Prairie Warbler, Henslow's Sparrow, and Red Crossbill have been detected. More regular species of interest include Forster's Tern, Great Black-backed Gull (which may be seen year-round) and Glaucous Gulls (often lingering into late April and early May).

Location

Port Crescent State Park is located just a few miles west of Port Austin on the shores of Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron.

Campground

Day-Use Park

Steel Bridge Trail