McLain State Park

State Park in Houghton County, Michigan

F.J. McLain State Park

IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)[1]

Location in Michigan

Show map of Michigan

McLain State Park (the United States)

Show map of the United States

Location| Hancock Township, Houghton County, Michigan, United States
Nearest city| Calumet, Michigan
Coordinates| 47°14′13″N 88°36′33″W﻿ / ﻿47.23694°N 88.60917°W﻿ / 47.23694; -88.60917Coordinates: 47°14′13″N 88°36′33″W﻿ / ﻿47.23694°N 88.60917°W﻿ / 47.23694; -88.60917[2]
Area| 443 acres (179 ha)
Elevation| 620 feet (190 m) [2]
Designation| Michigan state park
Established| 1930[3]
Named for| Frederick J. McLain
Administrator| Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Website| McLain State Park

Sunset over Lake Superior

F.J. McLain State Park is a 443-acre (179 ha) public recreation area on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Houghton County, Michigan. The state park is located on M-203 halfway between Hancock and Calumet.[4] It is about 10 miles (16 km) from each city.[5] The park's offshore sights include sunsets over Lake Superior and the art deco–style Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance Light.[6]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Activities and amenities
* 3 References
* 4 External links

## History[edit]

The park is named after Houghton County Commissioner Frederick J. McLain, an instrumental figure in securing land for the site in the 1930s. Laborers working through the Work Projects Administration (WPA) performed most of the park's construction. A new entrance and contact station were built in 1965, following the relocation of M-203.[6]

## Activities and amenities[edit]

While the majority of the shoreline is rocky, a stretch known as "the Breakwaters" near the Keweenaw Waterway at the park's southern end provides a sandy beach for swimming.[7] The park also offers fishing, picnicking, hiking and cross-country skiing trails, camping, and cabins.[4]

During the first week of the fall semester, Michigan Technological University cancels afternoon classes to allow students and faculty to hold "K-Day" (or "Keweenaw Day") a registered student organization fair. From 1976 to 2017 this fair was held at Mclain State Park. This halted after severe weather damage in June 2018. "K-Day" has been held at Chassell Centennial Park in Chassell, MI since with the exception of 2020 because of COVID precautions.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

The spelling of the park's name is inconsistent on roadsigns and in local publications, varying between "McLain", "MacLain", and "McClain", and is often referred to by locals as "McLain's."

## References[edit]

1. ^ "McLain State Park". IUCN. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
2. ^ a b "McLain State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
3. ^ "When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established?" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
4. ^ a b "F.J. McLain State Park". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
5. ^ "F.J. McLain State Park". CopperCountry.com. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
6. ^ a b "McLain State Park General Management Plan, Appendix A — Supporting Analysis" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. March 27, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
7. ^ "F.J. McLain State Park". Outdoorsy. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
8. ^ "Keweenaw Day (K-Day): A Fine Tradition". Retrieved October 8, 2021.
9. ^ "Keweenaw Day 2021: Camp K-Day!". Retrieved October 8, 2021.
10. ^ "K-Day (Keweenaw Day) 2018!". Retrieved October 8, 2021.
11. ^ "Keweenaw Day". Retrieved October 8, 2021.
12. ^ "K-Day 2017". Retrieved October 8, 2021.
13. ^ "Storm damage in the Upper Peninsula". Retrieved October 8, 2021.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to McLain State Park.

