Craig Lake State Park: hunting and access
Craig Lake State Park is 10,808 acres in Baraga and Marquette counties, 3 miles from Three Lakes, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 573 deer in Baraga County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's state parks hunting data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR reported deer harvest, 2022 to 2025.
State forest and other DNR landNational forestState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Craig Lake State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 10,808 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Baraga County and Marquette County |
| Deer harvest unit | Baraga County, Marquette County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Western UP |
| Nearest towns | Three Lakes (3 mi), Michigamme (4 mi) and Republic (12 mi) |
What are the rules on Craig Lake State Park?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Craig Lake State Park as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
Open for the early goose season (9/1 - 9/15), by the DNR's map.
The DNR's note: Standard 450' Safety Zones apply around occupied buildings (not shown).
How many deer are taken around Craig Lake State Park?
Craig Lake State Park lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 573 deer in Baraga County in 2025, against 552 in 2024.
| County | Craig Lake State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baraga County | 9,334 | 573 | 552 | 474 |
| Marquette County | 1,474 | 1,502 | 1,666 | 1,248 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Craig Lake State Park?
Nearest towns: Three Lakes (3 miles), Michigamme (4 miles), Republic (12 miles) and L'Anse (15 miles). Highways within 5 miles: M 28 and US 41.
What other public land is near Craig Lake State Park?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Nestoria Creek Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 124 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Van Riper State Park: 1,063 acres, 4.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Craig Lake State Park
Counting Craig Lake State Park itself, 24,473 of the 69,937 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (35%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Land trusts and other open land | 9,191 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 8,688 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 6,497 |
| National forest | 58 |
| County, city and regional land | 39 |
Another 20,378 acres within 3 miles are Commercial Forest land: privately owned, but under state law (MCL 324.51113) the owner may not deny the public hunting and fishing unless the DNR or the legislature closes it.
Questions hunters ask
Where is Craig Lake State Park?
In Baraga and Marquette counties, 3 miles from Three Lakes.
Can you hunt in Craig Lake State Park?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Craig Lake State Park?
24,473 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Craig Lake State Park included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Nestoria Creek Flooding State Wildlife Management Area (2.1 miles).
Get a Michigan hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Michigan included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: Michigan DNR wildlife property project areas.
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's land ownership records (state forest).
- Deer harvest: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
FilledTag is not part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.