# Mitchell State Park > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mitchell_State_Park > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mitchell_State_Park.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_State_Park > Source revision: 1355131582 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Park in Michigan, USA}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = William Mitchell State Park | image = Mitchell State Park (May 2017).jpg | image_caption = [Clam Lake Canal](/source/Clam_Lake_Canal) with campground on the right | image_size = 280 | map = USA Michigan#USA | map_caption = Location in Michigan | map_size = 280 | relief = 1 | location = [Cadillac](/source/Cadillac%2C_Michigan), [Wexford County, Michigan](/source/Wexford_County%2C_Michigan), United States | coordinates = {{coord|44|14|17|N|85|27|08|W|display=inline, title}} | coords_ref = | elevation = {{convert|1289|ft}} | area = {{convert|660|acre}} | designation = [Michigan state park](/source/List_of_Michigan_state_parks) | established = 1920 | free_label = Named for | free_data = William W. Mitchell | visitation_num = 155,633 | visitation_year = 1996 | administrator = [Michigan Department of Natural Resources](/source/Michigan_Department_of_Natural_Resources) | website = {{Official website}} }} '''William Mitchell State Park''' is a public recreation area covering {{convert|660|acre}} on the southwest side of [Cadillac](/source/Cadillac%2C_Michigan) in [northern lower Michigan](/source/northern_Michigan). The [state park](/source/state_park) is located between [Lake Mitchell](/source/Lake_Mitchell_(Michigan)) and [Lake Cadillac](/source/Lake_Cadillac). The historic [Clam Lake Canal](/source/Clam_Lake_Canal), approximately one-third of a mile in length, connects the two lakes and runs directly through the park. Dug in 1873 at the direction of city father [George A. Mitchell](/source/George_A._Mitchell), the canal allowed felled trees to be floated from Lake Mitchell to lumber mills on Lake Cadillac. ==History== 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, and who was a nephew of city founder George Mitchell. 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. 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. ==Features== The park is home to '''Carl 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. ==Activities and amenities== The park offers a campground with 221 sites, cabins, two boat launches, playground, beach, picnicking facilities, and fishing for [perch](/source/perch), [walleye](/source/walleye), [panfish](/source/panfish), and [bass](/source/bass_(fish)). The {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=on}} 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. ==Images== File:Carl T Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center.jpg|{{center|Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center}} File:Mitchell State Park signage (July 2022).jpg|{{center|Main entrance park signage}} File:Mitchell State Park canal (July 2022).jpg|{{center|[Clam Lake Canal](/source/Clam_Lake_Canal) and campground}} File:Mitchell State Park beachfront (Michigan).jpg|{{center|Beachfront along [Lake Mitchell](/source/Lake_Mitchell_(Michigan))}} ==References== {{cite web |url=https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/ParksandTrails/Details.aspx?id=474&type=SPRK |title=Mitchell State Park |publisher=Michigan Department of Natural Resources |access-date=November 21, 2024}} {{cite web |url=https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Greenville_Daily_News_655881_7.pdf |title=Michigan DNR celebrates 100 years of state parks |publisher=Michigan Department of Natural Resources |pages=10–11 |access-date=May 10, 2020}} {{cite web |url=https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/DatesEstablished_650313_7.pdf |title=When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established? |publisher=Michigan Department of Natural Resources |access-date=May 10, 2020}} {{cite web |url=https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/places/v-centers/carl-t |title=Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center |publisher=Michigan Department of Natural Resources |access-date=November 21, 2024}} {{cite web |url=https://www.lakemitchell.org/facts-and-history/ |title=Lake Mitchell Facts & History |publisher=Lake Mitchell Improvement Board |access-date=November 21, 2024}} {{cite web |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015071124260&view=1up&seq=238 |title=Biennial Report of the Department of Conservation of the State of Michigan 1921–1922 |editor=Albert Stoll, Jr. |page=228 |access-date=May 10, 2020}} {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-FPXEGRo-YC&pg=PA604 |title=Michigan Place Names |author=Walter Romig |page=604 |publisher=Wayne State University Press |location=Detroit, Mich. |year=1986 |isbn=081431838X |access-date=March 7, 2018}} {{cite magazine |title=Who's who behind Michigan's named state parks. |magazine=Michigan History Magazine |publisher=Historical Society of Michigan |date=March 1, 2016}} ==External links== {{commons category|Mitchell State Park}} *[https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/ParksandTrails/Details.aspx?id=474&type=SPRK Mitchell State Park] Michigan Department of Natural Resources *[http://www.michigandnr.com/Publications/PDFS/RecreationCamping/mitchell_map.pdf Mitchell State Park Map] Michigan Michigan Department of Natural Resources {{Michigan state parks}} {{Authority control}} Category:State parks of Michigan Category:Protected areas of Wexford County, Michigan Category:Protected areas established in 1920 Category:1920 establishments in Michigan --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mitchell State Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_State_Park) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_State_Park?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.