north higgins lake state park

north higgins lake state park印象

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  HeyLeora

  We camp here nearly every year because we have family nearby. The park is pretty average for a MI State Park. The sanitation station is small and the water pressure is VERY slow. The showers are updated and the campground is clean. They have recently added a rinse station near the beach, I'm sure in response to the swimmers itch problem. ( which I believe this lake was the origin of). The beach is still lovely with shaded picnic areas complete with tables and grills. There is also a great playground here as well as one is the campground. the lake is still one if the best for water sports, which is easily accessed by the well maintained large launch. The sites are level and nice sized. There is a nice open area in the center of the campground that is large enough that our family uses it for group games without worries about bothering other sites. The area around the park is full of historical sites and activities. The road is pretty close but only noticeable this this year because of the bike rally in the next town. I would recommend this park for any family looking for a relaxing campsite, great boating and interesting tourism sites.

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  DebbieP976

  We went to North Higgins Lake camping for a week starting 7/19/14 and I read all the reviews and decided not to get in the water. On the way my husband said a co-worker called someone she knew and they said it wasn't a problem. Once I got to the lake my family had already been there a day and said the water was fine and they didn't get it so I went in. Big mistake. The next day (evidently it takes 24-48 hours to start showing up) we all started itching. It's now 7/31 and my swimmers itch is finally fading. The first week was awful, gross looking red splotches and itching. We go every year to Higgins but I'm pretty sure this is our last. The lake is why we came! Too bad because it's such a great campground.

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  jennyjo95

  The campground is a good place to camp, BUT the handicap shower is ice cold, nothing was done about it after we complained about it. If you want people to come back fix the issue that people complain about. Otherwise you won't get them to come back.

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  BlondeValor

  Nice park. We loved learning about the rocks of Michigan (and elsewhere) during a special program they ran at 7 PM one night. There were a bunch of others we missed because they ran at 4 PM that sounded just as good. Additionally the CCC Museum Site is right across the road and is fun to explore on your own. We utilized site 179 which apparently is considered on the "bad" side, but we loved it because it was right across from the restrooms and showers and yet you didn't have people walking thru or bothering you. You do hear road noise at this site, but with a fan running at night it was no problem for us. We'd stay there again!

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  Z9361BAdavids

  Higgins Lake is a nice lake, however the swimmer's itch problem is out of control. I will not go back until the problem is resolved. The itching and red welts are not worth going into that lake. Been going there for years since I was a kid and there was never any problem way back then. Sure there are products you can use but even still there is no guarantee you won't get it. So if your coming up north, keep on truckin' past Roscommon Co. and visit Burt Lake or Mullet Lake.

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  MalloryH

  We stopped here in the fall to get out and stretch or legs on the trip north to Mackinaw. The beach was beautiful and they had clean restrooms available. There was a large metal slide and swings to play on. It was much too cold to swim but there were signs posted regarding possible swimmers itch in the water.

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  249of

  Our family's camping vacation was nearly ruined by the horrible misery of swimmer's itch! Soon after our arrival at North Higgins Lake State Park (August 9 - 17, 2014), our family went down to the beach for a much anticipated swim and play time - only to discover later that we all had "swimmer's itch"! Needless to say, we never did go back into the water, after that initial swim and outbreak, for fear of our conditions worsening. It was miserable to say the least.Suggest the reservation system develop a warning label for this campground lake BEFORE they take unsuspecting campers reservations and money...leaving us with only Swimmer's Itch as our souvenir, sadly.

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  LJo-12

  One very nice thing about this park is the camping loops have large open areas in the middle. So a whiffle ball game can take place at one end while others play ladderball or kids just run around. We had 5 campsites in our group so noise wasn't a problem for us, but several sites down there were some people who no doubt got zero sleep. The rowdy group was finally told to go to bed or be arrested the second night. And the DNR was back promptly at 8 a.m., giving them 1 hr to vacate. So, consider that this was the 4th of July holiday and many equate camping with "party outdoors". There is a long beach area with playground. Nice boat launch, very busy, but had a park employee helping direct boat traffic. Higgins Lake is quite large and can handle crowds. The swimmers itch problem can be alleviated by immediately using the outdoor shower that is available when you exit the lake. Towelling off right away helps, too, as friction will kill the stuff. There is a short walk to a CCC Museum and the beach is a short trail away from camping loops. The west loop appears to be larger and the bathouse was newish and well maintained.

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  Jennpaksi

  I've had a cottage on this lake right next to the North State Park for my whole life. It's beautiful and has a lot to offer. I understand a lot of people have issues with swimmers itch and that is about the only issue you will find with Higgins Lake. Yes, if you hangout in shallow water for a long time without drying yourself off properly you could possibly get swimmers itch. In deep water you're fine and don't need to worry about it so much. Swimmers itch is possible in any shallow water in any lake. Higgins is shallow for a long ways out hence a higher risk for swimmers itch. Please just dry yourself very well with a dry towel when you get out of the water. For the younger kids...they make creams you can put on them before they get in the water if you want to take that route. But I have been in this lake every summer for the past 24 years of my life and I have never had swimmers itch. I hate that swimmers itch might be hindering people from enjoying this beautiful park. It's possible to get it so please just take precaution and you'll be fine.

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  731susanr

  Please note, I have not been back to Higgins Lake this year. I wanted to respond to a post that stated that the swimmer's itch is easily alleviated by immediate shower and rubbing hard with towels. We tried every trick in the book, and I even had powerful Hydrocortisone Cream on hand. I put this all over my legs an hour after getting out of the shower and toweling, as the itching began. We had all of the instructions for 'our protection against swimmer's itch' from the cottage we stayed at. I suffered for over a week terribly as did my granddaughter. Beware...it will ruin a family vacation!