Higgins Lake's Quiet Side — Home to the CCC Museum

North Higgins Lake State Park

Roscommon County · Lower Peninsula · Roscommon, MI 48653
174+
Campsites
11
Trail Miles
From $22
Per Night
449
Acres
Season: Year-Round
Hookups: Electric up to 50 amp
Pets: Allowed on leash
Reservation: MiDNRReservations.com
Phone: (989) 821-6125
Book on MiDNRReservations.com →

About North Higgins Lake State Park

North Higgins Lake State Park sits on the quieter shoreline of one of Michigan's clearest inland lakes, across the water from its busier sibling, South Higgins Lake State Park. At 449 acres, it's roughly half the size of South Higgins Lake's campground footprint, and it draws a noticeably calmer, more family-oriented crowd. The park is best known as home to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Museum and the historic Higgins Lake Nursery, which trace Michigan's forestry history back to the state's first tree nursery, established here in 1903.

Two campgrounds split the park's roughly 174 sites: East Campground (82 sites) and West Campground (92 sites, including 2 mini cabins), most with 50-amp electric service and some with full hookups. The park connects directly to the Cornwall Flooding Pathway and the North Country Trail, giving campers about 11 miles of hiking and mountain-biking terrain to explore beyond the lake itself.

CampgroundSitesHookupsBest For
East Campground82 sitesMostly 50-amp electricFamilies, RVs
West Campground92 sites + 2 mini cabins50-amp electric, some full hookupLonger stays, cabins
Heads up: North Higgins Lake books up fast on summer weekends, especially July and August, even though it's quieter than South Higgins Lake day-to-day. Reserve as early as your 6-month booking window allows for peak dates.
Local tip: If South Higgins Lake State Park is sold out for your dates, check here first — it's directly across the lake, offers the same clear water and sand bottom, and tends to have more last-minute availability thanks to its smaller size and quieter reputation.

CCC Museum & Higgins Lake Nursery

PHOTO PLACEHOLDER

The park's signature feature is historical rather than scenic: the CCC Museum, housed in a building built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, tells the story of the New Deal-era work camps that reforested much of northern Michigan. Next door, the Higgins Lake Nursery grounds mark the site of the state's first forest tree nursery, dating to 1903 — a piece of Michigan conservation history that's easy to miss if you're only here for the beach.

How to Get a Reservation

The 6-Month Booking Window

Like all Michigan DNR campgrounds, North Higgins Lake State Park opens reservations exactly 6 months in advance through MiDNRReservations.com. Prime summer weekends (Memorial Day through Labor Day) can fill within days of opening, particularly for the electric sites closest to the lake.

Set a CampDrop Alert

Missed the 6-month window, or watching for a cancellation on a specific date? CampDrop monitors MiDNRReservations.com around the clock and texts you the moment a site opens up at North Higgins Lake — so you don't have to keep refreshing the booking page yourself.

Reserve directly: MiDNRReservations.com · Park phone: (989) 821-6125

What to Know Before You Go

Hookups & Site Types

Most sites in both campgrounds offer 50-amp electric service; a portion of West Campground sites add full hookups (water and sewer). The 2 mini cabins in West Campground are a good option if you want the park experience without bringing your own camper.

Lake Access

Higgins Lake is known for exceptionally clear water and a firm, sandy bottom — one of the better inland swimming lakes in the Lower Peninsula. The park maintains a designated swim beach a short walk from both campgrounds.

Pets

Pets are welcome throughout the park on a 6-foot leash, and there's a designated pet beach area away from the main swim beach for dogs to access the water.

Season

The park operates year-round, though full services (camp store hours, staffed check-in) are seasonal. Winter visitors come for cross-country skiing and quiet lakeside walks.

Directions

North Higgins Lake State Park is located at 11747 N. Higgins Lake Drive, Roscommon, MI 48653, in Roscommon County. The park sits just off I-75, making it one of the more accessible northern Michigan campgrounds for travelers coming from Downstate.

Frequently Asked Questions

No — they're two separate state parks on opposite shores of the same lake. North Higgins Lake is smaller (449 acres vs. roughly 1,000) and has a quieter, more family-oriented reputation, while South Higgins Lake is larger and busier. Both offer the same clear water and sandy lake bottom.

The park has about 174 sites split between East Campground (82 sites) and West Campground (92 sites plus 2 mini cabins), most with 50-amp electric service.

It's a small museum housed in a building constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, telling the story of Michigan's reforestation efforts. It sits next to the grounds of the Higgins Lake Nursery, the state's first tree nursery, established in 1903.

Reservations open exactly 6 months in advance through MiDNRReservations.com. For sold-out dates, a CampDrop alert will text you the moment a cancellation opens up a site.

Yes, pets are welcome on a 6-foot leash throughout the park, and there's a designated pet beach separate from the main swim beach.

Yes, the park operates year-round. Winter visitors come mainly for cross-country skiing and quiet lakeside walks, though full seasonal services like the camp store are not available.