Petoskey State Park Beach
Petoskey, Michigan
petoskey stonescharlevoix stonesfavosite coralcrinoid fragmentsbeach quartz
Public land, rules apply · Fee
Petoskey State Park Beach
Little Traverse Bay is where Michigan's state stone concentrates, and this park's cobble beach is the classic place to learn the search image: a wet grey stone with a faint honeycomb of Devonian coral cells. The state caps collecting at 25 pounds of rock, mineral or fossil per person per year from state-owned land — an annual total, not a per-trip allowance. Hunt the wave line just after a blow, when the lake has resorted the gravel for you.
The card catalog
| What you can find | petoskey stones, charlevoix stones, favosite coral, crinoid fragments, beach quartz |
|---|---|
| Access | Public land, rules apply — Fee |
| Fees | No collecting fee. A Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry: $15 a year added to a resident plate renewal, or $29 for two years. Out-of-state plates pay $42 annual or $12 daily. Buying outside a plate renewal adds a $5 convenience fee. |
| Season & hours | Shoreline is walkable year-round, but the day-use parking lot typically closes from early November into early spring because of snow and drifting sand. Campgrounds and full services run spring into fall. Pets are not allowed along the lakeshore here, which keeps the piping plover nesting ground quiet. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — A short walk from the lot to cobble beach in shallow, gently sloping water — about as easy as rock hunting gets for grade-schoolers. Wet stones show their pattern best, so a bucket of lake water beats a dry pocket. |
| Official source | Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources — Recreation Passport |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
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Before you go
What does Petoskey State Park Beach cost?
No collecting fee. A Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry: $15 a year added to a resident plate renewal, or $29 for two years. Out-of-state plates pay $42 annual or $12 daily. Buying outside a plate renewal adds a $5 convenience fee. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Petoskey State Park Beach open?
Shoreline is walkable year-round, but the day-use parking lot typically closes from early November into early spring because of snow and drifting sand. Campgrounds and full services run spring into fall. Pets are not allowed along the lakeshore here, which keeps the piping plover nesting ground quiet. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Petoskey State Park Beach good for kids?
Yes — Petoskey State Park Beach works for families. A short walk from the lot to cobble beach in shallow, gently sloping water — about as easy as rock hunting gets for grade-schoolers. Wet stones show their pattern best, so a bucket of lake water beats a dry pocket.