MDNR Report
The Michigan DNR encourages everyone to take advantage of “Three Free” Weekend – Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8.
Indiana also will offer free fishing, but only for Indiana residents. Michigan allows non-residents to fish for free.
It's two full days when Michigan residents and out-of-state visitors can grab a fishing rod, ride the off-road trails and visit state parks, boating access sites and other outdoor locations — all free of charge.
“If you need another reason to get outdoors and explore some of Michigan’s best recreation opportunities, ‘Three Free’ Weekend is it,” said DNR Director Scott Bowen. “There’s nothing better than spending time outdoors with friends and family in places you love, so we’re encouraging everyone to take advantage of these two days to fish, hit the ORV trails and visit our award-winning state parks.”
“Three Free” Weekend includes:
- Free Fishing Weekend. Fish for all in-season species, all weekend long, without a license. All other fishing regulations apply. Visit Michigan.gov/FreeFishing for more information.
- Free ORV Weekend. Legally ride 4,000 miles of state-designated routes and trails and the state's six scramble areas without purchasing an ORV license or trail permit. Many ORV trails remain closed following this spring's ice storm in northern Michigan. Visit Michigan.gov/ORVinfo for the latest ORV trail, safety and closure information.
- Waiver of the Recreation Passport. To encourage people to pursue free fishing and other outdoor fun, the DNR waives the regular Recreation Passport fee that grants vehicle access to Michigan's 103 state parks, 1,000-plus state-managed boating access sites and many other outdoor spaces. Learn more about Passport benefits at Michigan.gov/RecreationPassport.
Please note that following the severe March 28-30 ice storm in northern Michigan, the DNR continues assessments and cleanup at many state-managed locations. Visit the DNR’s ice storm response page to view a dashboard with the latest status (open, partially open, temporarily closed) of state parks, state-managed trails, boating access sites, state forest campgrounds and state forest roads, as well as to find an interactive map, safety updates and more.