Wilderness State Park, located just 11 miles west of Mackinaw City, is home to 26 miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline, 20-plus miles of trails, a designated swimming and pet-friendly beach and unique camping opportunities. The park is also a designated dark sky preserve offering stellar views of the sky and is just 9 miles from Headlands Dark Sky Park (an Emmet County park).
From some areas of the park, you can see the 170-year-old Waugoshance Lighthouse (looking west) near the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge (looking east).
The terrain is a mixture of dense coniferous forest and mature hardwood forest, with pockets of open meadows and carpets of wildflowers in the spring. There is an abundance of small ponds mixed in with coniferous wetlands. Please pay attention to trail signage and carry a map.
Great Lakes Beach Safety
Maps & Area Guide to park.
Before visiting a state park, boating site or trail, it’s always a good idea to check the latest closures due to weather-related events, planned improvement projects and repairs. Visit Michigan.gov/DNRClosures.
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