Muskallonge Lake State Park is a 217-acre strip of Luce County wedged between two very different lakes. On one side sits Muskallonge Lake, shallow enough to warm up for a proper summer swim. On the other is two miles of Lake Superior frontage with bluffs, low grassy dunes and a stony shoreline that pulls in agate hunters. And between them sits what is left of a lumber town called Deer Park.
The DNR’s management plan says the park “attracts rockhounds from around the globe,” which is a big claim for a spot 28 miles northwest of Newberry on a county road. The park page puts it more plainly: rock collectors work the Lake Superior shoreline “especially for agate.” Grand Marais, the eastern gateway to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, is 20 miles west. Walk slow, look down and bring a bag with a decent bottom in it.
The town between the lakes
Deer Park was a lumbering town of the late 1800s, built on the strip of land between the two lakes. Muskallonge Lake was its mill pond, filled with logs brought in by rail. Then the timber industry declined in the early 1900s and the town went quiet with it.
The leftovers are still out there. The DNR lists sawdust piles, dock pilings, partly submerged pine logs and narrow gauge rail beds as still visible today.
The Lake Superior side has its own ghosts. The park holds the remnants of one of the first life-saving stations on Lake Superior, and the DNR points to the wreck of the SS Cyprus off the shoreline. The freighter went down in a storm on Oct. 11, 1907, about eight miles north of Deer Park, and all but one of her 23 crew died. The survivor, second mate Charles Pitz, floated on a life raft for nearly seven hours before he stumbled ashore.
A wreck, some pike and a closing date
Oct. 11 marks 119 years since the Cyprus went down, by our arithmetic. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society found the wreck in 2007, lying in about 460 feet of water. The beach is as close as anybody without a submarine is getting.
Back on the inland side, the DNR lists northern pike, muskallonge, smallmouth bass, walleye and perch in Muskallonge Lake. The 2017 plan adds rock bass and calls the fishery plentiful year round. The campground has 159 sites, a boat launch and a buoyed swimming area.
The North Country Trail runs straight through the park, with short feeder trails from the campground, and more than 1,500 of its miles are in Michigan. The 2017 plan calls it a 4,600-mile trail from New York to North Dakota. The North Country Trail Association now puts it at nearly 5,000 miles across eight states.
Timing matters this week. The DNR says the park closes for the winter season, and the Newberry News reported in 2024 that camping runs through October 15. We could not find a posted 2026 closing date, so call the park before you tow anything up there.
Go See It
Muskallonge Lake State Park, Deer Park
- Hours
- No daily hours posted on the DNR park page; call 906-658-3338
- Cost
- Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry: $15 resident at plate renewal; nonresident $12 daily / $42 annual; $5 convenience fee if bought at a park. Camping extra (800-447-2757).
- Season
- Closes for the winter season. Camping ran through Oct. 15 in 2024; 2026 closing date not posted. Winter use: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling.
- Drive
- From Marquette: 2 hr 14 min (131 mi) via M-28 E
From the Bridge: 1 hr 41 min (93.4 mi) via US-2 W
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Sources, credits, and reporting details
Sources & accountability
How this story was reported
Editorial methodAggregation
Last verifiedOct. 4, 2026
Corrections statusNo material correction note is recorded on this article.
AI assistanceResearched and drafted with AI tools. Reviewed and approved by editor Keegan O’Brien.
Verification note: Sources read and checked Oct. 4, 2026.
Primary sources
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Muskallonge Lake State Park — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Park is 217 acres in Luce County, 28 miles northwest of Newberry
"Muskallonge Lake State Park is a 217-acre oasis nestled 28 miles northwest of Newberry in Luce County."
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Muskallonge Lake General Management Plan — Michigan DNR
Published Feb. 1, 2017. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: 217-acre park, 28 miles northwest of Newberry (corroborates park page)
"The 217-acre park is located 28 miles northwest of Newberry, which is the county seat." Plan cover: "Approved February 1, 2017"
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Muskallonge Lake General Management Plan — Michigan DNR
Published Feb. 1, 2017. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Muskallonge Lake is shallow and warm enough for a summer swim
"Muskallonge Lake is relatively shallow and is warm enough in the summer for comfortable swimming."
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Muskallonge Lake General Management Plan — Michigan DNR
Published Feb. 1, 2017. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Two miles of Lake Superior frontage with bluffs and low grassy dunes
"two miles of Lake Superior frontage with bluffs and low, grass-covered dunes"
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Muskallonge Lake General Management Plan — Michigan DNR
Published Feb. 1, 2017. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Park attracts rockhounds from around the globe (quoted, attributed to the plan)
"A destination for agate collectors, Muskallonge Lake State Park attracts rockhounds from around the globe."
