The DNR lists searching for fossils among the things to do here. The park also includes a protected natural area, so check posted limits before you collect.1
Rules: State park land (DNR). The state limit applies: no more than 25 pounds of rocks, mineral specimens and invertebrate fossils per person per year.2
P.H. Hoeft State Park
Presque Isle County, Rogers City
State land (DNR)
Rocks, land and rules
Rocks on the Michigan Geological Survey rockhounding map: puddingstone, quartz, granite, chert, horn coral, crinoid and brachiopod.3
Rules: State park land (DNR). The state limit applies: no more than 25 pounds of rocks, mineral specimens and invertebrate fossils per person per year.2
Thompson's Harbor State Park
Presque Isle County, Rogers City
State land (DNR)
Rocks, land and rules
The DNR describes "5 miles of rocky shoreline".4 Rocks on the Michigan Geological Survey rockhounding map: granite, quartz, gneiss and stromatolite.3
Rules: State park land (DNR). The state limit applies: no more than 25 pounds of rocks, mineral specimens and invertebrate fossils per person per year.2
Negwegon State Park
Alcona and Alpena counties
State land (DNR)
Rocks, land and rules
Rocks on the Michigan Geological Survey rockhounding map: puddingstone, granite, quartz, Charlevoix stone, Petoskey stone, gneiss and Gowganda tillite.3
Rules: State park land (DNR). The state limit applies: no more than 25 pounds of rocks, mineral specimens and invertebrate fossils per person per year.2
Harrisville State Park
Alcona County, Harrisville
State land (DNR)
Rocks, land and rules
Rocks on the Michigan Geological Survey rockhounding map: granite, quartz, horn coral, chert, chain coral, Petoskey stone, puddingstone and Yooperlite.3
Rules: State park land (DNR). The state limit applies: no more than 25 pounds of rocks, mineral specimens and invertebrate fossils per person per year.2
Tawas Point State Park
Iosco County, East Tawas
State land (DNR)
Rocks, land and rules
Rocks on the Michigan Geological Survey rockhounding map: quartz, gneiss, granite, puddingstone, Petoskey stone, brachiopod and jasper.3
Rules: State park land (DNR). The state limit applies: no more than 25 pounds of rocks, mineral specimens and invertebrate fossils per person per year.2
Cheboygan State Park
Cheboygan County, Cheboygan
State land (DNR)
Rocks, land and rules
The Michigan Geological Survey rockhounding map lists this spot, but marks its rocks as unconfirmed.3
Rules: State park land (DNR). The state limit applies: no more than 25 pounds of rocks, mineral specimens and invertebrate fossils per person per year.2
Onaway State Park
Presque Isle County, Onaway (inland, on Black Lake)
State land (DNR)
Rocks, land and rules
An inland park. The DNR describes a "cobblestone shoreline, large unique rock outcroppings".5 The Michigan Geological Survey rockhounding map lists fossils.3
Rules: State park land (DNR). The state limit applies: no more than 25 pounds of rocks, mineral specimens and invertebrate fossils per person per year.2
Sturgeon Point State Park
Alcona County, about 5 miles north of Harrisville
State land (DNR)
Rocks, land and rules
Rocks on the Michigan Geological Survey rockhounding map: Petoskey stone, granite, fossils, quartz, chert, limestone and puddingstone.3 The DNR describes the shore as mostly sandy: "half a mile of sandy Lake Huron shoreline".6
Rules: State park land (DNR). The state limit applies: no more than 25 pounds of rocks, mineral specimens and invertebrate fossils per person per year.2
Partridge Point public access site
Alpena County, Alpena Township
State land (DNR)
Rocks, land and rules
A City of Alpena recreation plan says the Public Access Site at Partridge Point is "Owned by the MDNR, this site provides access to the waters of Thunder Bay in Lake Huron."7 Rocks on the Michigan Geological Survey rockhounding map: crinoid stem, brachiopod, crinoid, horn coral and blastoid.3
Rules: DNR land (public access site). The state limit applies: no more than 25 pounds of rocks, mineral specimens and invertebrate fossils per person per year.2
Local parks (1)
Mich-e-ke-wis Park
Alpena County, Alpena
Local park: City of Alpena
Rocks, land and rules
The City of Alpena says the park is "located on Lake Huron along State Avenue".8 No rock list from an official source yet.
Rules: No rock collecting rule posted by the park; check with the park manager. Managed by the City of Alpena.8 On the Great Lakes shore below the ordinary high water mark: the same 25 lb limit as on state land, which comes from the DNR rule R 299.922(hh), not from Part 325.2 EGLE describes it as covering state-owned and public trust lands.9
Good to know
Corals are among the most common fossils on Michigan beaches.10
Presque Isle and Alpena counties are among the counties where the Gravel Point Formation, the source of Petoskey stones, occurs.11