May through October, Petoskey State Park is busy with motorhomes rumbling along its roads and beachgoers lounging on its shores, the campgrounds brimming with people, making it feel as crowded as the parks you'd find downstate. But once the weather turns cooler in mid October and the last camper pulls up stakes and departs, foot and bike traffic become the only movement along many of the park's roads, as big yellow gates close off vehicular access to the campgrounds, allowing for a period of peace within the park as late fall and winter settles in slowly.
Last Sunday my husband and I rose early and headed over to the park, finding ourselves the only car in the parking lot closest to the beach. We popped out of the car, our dog in tow, and walked along the beach until we came across the wooden overlook and steps providing access to the Tannery Creek campground. From this point we walked back along the paved park road until we reached our car once again, the trip taking us about 45 minutes, during which time we came across only one group of bikers.
Yesterday, my son, and I parked in the lot near the camper registration booth and walked up the road to the Tannery Creek campground and out onto the beach, passing only one woman as she walked her dogs. It was a beautiful, warm day, made even more beautiful as we had the whole place basically to ourselves. There are about three trails within the park, allowing you lots of down and back loop options, whether it is by road, beach or wooded trail. For a better idea of what I am talking about, here is link to the map of the park: Petoskey State Park Map
Today, with the wind kicking up and gale warnings posted, we headed once again over to Petoskey State Park, the idea being that we wanted to take a quick walk to see the waves rolling. The picture below was not taken at the park, but was taken at the breakwall in Petoskey which we visited after the park. The waves crashing give an example of just how windy it was.
While at the state park, in order to stay out of the wind today we walked along the wooded trail between the Dunes and Tannery Creek campground, a quiet and beautiful unspoiled trail lined with evergreens which paralleled the beach but with a huge dune separating us from the beach, serving as a wind break. The park tries to protect the dunes by erecting fences in the campground areas to keep people off in order to prevent erosion. I can imagine this is a huge task with so many visitors looking at the dunes as a challenge to be scaled. Staying on the paths provided and staying off the dunes considered off limits is the best way to protect the dunes ecosystem. The Nature Conservancy provides some interesting information on dune systems here.
Some places draw you in and beckon you to come back again and again. Petoskey State Park with its mix of woods and water is that place for me. Especially in the off season when there are very few people around. Because it is close to my home, I can get there easily and frequently and was the first park I visited in Emmet County, when I cross-country skied there last winter as my husband and I checked out the area for a possible move here. It was this park that called to me, reassuring me that all would be right with moving back to Michigan. Reminded me as I gazed upon its waters that I was coming home.
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