Menominee River State Recreation Area

13 Scenic Michigan State Parks for Stargazing, Hiking, and Boating on Turquoise Waters

"If it’s Class II and III rapids you’re after, look no further than this 17-mile leg of undeveloped river straddling the Michigan-Wisconsin border known as Menominee River Recreation Area. Kosir's Rapid Rafts, True North Outpost, and Wildman Adventure Resort in Dickinson County organize whitewater rafting trips through the 9,767-acre park, which is situated an hour north of Green Bay on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. For visitors who prefer to keep their feet planted firmly on the ground, the rocky gorges make for excellent hiking and mountain biking. (The 2.5-mile, out-and-back Piers Gorge trail lucked out in the scenic overlook department.) The rec area is a go-to for birdwatchers, too, rewarding patient enthusiasts with spectacular sightings of bald eagles and osprey."