Wilderness State Park

Wilderness State Park is a nature reserve in northern Michigan featuring 26 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline alongside dense forests, wetlands, and meadows that bloom with wildflowers in spring. The park combines multiple ecosystems in one location where visitors encounter varied landscapes.

Michigan protected this land in 1927 to preserve the northern shoreline and its ecological character for future generations. The park was established during an era when many states were beginning to recognize the value of saving natural landscapes.

Naturalists lead visitors through the park to explain the connections between the forest, wetlands, and lake ecosystems that shape daily life in this landscape.

Visitors need a Recreation Passport to access camping areas, hiking trails, swimming zones, and picnic facilities throughout the park. Plan your route ahead since the park covers a large area with spread-out amenities.

The park holds Dark Sky Preserve status, making it one of the few places in the region where you can see stars and planets clearly without light pollution. On clear nights, the sky offers views that most urban visitors have never experienced.

Location: Michigan

Inception: 1922

Address: Wilderness Park Drive

Website: https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/ParksandTrails/Details.aspx?id=509&type=SPRK

GPS coordinates: 45.73420,-84.90280

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:41