Grayling Visitors Bureau

The Friends of Hartwick Pines State Park in Crawford County will sponsor their annual Critters in the Moonlight Halloween Walk from 5 to 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the park, located at4216 Ranger Rd.in Grayling. The event is a fun and educational 45-minute trek through Hartwick Pines trails lit by 100 jack-o-lanterns and lantern lights. Meet up with friendly forest critters along the way. A special trail for small children is about 20 minutes long.

The first tour leaves from the Memorial Building porch at 5 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes. Boy Scout Troop 1 from Gaylord will have chili and hot dogs for sale starting at 4:30 p.m. Photo buttons can be purchased of your favorite little critter. For further details, call the park office at 989-348-7068 or Visitor Center at 989-348-2537.

The event is free; however, a Recreation Passport is required for vehicles entering Hartwick Pines State Park. The Recreation Passport has replaced motor vehicle permits for entry into Michigan state parks, recreation areas and state-administered boating access fee sites. This new way to fund Michigan’s outdoor recreation opportunities also helps to preserve state forest campgrounds, trails, and historic and cultural sites in state parks, and provides park development grants to local communities.

Michigan residents can purchase the Recreation Passport ($10 for motor vehicles; $5 for motorcycles) by checking “YES” on their license plate renewal forms, or at any state park or recreation area. Nonresident motor vehicles must still display a valid nonresident Recreation Passport ($29 annual; $8 daily) to enter a Michigan state park, recreation area or state-administered boating access fee site; these can be purchased at any state park or recreation area, or through the Michigan e-Store at www.michigan.gov/estore. To learn more about the Recreation Passport, visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport or call 517-241-7275.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

###