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THOMPSON
POINTS
OF
INTEREST
Thompson State Hatchery. Millions of trout, walleye, and salmon call this home until they're big enough to stock Midwestern lakes and streams. Visitors can view the indoor tanks, outdoor raceways, and show ponds with giant trout. Signs and photos show the destruction and restoration of fish habitat in the U.P. ...
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Big Spring (Kitch-iti-kipi). One of Michigan's most enchanting sites, this deep, clear spring in a pine-cedar forest is viewable from a raft visitors pull themselves ...
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Indian Lake State Park. The lake here is up to six miles long and three to four miles wide, fourth largest inland lake in the U.P. Good walleye and perch fishing. The shallow lake warms up early for swimming ...
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Rainey Wildlife Area. Boardwalks and an observation platform provide good bird-watching perches on the northeast side of Indian Lake. Songbirds are abundant in spring ...
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Bishop Baraga Mission at Indian Lake. This peaceful park on Indian Lake commemorates the "Snowshoe Priest" with a memorial chapel and a version of an Odawa bark house he had built at his mission here. There's a lakefront observation deck, too. ...
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Indian Lake State Park
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The park is on Indian Lake, the Upper Peninsula's fourth-biggest inland lake, up to 5 miles long. 3 wide, and 18 feet deep. Kitch-iti-kipi (Big Spring) and Manistique are nearby. The park is in two parts, south and west.The South Unit has the day-use area with beach and the most popular campground. There are the picnic area, boat launch (handicap-accessible), and long, sandy beach with developed handicap access. The bottom drops off very gradually, which is good for wading but means a boat is needed to get out where water is deep enough to fish. Fishing is good for walleye and perch.
The setting suburban, with mown grass, not wild and natural. The whole lake is quite shallow and therefore warms up sooner than most Upper Peninsula inland lakes. The paved path and benches along the lakeshore are well used at sunset, and a big hit with people who can't negotiate bumpy terrain.
Call for program times and topics of the popular Outdoor Explorer program of hikes, nature games, etc. The short Chippewa Trail next to the big South Shore Campground has some interpretive signs about trees and endangered species.
4 miles west of Manistique. From U.S. 2 at Thompson, turn north onto M-149; south unit is in 3 miles. Or from Manistique, take CR 442/Deer St. by continuing straight where M-94 turns north. (906) 341-2355. State Park sticker required: $6/day for Michigan residents, $8/day for others. Annual sticker is $24 for Michigan residents, $29 for others. Wheelchair-accessible: changing house, picnic area, hiking trail, boat launch.
Return to Thompson
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