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    Sterling State Park

    3.5 (40 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Sterling State Park Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Sterling State Park

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    Reviews With Photos

    Saranya D.

    This review is only for the beach. It had great reviews everywhere so decided to try it out for the 4th of July weekend. Recreation passport is required to enter and it expires with your number plate. It's valid for all Michigan state parks. This is the only Michigan park on Lake Erie. There were lot of shade trees near the lake on the beach, picnic tables, restrooms and plenty of parking space. Good lengthy beach but was poorly maintained. Garbage and junk all over the area. Beach needs major clean up. I've never encountered so many smokers at the beach. Not suitable for family with kids.

    At the beach. At the beach. At the beautiful, beautiful beach
    Kevin J.

    I'm on a mission to bang out a bunch of reviews I never got around to which is likely gonna equate to a bunch of low star assessments as if someplace was really all that I probably would have reviewed it already. I've been to worse parks than SSP but it's definitely in the lower tier. I doubt I'll ever go back. The trail around the lagoon was pretty nice; I hiked maybe half of it but there's lots of nice trails in southeast Michigan. I can't speak on the campground. For me the draw was the beach back in the sweltering August of 21. My second floor loft with no windows and no air conditioning had gotten to be unbearable as the summer dragged on so by the end of that August it seemed all I did was go to work and go to the beach. Within the span of one week I swam in Lake Michigan, hurrah!, Lake Huron, hurray! and Lake Erie, yeesh! Don't get me wrong. It was refreshing but I could feel how dirty that water was. I didn't feel like I wanted to shower after Huron and Michigan like I did with Eerie. The beach at Belle Isle on the Detroit River seems cleaner than here. I did caption my one photo with an old Peanuts movie reference "at the beautiful, beautiful beach" but pretty to look at and pleasant to be in are two different things. Fermi 2, the nuclear plant that almost lost us Detroit lurks in the background belching out smoke. I have no doubt it's a hell of a lot cleaner than a coal plant but it's still difficult not to envision three eyed fish a la The Simpsons. I don't know what the best bet for swimming in a natural body around here is but I feel like the shallowest and most polluted of our Great Lakes ain't it. There's gotta be some smaller lakes inland.

    Nuclear steam towers in the distance

    Went for a day visit and had an okay experience. Walked the shoreline with my partner and enjoyed looking at the large trees and shells scattered along. For the most part the beach was clean, other than a used tampon applicator spotted in the middle of the shoreline. The sand had just been raked and had not settled yet which made walking difficult. Most camping guests were fairly respectful of the beach, although I was alarmed that there were many children swimming as a lightning storm started to roll in. The beach houses and RV spots are really close to the shore which is kind of a bummer if you're looking to enjoy the Great Lake. The nuclear steam towers in the distance did not bother me, I personally thought they were interesting to see.

    Site 24
    Lori L.

    One of our favorite places to camp cant ho wrong if u want paved bike walking trail, kayaking, beach time

    Alfred B.

    This park is very large. There is a large lakefront with a good opportunity for swimming. Use caution as there are not lifeguards and currents run past this location rather swiftly. In the park are a number of small bodies of water. There was, apparently, a coal dump around there somewhere now within the confines of the park. There is a unique water discharge project going on involving releasing groundwater into the lake somewhere offshore. It is a popular place for picnics There is camping on site. Across the lake is a nuclear plant at Monroe, Michigan, and another large coal burning plant to the south. It is a strange site to see while enjoying the park. There are plenty of play areas for children. Parks within the park. The facilities are very good. The rest rooms are kept clean.

    Beach area on Lake Erie
    Renee M.

    Nice place to camp. Park it's self was nice and clean. Bath houses and shower areas were nice and clean. Lots were nice and deep. It was nice to be able to sit at the camper and not feel like we were out by the road where everyone was walking by. The beach was beautiful! Lots of shade trees to take some shelter from the sun.

    Diana G.

