On the shores of Lake Huron, Rockport State Recreation Area holds a special place: It stretches along the lake across Alpena and Presque Isle counties. In Alpena County, the natural landscape ranges from forests and wildlife areas to parks along lakes and rivers. There are also trails that let you discover the area from different perspectives. The result is a destination whose appeal is not limited to a single type of landscape.
Forests, Shorelines, and Sweeping Views
At Sunken Lake Park, 160 acres of land, old-growth forest, and hiking trails come together. If you want to make the forest the focus of an outing, the trails offer a great place to start. While Rockport is defined by the Lake Huron shoreline, Sunken Lake puts the focus on forests and trails.
Island Park in Alpena is also surrounded by nature: a 500-acre wildlife area surrounds the park. Manning Hill Park offers a different highlight, with panoramic views. These distinct features give you different reasons to take in the landscape, rather than limiting all nature experiences to a single viewpoint or setting.
Long Lake Park combines a day-use area with beaches, parking lots, and picnic areas. This makes it easy to plan a day visit. When planning, you can distinguish these amenities from the hiking trails at Sunken Lake or the panoramic views at Manning Hill: each park has its own focus.
Trails and Water as Different Ways to Explore
The NEST – Northeast Michigan State Trail is a 70-mile multi-use rail-trail operated by the Michigan DNR, running from Alpena to Cheboygan. The Alpena Bi-Path Trail is considerably shorter, at approximately 18.5 miles. Connecting paths and roads provide access to several scenic city parks and beaches along the Thunder Bay River and Lake Huron. The two distances help put the routes in perspective: the NEST is a regional route between two places, while the Bi-Path connects visitors to several parks and beaches.
There are also different ways to explore the water. Duck Park has a public launch site for kayaks and canoes. At the Alpena County Fairgrounds, there are two free boat launch sites on the Thunder Bay River. This lets you distinguish between a public launch site specifically designated for kayaks and canoes and the two free boat launch sites on the river.
Shipwrecks, Fossils, and History
Glass-bottom boat shipwreck tours offer the chance to explore the shipwrecks of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. On land, the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center offers a different focus, with more than 10,000 square feet of exhibit space. Visitors can step onto the deck of a full-size schooner or view a shipwreck through dive tubes. The center is located in historic downtown Alpena on the Thunder Bay River. The on-water tours and experiences at the center offer different perspectives on maritime history.
The Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan combines natural history with built heritage. At its outdoor fossil park, visitors can dig for Devonian fossils and keep any fossils they find. The museum’s Historic Village includes five original buildings, each more than 100 years old. This offers a hands-on fossil experience alongside historic buildings as two distinct themes.
Events and sports also add to the picture. The Alpena County Fair has been a tradition since 1875, celebrating agriculture, community, and heritage. The Northern Lights Arena houses two NHL-sized ice rinks under one roof. These venues offer their own highlights alongside the county’s nature and maritime experiences.
Places to Connect with the Local Community
The Alpena Farmers & Artisan Market is located in Mich-e-ke-wis Park in Alpena. Water Street Commons sits on the Thunder Bay River in downtown Alpena and includes a beverage pavilion and a food truck area. The two places offer different ways to explore local gathering spots and the riverfront.
When choosing accommodations, let your interests guide your plans: consider whether nature and trails, maritime discoveries, culture, or local gathering spots will shape your trip. This will help you tailor your search to what you want to experience in Alpena County.
Discover more destinations: Alpena, Menominee County, Ingham, Leelanau County, Saginaw, Schoolcraft County, Allegan County, Gratiot County.
For the broader travel overview: Michigan.