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Muskallonge Lake State Park — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Rock collectors work the Lake Superior shoreline especially for agate
"Rock collectors enjoy the Lake Superior shoreline for rock picking, especially for agate."
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Muskallonge Lake State Park — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Address on County Road 407; phone
Page lists: "29881 Co Rd 407, Newberry, Michigan, 49868" and "906-658-3338"
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Muskallonge Lake General Management Plan — Michigan DNR
Published Feb. 1, 2017. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Deer Park was a lumbering town of the late 1800s between the two lakes, now within the park
"Muskallonge Lake State Park includes the site of Deer Park, a lumbering town of the late 1800s situated between the lakes."
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Muskallonge Lake State Park — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Lake was the mill pond, filled with logs by rail; timber industry declined in early 1900s
"Muskallonge Lake was once a vast mill pond, filled with logs transported by rail. After the timber industry declined in the early 1900s, the park's landscape evolved, preserving remnants of its past, including sawdust piles and submerged logs."
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Muskallonge Lake General Management Plan — Michigan DNR
Published Feb. 1, 2017. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Sawdust piles, dock pilings, submerged pine logs and narrow gauge rail beds still visible
"Sawdust piles, dock pilings, partly submerged pine logs and narrow gauge rail beds are still visible today."
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Muskallonge Lake General Management Plan — Michigan DNR
Published Feb. 1, 2017. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
"The park's rich maritime history is evidenced by the remnants of one of the first Coast Guard Life Saving Stations on Lake Superior and the SS Cyprus shipwreck located off the shoreline." Qualifier "one of the first" kept.
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1907 shipwreck discovered — Associated Press via The Spokesman-Review
Published Sep. 10, 2007. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Cyprus sank Oct. 11, 1907
"Oct. 11, 1907" (sinking date as given in the AP story)
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1907 shipwreck discovered — Associated Press via The Spokesman-Review
Published Sep. 10, 2007. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: About eight miles north of Deer Park
"about eight miles north of Deer Park, a village in Michigan's eastern Upper Peninsula"
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1907 shipwreck discovered — Associated Press via The Spokesman-Review
Published Sep. 10, 2007. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: All but one of 23 crew died
"All but one of the Cyprus' 23 crew members died"
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1907 shipwreck discovered — Associated Press via The Spokesman-Review
Published Sep. 10, 2007. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Second mate Charles Pitz floated nearly seven hours on a life raft and stumbled ashore
Survivor named as Charles G. Pitz, the second mate, who "stumbled ashore after floating aboard a life raft for nearly seven hours"
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1907 shipwreck discovered — Associated Press via The Spokesman-Review
Published Sep. 10, 2007. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society found the wreck in 2007 in about 460 feet of water
"A team with the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society found the wreckage last month" (story dated Sept. 10, 2007, so August 2007); "about 460 feet beneath the surface"
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1907 shipwreck discovered — Associated Press via The Spokesman-Review
Published Sep. 10, 2007. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Oct. 11 marks 119 years since the sinking
CALCULATED: 2026 minus 1907 = 119; Oct. 11, 2026 is the 119th anniversary. Text labels it "by our arithmetic."
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Muskallonge Lake State Park — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Fish: northern pike, muskallonge, smallmouth bass, walleye, perch
"Muskallonge Lake provides anglers with an excellent opportunity to catch a variety of fish: northern pike, muskallonge, smallmouth bass, walleye and perch."
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Muskallonge Lake General Management Plan — Michigan DNR
Published Feb. 1, 2017. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: 2017 plan adds rock bass and calls the fishery plentiful year round
"Anglers find the fishery of Muskallonge Lake plentiful year round for catches of Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Rock Bass."
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Muskallonge Lake State Park — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Campground has 159 sites
Muskallonge Lake Modern Campground: "Number of sites: 159"
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Muskallonge Lake State Park — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Boat launch and buoyed swimming area in the campground
Amenities list includes "boat launch"; page mentions a "buoyed swimming area in the campground"
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Muskallonge Lake State Park — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
"The park is traversed by the North Country Trail, with short feeder trails linking the park campground to this national scenic trail hiking route from North Dakota to New York which includes more than 1,500 miles in Michigan."
