Beaches, Parks & Trails

City Parks/Beaches

 Duck Park and Island Park-
Located within Alpena city limits at the corner of U.S. 23 and Long Rapids Road, Duck Park and Island Park are located on a portion of the city's 600-acre wildlife sanctuary.  Cross a bridge to get to Island Park, which features nature trails and fishing platforms.  Duck Park offers fishing and a picnic area and provides a great vantage point for viewing a large variety of bird species in the sanctuary area.

 Bay View Park - Fine Arts Shell, basketball and tennis courts, play area, picnic area and breakwall walking path with beautiful view of Lake Huron.

 Mich-E-Ke-Wis Park- Swimming beach, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, children's play area, bike park, picnic area, open area for kite flying, outdoor ice rink and shelter building.

 McRae Park-Ballfields, basketball and tennis courts, play area, picnic area and shelter building.

 Washington Avenue Park - Picnic area with beautiful view of Thunder Bay River.

 Blair Street Park - Swimming, picnic area, boardwalk/pier.

 Starlite Beach - (Lifeguard-supervised) swimming, picnic area, play area including play structures.

Thomson Park - Swimming, picnic area.

 Several other smaller parks are scattered throughout the city including LaMarre Park with a fishing deck and picnic area, Avery Park with a picnic area and benches, North Riverfront Park with a picnic area, fishing deck and boat ramp and South Riverfront Park with a picnic area, fishing deck and interpretive signs.

Skate/Bike Parks see seperate listing-Recreation

 Area Parks/Beaches

Arthur E. Sytek Park-Kayak/canoe launch, wheelchair-accessible fishing deck, picnic tables

Manning Hill Park (989) 379-4462- 18 miles west of Alpena or 3 blocks East of M-65 South or 1 block West of M-65 North. Beautiful view, small pavilion, picnic tables, rustic restrooms.

 Sanborn Park/Ossineke Beach-Located on Lake Huron at the end of Lake Street in Ossineke. Swimming beach, playground equipment, picnic tables, pavilion, toilets.

 Shingaba Shores-Huge play structure, totem pole, port-a-johns. Handicap accessible. Located in Ossineke on Ossineke Rd. across from Dinosaur Gardens.

 Trails

Alpena Bi-Path
(989) 354-1700
Approximately 16.5 miles long, the path travels through several of Alpena's scenic city parks and beaches along the Thunder Bay River and Lake Huron.  Parking is available at several sites along the path.  An excellent tour of the city by foot, rollerblade, or bike.

 Maritime Heritage Trail-This historically-oriented walking tour along the Thunder Bay River in downtown Alpena begins at South Riverfront Park (behind the Armory on Water Street), following the river north, crossing over the Ninth Avenue Bridge, then following the river south and ending at South Riverfront Park. The walk includes boardwalk, interpretive signs, a new pedestrian bridge behind the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center and integrates a portion of the city’s 16.5 mile Bi-Path. The overall objective of the trail is to demonstrate the importance of Lake Huron and the Thunder Bay River in the development of Alpena and its unique maritime culture.

 Besser Natural Area
(989) 354-4181
One-mile foot trail, through an area formerly inhabited by the people of the Village of Bell.  Some remains of buildings, a virgin stand of white pine trees, a lagoon and beautiful beach.  14 miles north of Alpena.

Cross-Country Ski Trails

 Norway Ridge, five miles south of Alpena, features 10 miles of forgiving, groomed terrain for beginning to intermediate skiers.

Chippewa Hills Pathway, 20 miles southwest of Alpena, offers a more challenging terrain for beginning through advanced skiers.  Over 14   miles of hilly, heavily wooded terrain await you on this trail.

Besser Natural Area, 20 minutes north on Grand Lake Road is a flat terrain - good for beginning skiers.

Thompson's Harbor State Park. 24 miles north of Alpena. Three trails ranging from 1.4 miles to 2.6 miles. Park at trail head off of US-23.   Intermediate skiers.

 State Parks

Negwegon State Park
(989) 724-5126
Mysterious, remote and undeveloped, Negwegon State Park is a hidden treasure with 10 miles of hiking trails and one of the most beautiful beaches on Lake Huron. Negwegon is located on US-23 12 miles north of Harrisville. Drivers should be wary of the entry route to the park…part of it is a sandy two-track road. To get to the park, take Black River road off of US 23 to the east 1.5 miles, turn north on Sand Hill Rd. and go 2.5 miles, turn right or east at the Negwegon State Park sign and go 1.5 miles to the day use parking area.  No services, no camping. 

 Thompson's Harbor State Park
(989) 734-2543
Located 24 miles north of Alpena on US 23 North, this natural area encompasses 5,000 acres of sand dunes, upland and marsh. In Michigan, there are fewer than 50 remaining examples of "forested wet swale communities" of this quality. The area supports one of the largest known populations in the world of the federal and state-threatened dwarf lake iris, Michigan's state wildflower. Thousands of iris shoots, and several other plant species of special concern grow in the area. Situated along seven and a half miles of Lake Huron shoreline, this undeveloped park provides a rustic retreat for hikers exploring the park's six miles of trails. Park at the trail-head off of US-23.