Michigan’s “Three Free” Weekend lands June 13-14, and the U.P. is the place to cash in
For two days next weekend, June 13 and 14, you can fish, ride Michigan’s ORV trails, and drive into any state park in the U.P. for free. No license. No passport. No permit.
It is the DNR’s annual “Three Free” Weekend, and for Yoopers it might be the best outdoor deal of the summer.
Here is exactly what gets waived for those two days.
Free fishing. You can fish for any in-season species, all weekend long, without buying a license. That normally runs around $26 for Michigan residents. Every other fishing rule still applies, you just skip the license.
Free ORV riding. You can legally ride all 4,000 miles of Michigan’s state-designated off-road routes and trails, plus the state’s six scramble areas, without an ORV license or trail permit.
Free state parks. The Recreation Passport that usually gets your vehicle into Michigan’s 103 state parks and more than 1,000 boating access sites is waived. Just drive in.
And the U.P. is the place to use it.
Free entry opens the gates at gems like Tahquamenon Falls, Van Riper State Park near Michigamme, the Porcupine Mountains out west, and Fort Wilkins up in Copper Harbor. You could cast a line in any of the hundreds of lakes and rivers up here, or open up the throttle on the trails around Iron County and the Keweenaw.
It is an especially good weekend for first-timers and kids, since there is no license to sort out first. Borrow a rod, dig up some worms, and go find a dock.
It is also a perfect excuse to get out into the U.P. you might drive past all year, whether that is the painted cliffs of Pictured Rocks or a quiet inland lake nobody else has found.
And if you stay out near the water past dark, you just might catch the Northern Lights over Lake Superior as a bonus.
Michigan has held a free fishing weekend every year since 1986, and there are two of them annually. So if you miss this one, there is a winter version in February, but June on the water beats February on the ice for most folks.
One thing worth remembering: free means the license and passport are waived, not the rules. Size and possession limits, trail laws, and safety regulations all still apply, and the DNR asks everyone to take care of the woods and water while they are out there.
For the fine print, the DNR keeps it all at Michigan.gov/FreeFishing for fishing, Michigan.gov/ORVInfo for the trails, and Michigan.gov/RecreationPassport for the parks.
For one weekend, the whole U.P. is open, and it is on the house. Grab a rod, grab the kids, and go.
Recommended Reads
The story behind America’s largest bear ranch, tucked into the woods north of Newberry
A U.P. university has been releasing Atlantic salmon into the same river for 40 years
Thousands drive past this tiny U.P. town every day and almost nobody knows its story
Topics: free fishing weekend, Three Free Weekend, Michigan DNR, fishing, ORV, state parks, things to do, Upper Peninsula, summer
Sources: the Michigan DNR (“Three Free” Weekend announcement, June 2, 2026) and The Mining Journal.
Keep exploring
More From Yooper Hub
Know a story we should cover?
Help Us Find What Matters Across the U.P.
Send us a local lead, community event, photo, or story idea. The best Yooper Hub stories often begin with a reader.