    Had an amazing time with my family at this lake. So neat to swim in a fresh water lake and have an amazing time with my family. Lots of tables and not too crowded. Great play ground. But we mostly hung out and swam.

    Lake Erie after the storm rolled out
    Elise B.

    We visited for a camping trip labor day weekend, and the campground was 100% full. This is a park primarily full of campers with RVs. Our 2 person lightweight tent was the smallest I saw on the whole site! Overall the campground seemed family oriented and wasn't overly loud despite being full. We say DNR officers making rounds too. Appears that the camp host offers services and activities primarily on weekends, and theres even a "little library". It has full bathrooms and showers which were reasonably clean. This is a VERY urban campground, little to no tree cover on the camp sites. The beach is fairly nice but be aware that the sand closer to and into the water is like 90% broken up shells. I wouldn't go swim or go more than a foot into the waves without water shoes! Despite the smoke stacks and Fermi nuclear stacks, it can be quite scenic. Theres also a nice long nature trail and plenty of fishing areas (both with a fishing pier or to use a boat). As with all Michigan parks there is a fee for entrance or you need a rec pass, and there's a cost to camp. Weekends in summer you'll definitely want to reserve online. I recommend a site on the outside of the loop nearer the lake.

    Beach Area
    April D.

    This is a great state park! First time visiting, it is small but it has great trails, beach area, picnic area and restrooms. They offer camping here as well. My trip was a mini day trip and we had a blast! Walked the beach and picked up some awesome shells! The bathrooms were also amazingly clean! Would very much recommend, it is small but that's what makes it great!

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    3 years ago

    This park is pretty nice. There aren't many trees and the lake is kind of murky sometimes. The beach is nice to walk on.

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    7 years ago

    Beach was clean and nice. Well taken care of. It was a bit windy and chilly on the day we went, so we didn't go in the water.

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    7 years ago

    Very pretty and clean. Amazing views! Loved the camping area and beautiful Lake Erie. The boardwalk was nice as well.

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    8 years ago

    Awesome fishing. Nice grounds. Need to get pass online before you go. Off boat ramp you can catch large and small mouth bass.

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    Ask the Community - Sterling State Park

    Review Highlights - Sterling State Park

    The really nice thing about this park is that it does have a lot to do; the beach is on Lake Erie, with a boat launch.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    Milan Beach - REGISTER NOW AT:WWW.WATERLANTERNFESTIVAL.COM

    Milan Beach

    3.6(20 reviews)
    19.0 mi

    I had to laugh when someone left a review-stating "the currents here drown many people." There's no…read morecurrent, it's a self contained body of water! It is a self contained spring fed quarry (if you need to put a name to it.) I have been coming here since I was 15..a long time. I actually loved the place so much-I moved to the area in 1999 to be closer to the beach-but shortly after we got into the area, the red tape politics closed down the beach for years. We were so bummed, but it was eventually taken over a couple of times by different people, but they just never ran it as well as the Heath Family-the 1st family to own "Heath Beach," as it was called most of the time. The problem came when one of the Huron parks named "Heather Heath Beach" was constantly shut down for their nasty water, and dangerous bacteria counts. (I believe it was a Huron Metro Park.) The news updated which parks were closed on the radio, daily. They'd say "Heather Heath Beach is closed again." The public heard "Heath Beach," and didn't go to the beach in Milan. It really hurt their attendance, so the owner filed a lawsuit bcuz they were losing their livelihood-as many of the reporters got lazy and would sometimes just say "Heath Beach is closed again." They wanted to force the news crews to clarify that it's a totally different beach that was being closed. The attorney fees ate up the last money they had; so they lost the family beach. The water was tested daily, and was sent to the health dept on the regular-and they claim with proof of testing that it was the cleanest, freshest water in the 13 surrounding states! The beach has never had any bacteria issues-unlike so many fresh water sources around. We moved away now, but it looks really nice since the new owners came in! Good luck to them-it was a great place for kids and adults to hang out, and enjoy the spring water that just makes your skin so soft and it always soaks the bones of any aches and pains in that warm mineral water. It's as warm as bath water, but every once in a while you will feel the refreshing spring releasing a little cold water on your toes! This beach gets raked daily, kept clean-and is definitely worth the trip!! Enjoy a fun time with the kiddo's in their roped off shallow end!

