Port Austin sits at the tip of Michigan's Thumb, where Saginaw Bay turns the corner into open Lake Huron. The Michigan DNR places Port Crescent State Park just outside town, along three miles of sandy shore. 1

What to see

The DNR describes rolling sand dunes along the lake and the Pinnebog River running through the park. Shore fishing and paddling are named on the river. A carry-in boat launch sits at Parking Lot A. 1

The day-use area and the campground are two miles apart, each with its own entrance. A buoyed swim area is in the modern campground. Pets are allowed along the entire Lake Huron shoreline except that designated swim beach, always on a 6-foot leash. 1

When the stars come out, the park is one of the state's designated dark-sky preserves. The DNR says the best viewing is near Parking Lot D, where there is a platform used for birding and night sky. 12 Port Crescent is one of the six dark-sky preserves the Legislature named; the list also includes Wilderness State Park. 2

Best seasons

Summer is the beach and river week. Spring and fall are quieter on the sand and good for the birds the observation platform was built to watch. 1 The DNR lists cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, so the park stays a winter walk when the snow is in. Dark-sky nights belong to clear, cold evenings. 12 Those winter notes sit on our Winter page.

How to get there

The DNR address is 1775 Port Austin Road, Port Austin, Michigan, 48467. 1 Remember the two-mile split between day-use and overnight. A Recreation Passport is required for motor vehicles entering Michigan state parks. 4

Tips

  • Walk the dunes and the river as two different days. The DNR treats them as separate pieces of the same park. 1
  • For a night-sky stop, start at Parking Lot D. The DNR names that platform, not a random roadside pull-off. 1
  • The next Lake Huron pages we keep along this shore are Tawas Point, Harrisville, Oscoda and Alpena.
  • We do not have a Port Austin listing in the shop. The Great Lakes map ornament is the piece that names this lake.

Safety

Lake Huron currents are the hazard the DNR beach-safety page writes about. This page does not report today's flags, water or whether the dark-sky platform is clear of snow. Check the Port Crescent State Park page and the DNR beach safety page before you go. 13