Wilderness State Park

About this park

Wilderness State Park spans roughly 10,500 acres just 11 miles west of Mackinaw City at the very tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, protecting an impressive 26 miles of largely undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline. That stretch of coastline includes Waugoshance Point along with the offshore Temperance and Waugoshance islands, giving the park one of the longest and least developed beach frontages found anywhere in the state park system. More than 20 miles of trails wind through the park's mixed forest and wetlands, and the park's backcountry camping options, including walk-in sites reached only on foot, give experienced campers a genuine wilderness experience complete with required bear poles for proper food storage, suspended at least 12 feet high and well away from tree trunks. A buoyed swimming area and pet-friendly beach section balance that backcountry character with more conventional family-friendly amenities closer to the main campground. Year-round recreation at Wilderness State Park extends into winter with snowshoeing across the park's quiet trails, and the park's remote location near the Straits of Mackinac makes it a natural complement to a Mackinac Island or Mackinaw City visit for travelers willing to drive a bit further off the main tourist corridor. Its combination of sheer undeveloped shoreline mileage and genuine backcountry camping option sets it apart from the more heavily developed beach parks found further south along Michigan's Lake Michigan coast.