P.H. Hoeft State Park
Overview: One of the Originals, on the National Register
Established in 1921 on land donated by local lumberman Paul H. Hoeft, P.H. Hoeft State Park is one of Michigan’s original state parks—and since 2009, it holds the additional distinction of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing the significance of its CCC-era infrastructure and its role in the early history of Michigan’s state park system. The 340-acre park sits approximately 4 miles north of Rogers City on US-23, where one mile of sandy Lake Huron shoreline, 4.5 miles of trails through a heavily wooded landscape of mixed hardwoods and conifers, and a CCC-built picnic pavilion from the 1930s combine to create one of the quieter, more contemplative beach-and-forest experiences on the Lake Huron coast.
Hoeft occupies a stretch of northeastern Lower Michigan coastline that receives dramatically less visitor pressure than the parks near Traverse City or the Mackinac Straits. This relative obscurity is its greatest asset: on a summer weekday, the mile-long beach may be nearly empty, the forest trails hushed, and the campground peaceful in a way that the state’s most popular parks cannot replicate.
One Mile of Sandy Beach
The park’s Lake Huron beach stretches for a full mile—a generous, sandy sweep backed by small dunes and forest. The east-facing orientation produces sunrise views rather than sunsets, and the typically calm Lake Huron conditions create swimming that is warmer and more gentle than the Lake Michigan coast. The beach’s length and the park’s relatively low visitation mean that finding a private stretch of sand is rarely a challenge.
4.5 Miles of Wooded Trails
The trail system winds through 340 acres of heavily wooded terrain—a mixed forest of hardwoods (maple, beech, birch) and conifers (pine, spruce, hemlock) that creates a dense, cathedral-like canopy overhead. The trails are gentle, well-marked, and connect to the Huron Sunrise Trail, a paved bicycle path that extends along the US-23 corridor toward Rogers City.
CCC Heritage and National Register Status
The Civilian Conservation Corps built infrastructure at Hoeft during the 1930s, including a picnic pavilion that survives as both a functional recreation facility and a tangible connection to the Depression-era conservation programs that shaped Michigan’s park system. The park’s 2009 National Register listing recognizes the historical significance of these CCC structures and the park’s role as one of the foundations of Michigan’s state park legacy.
Rogers City and the Calcite Quarry
Rogers City, just 4 miles south, is home to the world’s largest open-pit limestone quarry—the Calcite Quarry operated by Carmeuse Lime & Stone—which has been extracting and shipping limestone since 1912. The quarry’s massive self-unloading freighters can sometimes be seen from the Lake Huron shoreline, providing an unexpected intersection of natural beauty and industrial scale.
Seasonal Guide
Spring (April–May)
Campground opens. Wildflowers in the forest understory. Lake Huron still cold. Trails at their quietest.
Summer (June–August)
Peak season—though Hoeft’s peak is far less intense than many Michigan parks. Swimming, sunrise watching, trail hiking.
Autumn (September–October)
Fall color in the mixed hardwood-conifer forest. Lake Huron still swimmable through mid-September. Nearly empty campground.
Winter (November–March)
Cross-country skiing on groomed trails. Winter beach walks. Ice formations along the Lake Huron shore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this one of the original state parks? Yes. Established in 1921 on land donated by Paul H. Hoeft, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2009.
Why is it on the National Register? For the significance of its CCC-era infrastructure and its role in the early history of the Michigan state park system.
Is it crowded? No. Hoeft is one of the least-visited parks on the Lake Huron coast—its relative obscurity is its greatest charm.
