Yankee Springs Recreation Area is a state-managed protected area

State park

State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...

 located in Yankee Springs Township

Yankee Springs Township, Michigan

Yankee Springs Township is a civil township of Barry County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,219 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...

 in Barry County

Barry County, Michigan

-Highways:* M-37* M-43* M-50* M-66* M-78* M-79* M-89* M-179-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of...

, Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

.

The park is 5200 acres (21 km²) in area. It has 120 rustic, 200 modern and 25 equestrian camping sites, plus two cabins. There are 30 miles (48.3 km) of cross-county ski/hiking trails, 12 miles (19.3 km) of mountain biking trails and 9 miles (14.5 km) of equestrian trails. 6 miles (9.7 km) of the North Country Trail

North Country Trail

The North Country National Scenic Trail , which stretches approximately from Crown Point in eastern New York to Lake Sakakawea in central North Dakota in the United States, is the longest of the eleven National Scenic Trails authorized by Congress...

 pass through the park. Nine lakes, Gun Lake

Gun Lake (Michigan)

Gun Lake is a lake in the U.S. state of Michigan, located mostly in Barry County with the southwestern tip extending into Allegan County. Along most of the lake are numerous summer homes, cottages, and permanent residences. The Yankee Springs Recreation Area is based on northeastern portions of the...

 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

Civilian Conservation Corps

The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...

 (CCC) era buildings.

The park is the host of the annual Barry-Roubaix

Barry-Roubaix

Barry-Roubaix is a classic road/off road race featuring a variety of terrain and surfaces to test cyclists of all skill levels. The course is located in Barry County, Michigan at the Gun Lake Unit of Yankee Springs Recreation Area...

 cycling race.

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.

External links

• Yankee Springs Recreation Area and Barry State Game Area Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the state of Michigan charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor and accepted by the Natural Resources Commission...
  
  
• Yankee Springs Camping Reservations Michigan DNR
• Yankee Springs Recreation Area PackYourGear.com