P. J. Hoffmaster State Park is a public recreation area on the shores of
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and depth () after Lake Superior and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the ...
located five miles north of
Grand Haven at the southwest corner of
Norton Shores, in
Muskegon County, and the northwest corner of
Spring Lake Township, in
Ottawa County, in the
U.S. state of
Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
. The
state park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "Federated state, state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on accou ...
's of land include of sand beach on the lake. It is operated by the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
[
]
History
Established in 1963, the park is named after Percy James Hoffmaster, sometimes considered the founder of the Michigan state parks system, who served as the Superintendent of State Parks and longest-acting Director of the Department of Conservation.[ The park's nature center is named for Emma Genevieve Gillette, who scouted locations for new state parks under Hoffmaster.][
]
Activities and amenities
The Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center features interactive exhibits related to the sand dune ecosystem
An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by Organism, organisms in interaction with their Biophysical environment, environment. The Biotic material, biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and en ...
within the park. The center also has live animals and an auditorium and offers many nature programs for the public.[ There are of hiking trails, including the Dune Climb Stairway, the Walk-a-Mile, and Homestead trails.][ of trail are groomed in the winter for ]cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing whereby skiers traverse snow-covered terrain without use of ski lifts or other assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreational activity; however, some still use it as a m ...
. There are two campgrounds and a beach.[ Bird watchers come to view migrating songbirds (wood thrushes and orioles plus warblers and sparrows of various species) and migrating raptors (sharp-shinned and broad-winged hawks and even the occasional eagle or falcon).][
]
In the news
The park made international headlines on July 8, 2009, when a man fell asleep in his truck and backed over his family tent, injuring his wife and two young children.[
]
References
External links
Hoffmaster State Park
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Hoffmaster State Park Map
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Gillette Nature Association at Hoffmaster State Park
Gillette Nature Association
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State parks of Michigan
Beaches of Michigan
Natural history museums in Michigan
Museums in Muskegon County, Michigan
Museums in Ottawa County, Michigan
Protected areas of Muskegon County, Michigan
Protected areas of Ottawa County, Michigan
Nature centers in Michigan
Landforms of Ottawa County, Michigan
Landforms of Muskegon County, Michigan
Protected areas established in 1963
1963 establishments in Michigan