Michigan is fortunate to have a ton of beautiful state parks, and Fisherman’s Island State Park is no exception. Situated on the shores of lake Michigan in the northwest of Michigan’s mainland, Fisherman’s Island State Park contains pristine shoreline waiting to be explored.
The park is great for camping, beachcombing, or just hanging out on the beaches and relaxing on the water. It’s very popular with the locals, and for good reason. The sand here is amazing, water is clear, and the summer days are second to none. We highly recommend you drive to Charlevoix, MI and take a look for yourself!
While the park isn’t large, it’s good to be prepared prior to your visit. We hope our guide gives you an idea of What to See and Do in Fisherman’s Island State Park!
FISHERMAN’S ISLAND STATE PARK HISTORY
Fisherman’s Island State Park is named after the small island (Fisherman Island), which is located within 1000 feet of the shore. At times this island has become part of the mainland due to low water levels in Lake Michigan. Since 2016, though, the island is once again an island.
The park was established in 1975 and protects and provides recreation on about 2678 acres of shoreline.
THINGS TO DO IN FISHERMAN’S ISLAND STATE PARK
Fisherman’s Island State Park map, courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
If you fond of terrific views, then just heading into Fisherman’s Island State Park even for a couple of hours is worth it. However, if you do want to stick around for longer, there are several things to do to keep you busy for the day or a multiple day trip.
Our recommendations for activities in Fisherman’s Island State Park include:
Hanging out on the Beach and Swimming
Lake Michigan is great for swimming. The water here can be chilly in the early summer, but by July it’s amazing and quite refreshing when you’ve been in the sun all day. You can pull over and enjoy the beach pretty much anywhere, but at the end of Lake Shore Drive (the main road into the park), there is a large parking area with easy access to the main beach. This beach is made of fine sand, whereas some of the beaches in the northern part of the road are mainly stone. The beach can be crowded on the weekends, but in general if you get here before 10 am, you’ll be able to find a parking spot and a great place to relax on the beach. Even when it’s busy, the beach is still incredible, and there is plenty of room to spread out.
Beachcombing
Walking along the beach and looking for stones is very popular. Two types of stones here are fairly common and both are sought out. The Petoskey Stone is Michigan’s state stone and is made of fossilized coral. The Charlevoix Stone is made of coral as well, but has a smaller exoskeleton in the coral. While you can find them on the beach, it does take patience! You can only remove 25 lbs. of stone (total) per year, and you may not remove rocks from federal lands (just state lands). We found the best places to beachcomb were pull-offs along Lake Shore Drive.
Petosky Stone, photos courtesy of Normanac
Picnicking
We loved picnicking in the park, and you can find a ton of spots along Lake Shore Drive to pull over and have lunch. It’s likely that you’ll be on your own, and you can plan on having a beautiful view while you enjoy your food.
Hiking
Though there are only a couple hikes in the park, we highly recommend and getting out to stretch your legs while visiting. We cover the details on those two hikes in the next section!
HIKING TRAILS IN FISHERMAN’S ISLAND STATE PARK
Fisherman’s Island Trail
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance (round-trip): 1.2 miles
- Elevation gain: 25 feet
- Hiking time (approximate): 30 to 45 minutes
Fisherman’s Island Trail map, courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The Fisherman’s Island Trail is an easy, 1.2-mile loop with only about 25 feet of elevation gain. The trail starts through the woods before heading to the shore and returning back to the parking area. On this hike, you’ll enjoy great views of Lake Michigan and get up close to Fisherman’s Island.
The trailhead for the Fisherman’s Island Trail begins at the parking area at the end of Lake Shore Drive. Look for the trailhead in the forest and the end of the parking lot.
Fisherman’s Island Nature Trail
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance (round-trip): 5.9 miles
- Elevation gain: 275 feet
- Hiking time (approximate): 3-4 hours
Fisherman’s Island Nature Trail map, courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
If you are looking for a trail to take about a half-day, then hiking the Fisherman’s Island Nature Trail may be for you. This 5.9-mile (round-trip) hike travels from Bells Bay Road all the way to the beach at the end of Lake Shore Drive. Aside from the length, the trail is fairly easy as it only has about 275 feet of elevation gain. The hike goes through the woods as it parallels Lake Shore Drive before coming out at the beach. If you want the trail to be a bit shorter, you can pick it up at the North or South campground area as well. Beware that you may find poison ivy on this trail.
The trailhead begins on Bells Bay Road, on the south side of the road about 500 feet before you get to Lake Shore Drive.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO NEAR FISHERMAN’S ISLAND STATE PARK?
If you’ve done any research on Michigan, there really is a ton to see and do, particularly in the summertime. Our nearby favorites include:
- Visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Located about 75 miles to the south, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is an amazing place to spend a few days. The dunes are incredible, and the beaches unspoiled. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is about 75 miles to the south.
- Check out the town of Charleviox, MI. Close to the park is the nearby town of Charlevoix. This quaint town is great for exploring and shopping. Charlevoix, MI is about 4 miles to the northeast.
ENTRANCE FEES FOR FISHERMAN’S ISLAND STATE PARK
You are required to purchase a day-pass for a nominal fee to enter the park. You can also purchase an annual Michigan State Park pass.
FISHERMAN’S ISLAND STATE PARK CAMPING
There is one main campground at Fisherman’s Island, with various “loops” along Lake Shore Drive to choose from. You can read more about staying here in our blog on Camping in Fisherman’s Island State Park.
BEST TIME TO FISHERMAN’S ISLAND STATE PARK
The park is open all year-round, but visiting in the summer is definitely the most popular and what we would recommend if you want to spend any length of time on the beach. Camping is only open through November, and even then it can be super cold!
To avoid the crowds, we definitely recommend coming early in the day, or at least during the weekdays to maximize the chance that you will be able to get a quiet spot on the beach.
VISITING FISHERMAN’S ISLAND STATE PARK IN THE WINTER
Visiting Fisherman’s Island State Park in the winter is a special experience. The road is not well maintained, and driving with a 4WD vehicle is a must. Still, if you come here prepared (snowshoes and micro-spikes), the icy trails are navigable, and the views are incredible! You also won’t have any fear of crowds in the wintertime!
ARE PETS ALLOWED IN FISHERMAN’S ISLAND STATE PARK?
Pets are more than welcome, but must be kept on a leash the entire time. You also are asked to clean up after your pet, of course.
RELATED INFORMATION ON FISHERMAN’S ISLAND STATE PARK AND THE SURROUNDING AREA FROM JUST GO TRAVEL STUDIOS
- Check out our article on Camping in Fisherman’s Island State Park if you plan on staying a night or two in the park.
- While you are in planning mode, check out our other blogs for the State of Michigan, including What to See and Do in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Pictured Rocks!
- When you get back, be sure to send us your photos and we’ll send you a custom, vintage travel poster!