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Muskallonge Lake General Management Plan — Michigan DNR
Published Feb. 1, 2017. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: CORRECTION side A: 2017 plan calls NCT 4,600 miles from New York to North Dakota
"A portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST), a congressionally recognized trail that stretches 4,600 miles from New York to North Dakota, runs through the park."
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North Country Trail Association — North Country Trail Association
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: CORRECTION side B: NCT is nearly 5,000 miles across eight states
"The North Country Trail is America's longest National Scenic Trail, winding nearly 5,000 miles across eight states."
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Muskallonge Lake State Park — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Park closes for the winter season; winter use for skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling
"The park is closed for the winter season, though many people still use the area for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling."
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Muskallonge campground renovations underway — The Newberry News (Pete Wurdock)
Published May. 9, 2024. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: In 2024, camping ran through October 15
"Camping runs through October 15." (2024 article; 2026 date not confirmed)
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Recreation Passport — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry
Park page: "A Recreation Passport (park pass) is required for vehicle entry into all state park and forest campgrounds." (michigan.gov/recsearch/parks/muskallonge)
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Recreation Passport — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Resident $15 at plate renewal
"Vehicles $15 when purchased at time of license plate registration renewal through the Secretary of State."
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Recreation Passport — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Price up $1 effective Jan. 1, 2026
"Effective Jan. 1, 2026, the cost of the Recreation Passport increased by $1."
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Recreation Passport — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Nonresident $12 daily, $42 annual
"Daily $12 – good for entry and re-entry to any state park for the day." "Annual $42."
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Recreation Passport — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: $5 convenience fee when bought at a state park
"Recreation Passports can be purchased at State parks with debit/credit, cash and check. There is a $5 convenience fee."
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Muskallonge Lake State Park — Michigan DNR
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Camping reservations by phone
"Reservations: 800-447-2757" (park page, reservation line)
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Muskallonge Lake General Management Plan — Michigan DNR
Published Feb. 1, 2017. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Grand Marais is 20 miles west of the park; known as the eastern gateway to Pictured Rocks
"The historic village of Grand Marais, which is known as the eastern gateway to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, is 20 miles west from Muskallonge."
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Google Maps directions, Marquette to Muskallonge Lake State Park, Deer Park — Google Maps
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Drive time from Marquette
Fastest route read live Oct 4, 2026: 2 hr 14 min (131 mi) via M-28 E.
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Google Maps directions, Mackinac Bridge to Muskallonge Lake State Park, Deer Park — Google Maps
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: Drive time from Mackinac Bridge
Fastest route read live Oct 4, 2026: 1 hr 41 min (93.4 mi) via US-2 W.
Additional reporting
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SS Cyprus — Wikipedia
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
"Foundered and sunk during a storm on October 11, 1907." "Pitz unwittingly staggered ashore, just a half-mile east of the Deer Park Life-Saving Station."
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Muskallonge Lake State Park — Wikipedia
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026.
Supports: GPS coordinates for gsi (park)
Infobox coordinates "46°40′35″N 85°38′09″W". CALCULATED decimal: 46 + 40/60 + 35/3600 = 46.6764; 85 + 38/60 + 9/3600 = 85.6358 W. Wikipedia also says the park is "about 16 miles (25.7 km) east of Grand Marais" (not used; DNR says 20).
Photo and media credits
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Muskallonge Lake State Park, Lake Superior (June 2021) (media 4054) — Wikimedia Commons / Notorious4life
Featured image record. Accessed Oct. 4, 2026. CC0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Commons file page metadata read Oct 4, 2026: licence CC0, author Notorious4life. Original 5135×2889; uploaded at 2560×1440 (downscaled, not cropped). Placement: featured. Image viewed before use; it shows the place named in the caption.
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Muskallonge Lake (June 2021) (media 4055) — Wikimedia Commons / Notorious4life
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026. CC0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Commons file page metadata read Oct 4, 2026: licence CC0, author Notorious4life. Original 5127×2883; uploaded at 2560×1439 (downscaled, not cropped). Placement: image_2. Image viewed before use; it shows the place named in the caption.
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Muskallonge Lake State Park beach, Muskallonge Lake (June 2021) (media 4056) — Wikimedia Commons / Notorious4life
Accessed Oct. 4, 2026. CC0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Commons file page metadata read Oct 4, 2026: licence CC0, author Notorious4life. Original 5183×2916; uploaded at 2560×1440 (downscaled, not cropped). Placement: image_3. Image viewed before use; it shows the place named in the caption.
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