April 2018
Several state parks stay open late for stargazing April 15-21
Enjoy incredible stargazing opportunities during International Dark Sky Week April 15-21. The moon meets Venus just after sunset April 17 and the annual Lyrids Meteor Shower peaks before dawn April 21.
View these and other celestial happenings at any of the six state-designated Dark Sky Preserves (areas protected against light pollution) located within state parks, or simply enjoy the sky above the more than 15,000 square miles of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Participating parks will stay open later for self-guided views during Dark Sky Week. Please call ahead for individual park hours. Visit michigan.gov/darksky.
Photo of the night sky at Negwegon State Park courtesy of instagram.com/thadwerlen.
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Ride for free during two Free ORV Weekends this summer
Take an opportunity to test Michigan's off-road trails yourself or introduce friends to the ORV trail system during two Free ORV Weekends June 9-10 and Aug. 18-19.
During these weekends, both residents and out-of-state visitors can ride nearly 3,700 miles of DNR-designated routes and trails without an ORV license or permit. Learn more at michigan.gov/orvinfo.
In addition, the June 9-10 weekend also lines up with Summer Free Fishing Weekend, when all fishing license fees will be waived.
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Swim, bike and run with HeartMITri virtual triathlon
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Join Epic Races and complete your very own virtual triathlon at your own pace (and on your own time) with the all-new HeartMITri Virtual Triathlon. A portion of the proceeds benefit Michigan state parks.
Participants can complete the swim, bike and run portion in any order. Register at RunSignUp by May 1. Each participant will receive a commemorative finisher’s medal and event T-shirt
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Share your love of the outdoors with a foster child
Remember learning how to fish as a child? Your first camping trip? The feeling of accomplishment when you completed your first big hike? The thrill of skimming along a glass-calm lake with the wind in your hair?
There are 13,000 children in foster care in Michigan who will cherish those memories, and – more importantly – may just need a safe and nurturing home. To support these children, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) needs foster parents to provide loving homes until they can be safely reunited with their family. There is no perfect makeup of a foster parent, and each foster family is different. It doesn’t matter if you are married or single, a homeowner or renter. You simply need a big heart … but a good pair of hiking shoes and some fishing tackle would be a major bonus. Visit michigan.gov/hopeforahome.
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Information on snowmobiling after April 1
With the recent snowfall, there has been an extended interest in snowmobiling in many areas of the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula. Please take the following tips into consideration:
- State trails are no longer being groomed at this time of year (after April 1).
- State land is still open to snowmobiling.
- The majority of trails located on private land closed April 1.
* Please consult other agencies if you are riding on federal lands.
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