* McLain State Park Michigan Department of Natural Resources
* McLain State Park Map Michigan Department of Natural Resources

* v
* t
* e

Protected areas of Michigan

See also: Important Bird Areas and State game and wildlife areas

National|

| Parks|

* Isle Royale
* Keweenaw (Historical)
* River Raisin (Battlefield)

|

Lakeshores|

* Pictured Rocks
* Sleeping Bear Dunes

Landmarks|

* Au Sable State Forest
* Dukes Research Natural Area
* Grand Mere State Park
* Haven Hill State Natural Area
* Newton Woods
* Porcupine Mountains
* Roscommon Virgin Pine Stand
* Strangmoor Bog
* Tobico Marsh
* Toumey Woods
* Warren Woods State Park
* Waterloo State Recreation Area

Forests|

* Hiawatha
* Huron-Manistee
* Ottawa

Wildlife Refuges|

* Detroit River
* Harbor Island
* Huron
* Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area
* Michigan Islands
* Michigan Wetland Management District
* Seney
* Shiawassee

Wild and Scenic Rivers|

* Au Sable
* Bear Creek
* Black
* Carp
* Indian
* Manistee
* Ontonagon
* Paint
* Pere Marquette
* Pine
* Presque Isle
* Sturgeon (Delta County)
* Sturgeon (Houghton County)
* Tahquamenon
* Whitefish
* Yellow Dog

Other Protected Areas|

* Father Marquette National Memorial
* Grand Island National Recreation Area
* Saint Helena Island National Scenic Area
* Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

State|

| Parks|

* Algonac
* Aloha
* Baraga
* Bay City
* Belle Isle
* Bewabic
* Brimley
* Burt Lake
* Cambridge Junction
* Cheboygan
* Clear Lake
* Coldwater Lake
* Craig Lake
* Dodge No.4
* Duck Lake
* Fayette
* Fisherman's Island
* Fort Michilimackinac
* Fort Wilkins
* Grand Haven
* Grand Mere
* Harrisville
* Hart-Montague Trail
* Hartwick Pines
* W.J. Hayes
* P.H. Hoeft
* P.J. Hoffmaster
* Holland
* Indian Lake
* Interlochen
* Kal-Haven Trail
* Lake Gogebic
* Lakelands Trail
* Lakeport
* Laughing Whitefish Falls
* Leelanau
* Ludington
* Mackinac Island
* Maybury
* F.J. McLain
* Charles Mears
* Meridian-Baseline
* Mill Creek
* Wm. Mitchell
* Muskallonge Lake
* Muskegon
* Negwegon
* Newaygo
* North Higgins Lake
* Onaway
* Orchard Beach
* Old Mission
* Otsego Lake
* Palms Book
* Petoskey
* Porcupine Mountains
* Port Crescent
* Sanilac Petroglyphs
* Saugatuck Dunes
* Seven Lakes
* Silver Lake
* Albert E. Sleeper
* Sleepy Hollow
* South Higgins Lake
* Wm. C. Sterling
* Straits
* Sturgeon Point
* Tahquamenon Falls
* Tawas Point
* Thompson's Harbor
* Traverse City
* Twin Lakes
* Van Buren
* Van Buren Trail
* Van Riper
* Warren Dunes
* Warren Woods
* Watkins Lake and County Preserve
* J.W. Wells
* White Pine Trail
* Wilderness
* William G. Milliken
* Wilson
* Young

|

Recreation Areas|

* Bald Mountain
* Bass River
* Brighton
* Fort Custer
* Highland
* Holly
* Ionia
* Island Lake
* Lake Hudson
* Lime Island
* Menominee River
* Metamora-Hadley
* Ortonville
* Pinckney
* Pontiac Lake
* Proud Lake
* Rifle River
* Rockport
* Tippy Dam
* Waterloo
* W.C. Wetzel
* Yankee Springs

Forests|

* Au Sable
* Copper Country
* Escanaba River
* Lake Superior
* Mackinaw
* Pere Marquette

Underwater Preserves|

* Alger
* De Tour Passage
* Grand Traverse Bay
* Keweenaw
* Manitou Passage
* Marquette
* Sanilac Shores
* Southwest Michigan
* Straits of Mackinac
* Thumb Area
* Whitefish Point

Other|

* Agate Falls Scenic Site
* Bond Falls Scenic Site
* Michigan Islands Wilderness Area
* Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center
* Wagner Falls Scenic Site

* Category
* Commons
* Detroit
* Grand Rapids
* Michigan Department of Natural Resources

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template