Cozy and isolated, three types of cabins are available for hearty outdoor enthusiasts eager to explore the winter wonderland, along with a host of locations that offer camping.

Camping in the cold, snowy winter months provides benefits simply not available during the summer. There's rarely a line for a hot shower and no need to buy extra ice for the cooler. The stars seem a little brighter around the campfire.

"We've expanded our minicabin options in this area because of demand," said Anna Sylvester, Roscommon District supervisor. "A lot more people are discovering that winter is a great time to come out to state parks and recreation areas."

Mini-cabins are open in 10 locations throughout the winter: Bay City, Fort Custer, Harrisville, Interlochen, Ludington, Mitchell, Sleeper, Tawas, and Traverse City. North Higgins Lake opens after January 2, 2006. These singleroom cabins sleep four with two sets of bunk beds at a cost of $45 a night. Many of these locations do not plow access roads, so bring the skis or the snowshoes to reach the cabin. Mini-cabins are reserved through the Central Reservation System by calling (800) 447-2757 or online at www.midnrreservations. com.

Rustic cabins also are open for adventurous types looking for resting places after a long cross-country ski or snowshoe hike. These cabins offer firewood for woodstoves and accommodate between four and 20 people. Prices range from $55 to $80 a night. Cheboygan, Wilderness, Ortonville, and Highland all offer winter cabin rentals. The Bass Lake Cabin at Highland offers the modern conveniences of indoor plumbing and kitchen appliances. Rustic cabins are reserved by contacting the park or recreation area where they are located.

Port Crescent's popular threeroom Camper Cabin will be open throughout the winter for $80 a night. This cabin overlooks the Saginaw Bay and provides frontporch access to ice fishing. The Camper Cabin sleeps six adults with two sets of bunk beds and a double futon mattress. Call Port Crescent State Park at (989) 7388663 to reserve a stay.

Check out all the locations that offer mini-cabins and rustic cabins on the Web (www.michigan.gov/dnr) under the Recreation and Camping tab. Remember to call ahead and make arrangements to collect the keys and find out what supplies will be needed. Staffing at parks and recreation areas during the winter months is greatly reduced and interested visitors will need to call during business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday).

William Mitchell State Park in Cadillac and Traverse City State Park provide modern camping with heated toilet/shower buildings and electrical hookups through the winter. Both are conveniently located near winter activities including snowmobile trails and racing events.

Semi-modern camping with electrical hookups and vault toilets is available for $16 to $18 a night at these campgrounds:

•Algonac State Park's Riverfront Campground

•Bay City State Park

•Fort Custer Recreation Area

•Ludington State Park's Beechwood Campground

•Rifle River Recreation Area's Grousehaven Campground

•Tahquamenon Falls State Park's Lower Falls

•Waterloo Recreation Area's Portage Lake Campground

These campgrounds also offer a camper storage program for the weekend warrior during winter months. For $4 a night, you can leave your camper behind during the week, unplugged and locked up, if you reserve two nights of camping on the weekends before and after your five-day storage period. The $20 total fee is cheaper than what you may spend for gasoline towing the camper back and forth to home.

"The Intermittent Camping Program encourages people to come back for a second weekend of winter fun," said Larry Solce, supervisor at Mitchell State Park in Cadillac. "Our winter visitors love it."

For people who prefer to sleep in a snow bank, back country camping is available at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, and at Pinckney Recreation Area's Blind Lake Campground. Contact the park staff for details and a camping permit before venturing out.