Yankee Springs Recreation Area Explained

Yankee Springs State Recreation Area
Photo Width:	288
Map:	USA Michigan#USA
Map Width:	250
Relief:	1
Location:	Yankee Springs Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA
Nearest City:	Middleville, Michigan
Coordinates:	42.6128°N -85.4911°W
Area:	5200acres
Established:	1943
Governing Body:	Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Website:	Official website

Yankee Springs State Recreation Area is a state-managed protected area located in Yankee Springs Township in Barry County, Michigan.

The park is 5200acres in area. It has 120 rustic, 200 modern and 25 equestrian camping sites, plus two cabins. There are 30miles of cross-county ski/hiking trails, 12miles of mountain biking trails and 9miles of equestrian trails. 6miles of the North Country Trail pass through the park. 30miles or more of seasonal two lane roads open to any road legal vehicles and is a popular destination for Enduro Riders. Nine lakes, Gun Lake being the largest, provide fishing, boating and swimming.

Points of interest in the park include the Devil's Soupbowl, a glacially carved kettle formation, Graves Hill Scenic Overlook, The Pines and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era buildings.^{[1] [2]}

The park hosted the annual Barry-Roubaix cycling race for several years, prior to the event moving to Hastings, MI to accommodate a larger number of participants; the race course still traverses parts of the recreation area.^{[3] [4]}

History

In the 1830s, the Yankee Springs area was opened up for homesteading. By the 1930s the land was eroded and depleted from farming. The federal government acquired the land and the CCC began reforesting the area. In 1943 the land was turned over to the State of Michigan and became a park in the state park system.

Facilities and activities

Facilities and activities include a beach area, fishing, boating, hiking, camping, equestrian, permanent orienteering course,^{[5] [6]} mountain bike trails,^[7] and in winter, cross country ski trails, snowshoeing, and groomed fatbike trails.^{[8] [9]}

External links

• • Yankee Springs Recreation Area and Barry State Game Area Michigan Department of Natural Resources Yankee Springs Camping Reservations Michigan DNR
• Yankee Springs Recreation Area PackYourGear.com

Notes and References

1. http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=511&type=SPRK Yankee Springs Recreation Area
2. News: History, camping at Long Lake . Penasee Globe . Advance Newspapers . May 28, 2010 . February 8, 2011.
3. News: Meyerson . Howard . 21 Mar 2010. Cyclists take to gravel roads in Barry-Roubaix. The Grand Rapids Press . Barry County, Michigan. 6 Jan 2015.
4. News: Bures . Frank . 13 Mar 2013 . On the Groad: Gravel riding has exploded over the past few years. Frank Bures tries to figure out where it's going -- and if that even matters. . Outside Online . MI. 6 Jan 2015.
5. News: Dits . Joseph . 21 September 2014 . Orienteering offers unique way to explore woods. South Bend Tribune . South Bend, IN . 17 Apr 2015.
6. Web site: Permanent Orienteering Course. . 2013. www.michigano.org . Southwest Michigan Orienteering Club . 17 Apr 2015.
7. Web site: Yankee Springs Recreation Area map . . 2009. mmba.org. Michigan Mountain Biking Association. 17 Apr 2015.
8. The county roads that border the park are suitable for road biking as well.

   News: Myerson . Howard . 1 Feb 2015 . Groomed fat-tire bike trails growing more numerous in Michigan . mlive.com. 17 Apr 2015 .

9. Web site: Yankee Springs Recreation Area. . 2015 . www.michigandnr.com. State of Michigan, Department of Natural Resources . 17 Apr 2015.