north higgins lake state park

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.

The lake and the park where excellent, but the parks Rangers where really unfriendly when we checked in to our campsite. Very unhelpful and rude the entire 2 weeks that we stayed. Driving loud gatiar vehicles around ever 30 mins, blowing sand off the pavement into my kids faces. We watched one park officer drink a can of beer in a truck when they where cleaning up a empty campsite next to us. And one officer yelled and down talked my daughter when she was returning with water buckets. We will not return.

Stopped here on a trip to the UP because I had read that National Geographic had rated this lake the 6th most beautiful lake in the world. OK, it is nice, but nothing outstanding. Pretty average Michigan lake in my opinion. Enjoyed the view of the fall leaves surrounding the water. There was a sign posted on the beach warning of swimmers itch.

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.

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!

We rented the pop up at North Higgins Lake State Park. We were told there would be a fridge. There wasn't. The pop up's cover was covered in mold. The par k staff at the front gate were ill informed. Then, there's the lake. It is infested with parasitic bacteria that causes swimmers itch. You will break out in large red bumps ans/or blisters. Other counties put out beach advisories, why not this one. I highly recommend you choose another campground.

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.

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.

We stayed at North Higgins Lake state park campground from 7.24.14 to 7.27.14. The state park was nice -- clean facilities. I booked a site near the bathrooms. Thanks goodness on my part -- I have 3 kids this was a lifesaver. Showers are right across the hall from bathrooms. They are both cleaned once in the middle of the night and once during day. Alot of mud on floor but that was to be expected. Hey its camping. We had a pop up camper and brought along fishing gear and kayaks. Not so great with the fishing - next time will do more research. If I would have known about the swimmers itch at Higgins Lake -- I would have stayed somewhere else. My kids like to swim. Thankfully we opted out of swimming. We did kayak on Maral Lake -- located on south side of Higgins Lake. Smaller size lake --- all around 4 feet deep. We had fun kayaking -- could see the bottom. My kids tried fishing but didn't catch anything. There were other people around that did catch fish. You wouldn't want to swim in this lake but my kids did wade a bit. No issues with swimmers itch. Now for Higgins Lake -- great for boating. This parasite evidently only is in shallow water. Doesn't matter if you put sunscreen on, shower, towel dry -- whatever your told. There were a group of kids camping next to us -- they all get it. We are talking 15 kids covered with itchy red circle rash from head to toe. I am so glad I didn't put my kids in the water. Overall we had a good time -- campfire, kayak, attempt at fishing, cooking food over campfire, talking - laughing. Oh and we brought our dog. If you bring your dog -- you have to always keep it with you. Just remember that. Now for firewood -- the state park will sell small bundles for $5.00. We found a place about 4 miles from campsite that sold large bundle of wood for 3.50. We went through 7 bundles. Be prepared. Until they fix the swimmer's itch -- we won't go back. Sad -- because its really a nice area. After doing some research -- this has been a problem for years at this lake. Any crystal clear lake in Michigan is what I am told. My advice -- go to Destin Florida if you want clear crystal water -- its beautiful.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Higgins lake is beautiful. The water is clear, and is inviting, but not worth the pain that follows. My legs look like I have been locked in a room with a million mosquitoes. I may have been this itchy with chicken pocks as a child but I don't remember that. I have itchy red bumps all over my legs that are driving me crazy. I even spent 20 bucks on some cream that is supposed to help.My advice, stay out of the lake unless you have a boat and can get out to deeper water.