Summary
The park offers a variety of activities, including camping, fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
One of the main attractions of Onaway State Park is its location on Black Lake, which is known for its excellent fishing. Visitors can fish for walleye, pike, bass, and other species, both from the shore and from boats. The park also has a swimming beach, boat launch, and several hiking trails that offer scenic views of the lake and surrounding forest.
In addition to its natural beauty, Onaway State Park is home to several historic sites. One of the most notable is the Tower of the Winds, an observation tower that was built in the 1930s as part of a depression-era public works project. The tower offers panoramic views of the park and surrounding area.
Onaway State Park also has a rich cultural history, with evidence of Native American habitation dating back thousands of years. Visitors can explore the park's history and culture at the Onaway Area Historical Museum, which is located nearby.
The best time to visit Onaway State Park depends on the activities you are interested in. Summer is the most popular time, with warm weather and plenty of opportunities for swimming, boating, and hiking. Fall is a great time to visit for fishing and leaf-peeping, as the trees in the park and surrounding area turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Winter offers opportunities for snowmobiling and ice fishing, while spring brings wildflowers and migratory birds to the park.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Onaway State Park
Black Lake State Forest Campground
Black Lake Trail Camp - Mackinaw State Forest
Twin Lakes State Forst Campground
Twin Lakes - State Forest
Ocqueoc Falls State Forest Campground