    Visited my first time last year and it was amazing! It was very well kept and a good price for the…read moreday!

    Photos
    Milan Beach
    Milan Beach - This pile of trash is just off the beach.

    This pile of trash is just off the beach.

    Milan Beach

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    GetAway Bay

    GetAway Bay

    5.0(2 reviews)
    19.0 mi

    This beach was Heath Beach back in the day-and the spring fed water is very clean! They had tested…read morethe water and was said to be the cleanest fresh water lake (quarry) in 13 states! We moved quite a distance away, but we'll travel for a day at Get Away Bay, aka Heath Beach!! Always a great time!

    Not so hidden GEM just south of Milan. Right off 23. You can see it from freeway! Slice of heaven…read more What was previously known as heath beach/ milan beach is the same natural spring fed lake with a new owner who is breathing a fresh life into the place. You can tell by the new chairs and picnic tables! Natural spring fed lake with just about everything you can think of for a fun day in the sun (summer... fall... and winter...) Let's start with summer... pontoon sun deck with diving board, dock with diving board, water slide... Plenty of room to lay out. Just about anything under the sun can be rented for maximum enjoyment.. paddle boards, boats, paddle boats, floats, rafts etc etc. all reasonable prices. Here with family? A roped off sandy beach area with a couple floats for the kids to enjoy. Also- ADA water toys to help those that need help getting into the water. A nice touch! Did I mention an ice cream cart that drives around?! Or if you don't want to wait... a snack bar with all the options... water/pop/gaterade and snacks... including ice-cream. Want to host a party? There is a barn. Or a pavilion and plenty of upgrades to make the day fun including grills to rent or comfortable lounge chairs. Rentals are endless.... Anything and everything to make the day great. Wouldn't be surprised if you could purchase a bathing suit at this place. Not into water? Plenty of fun activities on land. Volleyball nets, orbeez gun obstacle to go all tactical with your buddies, horse shoe, disc golf. Sounds like camping is now included. And plenty of fire pits to rent for a fall gathering. More to come with the follow up fall and winter reviews... hay rides. Bon fires... possible haunted hay ride? Ice rink in the winter? Really a year round haven of activity. Fishing is just on the weekdays. Plenty to get after!

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    GetAway Bay
    GetAway Bay
    GetAway Bay

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    Lake Erie Metropark

    Lake Erie Metropark

    3.4(5 reviews)
    12.4 mi

    This is the first time I've been to this or any metropark her in Michigan. I had mixed feelings…read more The trails were good and it looked like a great place to walk or bike and see some nature. The attractions and activities for kids were a bit disappointing. The wave pool looked like it was very run down and closed with weeds growing in the concrete. The playgrounds we're really cool, but being in a nature park and around so much water, they had lots of little bugs and spider webs everywhere. I tried to clear some for us to play but gave up after about 30 of them.

