Yankee Springs Recreation Area

{{Short description|Protected area in Michigan, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Yankee Springs State Recreation Area

| photo =

| photo_caption =

| photo_width = 288

| iucn_category =

| map = USA Michigan#USA

| map_caption = Location within the state of Michigan

| map_width = 250

| relief = 1

| location = Yankee Springs Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA

| nearest_city = Middleville, Michigan

| coordinates = {{coord|42|36|46|N|85|29|28|W|region:US-MI|notes={{cite web | url={{Gnis3|1616870}} | title=Yankee Springs Recreation Area | work=Geographic Names Information System | publisher=United States Geological Survey | access-date=July 21, 2008 }}|display=inline, title}}

| area = {{Convert|5200|acre|ha}}

| established = 1943

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body = Michigan Department of Natural Resources

| website = [http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=511&type=SPRK Official website]

}}

Yankee Springs State Recreation Area is a state-managed protected area located in Yankee Springs Township in Barry County, Michigan.

The park is {{Convert|5200|acre|km2}} in area. It has 120 rustic, 200 modern and 25 equestrian camping sites, plus two cabins. There are {{Convert|30|mi|km}} of cross-county ski/hiking trails, {{Convert|12|mi|km}} of mountain biking trails and {{Convert|9|mi|km}} of equestrian trails. {{Convert|6|mi|km}} of the North Country Trail pass through the park. {{Convert|30|mi|km}} or more of seasonal two lane roads open to any road legal vehicles and is a popular destination for Enduro Riders. Nine lakes, Gun Lake being the largest, provide fishing, boating and swimming.

Points of interest in the park include the Devil's Soupbowl, a glacially carved kettle formation, Graves Hill Scenic Overlook, The Pines and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era buildings.[http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=511&type=SPRK Yankee Springs Recreation Area] Michigan Department of Natural Resources{{cite news |title=History, camping at Long Lake |url=http://www.mlive.com/penaseeglobe/index.ssf/2010/05/history_camping_at_long_lake.html |newspaper=Penasee Globe |publisher=Advance Newspapers |date=May 28, 2010 |access-date=February 8, 2011}}

The park hosted the annual Barry-Roubaix cycling race for several years, prior to the event moving to Hastings, MI to accommodate a larger number of participants; the race course still traverses parts of the recreation area.

{{cite news |last=Meyerson |first=Howard |date= 21 Mar 2010|title= Cyclists take to gravel roads in Barry-Roubaix|url=http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2010/03/cyclists_take_to_gravel_roads.html |newspaper=The Grand Rapids Press |location= Barry County, Michigan|access-date= 6 Jan 2015}}

{{cite news |last=Bures |first=Frank |date=13 Mar 2013 |title=On the Groad: Gravel riding has exploded over the past few years. Frank Bures tries to figure out where it's going -- and if that even matters. |url=http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/biking/On-the-Groad.html |newspaper=Outside Online |location= MI|access-date=6 Jan 2015}}