Highland Recreation Area

Grab Fluffy's leash, pack up your gear, and head to Highland Recreation Area in Southern Michigan. Located in White Lake, it sprawls across 6,000 acres of land and is filled with forest, marshes, lakes, and hills. 

The Highland Recreation Area provides space for swimming, biking, skiing, and horseback riding. Your pooch can't enter any of the swimming areas or buildings, but they can explore the trails or join you for a picnic. Your pupster can happily hike through 17 miles of multi-use trails. Goose Meadow day use area is home to some pawsome nature trails that will delight your dog's senses, and there are three dog trial fields, where you can teach your dog to hunt. When you're discovering the park, keep an eye out for the furrific variety of trees, including oak-hickory, mixed hardwood, or beech-maple trees. 

Highland Recreation Area also has several picnic shelters that can be reserved up to a year in advance for special events. The Teeple Beach Shelter is ADA accessible. If you're up for camping, the park's campsites can accommodate tents or RVs equipped with fire pits and picnic tables, and are near water spigots, vault toilets, and dump stations. Unfurtunately, dogs are not allowed in cabins at this campground, so you and your furry friend will have to ruff it in one of the campsites. Remember to always keep your pup on a leash no longer than six feet. Also, bring some water, and clean up bags so the only things your pup leaves behind are paw prints. 

For entrance to the park, you'll need a Michigan Recreation Passport, which can be purchased for $11.00 along with yearly license plate renewals, or at the park entrance. This pass gives you access to all the state parks in Michigan for a year, and can be purchased by non-residents too.

A visit to Highland Recreation Area will make your dog one happy hound!