| William Mitchell State Park | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Clam Lake Canal with campground on the right | |
  Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Mitchell State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Cadillac,Wexford County, Michigan, United States |
| Coordinates | 44°14′17″N85°27′08″W / 44.23806°N 85.45222°W /44.23806; -85.45222 |
| Area | 660 acres (270 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,289 feet (393 m) |
| Established | 1920[1] |
| Administered by | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Visitors | 155,633 (in 1996) |
| Designation | Michigan state park |
| Named for | William W. Mitchell |
| Website | Official website |
William Mitchell State Park is a public recreation area covering 660 acres (270 ha) on the southwest side ofCadillac innorthern lower Michigan. Thestate park is located betweenLake Mitchell andLake Cadillac. The historicClam Lake Canal, approximately one-third of a mile in length, connects the two lakes and runs directly through the park.[2] Dug in 1873 at the direction of city fatherGeorge A. Mitchell, the canal allowed felled trees to be floated from Lake Mitchell to lumber mills on Lake Cadillac.[3]
The park bears the name of William W. Mitchell, who during the 1890s operated sawmills in the area as co-owner of the Cobbs and Mitchell Mill No. 1,[4] and who was a nephew of city founder George Mitchell.[5] Under the name Cadillac State Park, it was among 13 parks established in 1920 following the creation of the Michigan State Parks Commission a year earlier.[6][7] The park's "prime real estate" was donated by Mitchell's widow, Ellen, who requested the park be named in her late husband's honor.[4]
The park is home toCarl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center which documents the history of hunting and fishing, offers seminars, workshops and audio-visual presentations, and includes an exhibit hall which displays local wildlife species.[8]
The park offers a campground with 221 sites, cabins, two boat launches, playground, beach, picnicking facilities, and fishing forperch,walleye,panfish, andbass. The 2.5-mile (4.0 km) Heritage Nature Trail runs through a woodland and marsh environment. The trail, mostly a woodchip path with a series of bridges and boardwalks, provides a study area supporting a variety of plants and wildlife. Winter activities include snowmobiling, ice fishing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.[2]
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