    My low hanging fruit of forgotten reviews/throw shade at Lake Erie tour continues!…read more Between stumbling across Wolcott Mill in 2017 and sometime last year I made a project of visiting any of the 13 Huron-Clinton Metroparks I hadn't yet been to. Covid really accelerated this long languishing mission. I envisioned Lake Erie Metropark as one of the Crown Jewels, sitting as it does on the lower end of the horseshoe made by the park system, and sitting right on a Great Lake. (Even if it's Erie.) I also figured it to be some bizarro version of Lake St. Clair Metropark, the one park in the chain I've been to far more than any of the others. Back in the summer of 2020 I drove down here with my friend Aaron to go swimming at the non-existent beach. D'oh! My own damn fault there; I should have done three minutes of research instead of assuming LEMP (does anyone use this acronym?) had a beach since it just had to be the bizarro LSCMP. (I've never seen anyone use that acronym.) With as much pollution goes on Downriver I should have just figured no beach and I'm not even questioning that there's a damn good reason there. (See my review of Sterling State Park a few miles farther south into Lake Erie where the water still seems pretty grimy.) On that August day I drove way out to Kensington to visit one of their two beaches instead. Kensington is an outstanding Metropark by the way, the true Crown Jewel of the chain. I returned the next year to hike some trails. 2.75 miles of trails is comparable to its lake-hugging cousin up in Harrison Township I'm guessing but nowhere near the many miles you'll find at Stony Creek or the aforementioned Kensington. Some marshy areas, some woods. I haven't visited the nature center but judging by the ones at Lake St. Clair and Stony Creek I'm guessing it's kinda cool but nothing too stellar. Like don't expect a whole Natural History Museum. I haven't been to the wave pool either but it's odd to me they have that in lieu of a regular swimming pool. The lakefront itself is scenic but not as picturesque as Lake St. Clair. As another reviewer wrote it's strange large areas are so devoid of trees. Wetlands I get, they're essential, but big ol fields just stretching far and wide? Yawn. I hear this park is great for bird watching but that's a hobby I haven't yet picked up. And I've peeped a couple lovely sunrise pics from here which makes me suspect it's a pretty spectacular spot for that. It's just aways out of my way for me to make it at the crack of dawn. I do love my Lake St. Clair Metropark sunrises at the northern end of the metro area though. As I wrote of another Metropark, this place strikes me as being very mid. Let me say mid-tier. That sounds more sophisticated. Looking back over what I've written here this review reads a lot like a two star but it's not really that uninspiring here. There is beauty to be found. It's just the Huron-Clinton Metroparks set the bar fairly high and my constant, probably annoying comparisons to the other parks illustrate Lake Erie just doesn't meet some of the benchmarks. I'd probably have sentimental attachment like I do with Lake St. Clair Metropark (and uh, their beach is usually pretty unswimmable) but I'm not from around here. I'm very keen on going back to Lower Huron, Wolcott Mill and Indian Springs Metroparks (still incomplete grades for Yelp reviews - more to see!) but I doubt I'll return to the Southernmost park in the system.

    Photos
    Lake Erie Metropark
    Lake Erie Metropark - Lovely fall afternoon

    Lovely fall afternoon

    Lake Erie Metropark - Hawk Fest, up close and personal

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    Hawk Fest, up close and personal

    Belle Isle Park - Views of Canada

    Belle Isle Park

    4.3(245 reviews)
    33.8 mi

    So i need to warn you guys belle isle is fun its located in metro Detroit its an island basically…read morehas a nature center multiple playgrounds casino beach fountain and swimming pool and much more but i meed to warn you about 2 things here one is the giant slide DO NOT GO ON THE GIANT SLIDE I've been on it it was ok but you go at top speeds it is absolutely not like the carnival slides it has guard rails bit one on each slide and the second thing is the beach so there was breaking news so i received a news alert that there was an alligator found there for any of those non Michigan residents no there is no gators and for those michiganders who believe there are no jellyfish in Michigan you are so wrong there are fresh water jellyfish they have a very mild sting and they look like moon jellyfish

    Belle Isle has changed dramatically over the last several years. Since the state took over…read moremanagement, the park feels cleaner, safer, and far more maintained than it once did. The investment really shows -- from the roads and landscaping to the public spaces along the water. It's one of the best places in Detroit to relax, walk, or ride, and the bike paths are perfect whether you're on a regular bike, e-bike, scooter, or just cruising around the island. The views of the Detroit River and skyline make it feel like a completely different environment from the city only minutes away.

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    Belle Isle Park
    Belle Isle Park - Gateway!

    Gateway!

    Belle Isle Park - Detroit views

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    Detroit views

    Sterling State Park - beaches - Updated May 2026

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