Wilderness State Park sits on Lake Michigan at 903 Wilderness Park Drive, Carp Lake. The Michigan DNR lists 26 miles of shoreline, more than 20 miles of trails, a buoyed swim area, a pet-friendly beach and camping that includes Civilian Conservation Corps cabins. 1

What to see

The park is one of six dark-sky preserves in Michigan state parks. Those preserves are designated by the Michigan Legislature and stay open around the clock. 2 The DNR dark-sky page also lists Lake Hudson Recreation Area, Negwegon State Park, Port Crescent State Park, Rockport Recreation Area and Thompson's Harbor State Park. 2

On the ground, the DNR describes dense conifer woods, mature hardwoods, open meadows and wildflowers in the spring, with small ponds and conifer wetlands. It asks visitors to follow trail signs and carry a map. 1 Temperance and Waugoshance islands sit off the tip of Waugoshance Point. From some parts of the park you can see Waugoshance Light to the west. 1

A buoyed swim area sits near the picnic area, with accessible parking, a vault toilet and a walkway to the water. Another swim area is in the west loop of the modern campground. The park lends a beach wheelchair and a track chair. 1

The DNR names rustic cabins that date to the Civilian Conservation Corps, plus modern campgrounds along the lakeshore. 1

Best seasons

The park is used year-round. On the dark-sky page the DNR says only the area near park headquarters is plowed in winter. 2 Spring is when the park mentions carpets of wildflowers. 1 Clear, winter nights are the DNR's usual note for aurora; it also says the lights are best seen late August through early April. 2 That is a pattern, not tonight's sky.

How to get there

The DNR address is 903 Wilderness Park Drive, Carp Lake, Michigan, 49718. 1 A Recreation Passport is required for motor vehicles entering Michigan state parks. 3

Tips

  • Bring a map. The DNR says the woods and wetlands are easy to mix up if you leave the marked trails. 1
  • Two pet beaches are listed: one east of headquarters near the picnic area, and one near the west end of East Lakeshore Campground. To protect piping plover, pets are kept off the other park shorelines from April 15 through August 31. Pets are welcome on most shorelines from September through March. Keep them on a 6-foot leash. 1
  • Single-track trails are closed to bicycles. Nebo, South Boundary, Swamp Line and Sturgeon Bay are two-tracks open to bikes. 1
  • We do not have a Wilderness listing in the shop.

Safety

Lake Michigan currents are the hazard the DNR names on its beach-safety page. This page does not report today's flags, snowplows or how dark the sky is. Check the Wilderness State Park page, the DNR dark-sky page and the DNR beach safety page before you go. 124