Wilderness State Park

Stretching across 12,800 acres along the northern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Wilderness State Park lives up to its name. This Emmet County gem offers one of the largest undeveloped shorelines remaining on the Great Lakes — miles of rocky and sandy Lake Michigan coastline where you can walk without seeing another soul.

The park’s interior is a patchwork of dense hardwood forests, cedar swamps, and open meadows that shelter wildlife rarely spotted elsewhere in the Lower Peninsula. Black bears, bald eagles, and loons are regular residents here. Over 26 miles of trails wind through the backcountry, making it a standout destination for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing when winter blankets the terrain.

Camping is a major draw, with over 200 modern campsites and six rustic cabins tucked along the shoreline and interior. The Lakeshore Campground puts you steps from the water — fall asleep to waves and wake up to sunrises over the Straits of Mackinac. For a more remote experience, backpack to one of the park’s trail cabins deep in the woods.

Summer brings swimming, kayaking, and some of the darkest night skies in the Lower Peninsula — ideal for stargazing. Fall delivers stunning color against the Lake Michigan backdrop. Winter transforms the park into a quiet, snow-covered wilderness perfect for snowshoeing.

Come here when you want space, quiet, and a genuine taste of wild Michigan without crossing the bridge to the Upper Peninsula.

Explore Nearby

• Waugoshance Light — Lighthouse in Michigan
• McGulpin Point Light — Lighthouse in Michigan
• Hiawatha National Forest — National Forest in Michigan