Harrisville State Park is a public recreation area covering on the shore of
Lake Huron off
U.S. Route 23
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U.S. Route 23 or U.S. Highway 23 (US 23) is a major north–south U.S. Highway between Jacksonville, Florida, and Mackinaw City, Michigan. It is an original 1926 route which originally reached only as far south as Portsmouth, Ohio, and has sinc ...
in
Harrisville and
Harrisville Township,
Alcona County,
Michigan
Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
.
[ The state park contains more than 100 acres of heavily forested land as well as a mile-long sandy beach.][ It is considered an important location for birders, with large and varied migratory populations of warblers and other song birds.][ The park is administered by the ]Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the agency of the state of Michigan charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor a ...
.[
]
History
Harrisville State Park was among 13 parks established in 1920 following the creation of the Michigan State Parks Commission a year earlier.[ It originally covered only .][ The park's Cedar Run Nature Trail was cut through the forested areas of the park as early as 1945.][
]
Wildlife
Harrisville State Park offers outstanding birding opportunities in May when numerous warbler
Various Passeriformes (perching birds) are commonly referred to as warblers. They are not necessarily closely related to one another, but share some characteristics, such as being fairly small, vocal, and insectivorous.
Sylvioid warblers
Th ...
species may be seen. Other species include nuthatch
The nuthatches () constitute a genus, ''Sitta'', of small passerine birds belonging to the family Sittidae. Characterised by large heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet, nuthatches advertise their territory using loud, simple songs. M ...
es, woodpecker
Woodpeckers are part of the bird family Picidae, which also includes the piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions. ...
s, wrens, thrushes, vireo
The vireos make up a family, Vireonidae, of small to medium-sized passerine birds found in the New World (Canada to Argentina, including Bermuda and the West Indies) and Southeast Asia. "Vireo" is a Latin word referring to a green migrato ...
s, and sparrows.[
]
Activities and amenities
The park features a swimming beach, bathhouse, picnic areas, sports fields, carry-in boat launch, 195 campground sites, cabin, and mini-cabins.[ The Cedar Run Nature Trail crosses forested areas of the park.][ A section of beach north of the campers area is pet friendly.][
The park offers bike rentals, in coordination with the opening of the Alcona Heritage Route Multi-use Trail. The trail is a three-quarter mile paved, multi-use trail out of the park that connects to the trail to Harrisville.][Alcona Review, June 28, 2010.]
Gallery
Image:Harrisville state park sign back entrance.jpg
Image:Harrisville_state_park_path_02.jpg
Image:Harrisville_state_park_cabin_01.jpg
Image:Harrisville_state_park_trail_01.jpg
References
External links
Harrisville State Park
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Harrisville State Park Map
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
{{authority control
State parks of Michigan
Protected areas of Alcona County, Michigan
Protected areas established in 1920
1920 establishments in Michigan
Beaches of Michigan
Landforms of Alcona County, Michigan
IUCN Category III