Northern Michigan Beaches
Summer’s not summer without a day at the beach and Northern Michigan offers some of the best beaches anywhere.
Menu
Menu
Photo by Josh Whelton
What a spectacular state park! Wilderness State Park’s 2,582 acres of natural area and 4,492 acres of wilderness area make this a great place to explore all year ’round.
Waugoshance Point is a part of Wilderness State Park along with Temperance Island and Waugoshance Island off the tip of the point. The area around this point is the habitat for the endangered piping plover. Approximately one-third of the nation’s nesting areas for the piping plover are in Wilderness State Park.
Much of the park cannot be accessed by roads- yes, this is indeed a wilderness state park. More than 22 miles of mapped trails are in the park along with 5.5 miles of the North Country Trail.
The park’s 26 miles of beaches are great for walking, swimming, and stone skipping. The beaches are mostly rocky but the beach area near the campground is sandy with a sandy bottom.
Camping at Wilderness State Park draws campers from around the country because of the gorgeous setting. The two campgrounds total 250 spots. There are six rustic cabins and three bunkhouses located around the park that can be rented throughout the year. During the winter months, visitors can cross country ski or snowshoe into the cabins and bunkhouses.
Wilderness State Park has a boat launch area, picnic areas with grills, fishing, and hiking, biking, and cross country ski trails. The campground is open April-December and the park is open year ’round. Bring your kayak- the Lake Michigan shoreline area is a popular one for kayakers.
During the warm weather months, a variety of education programs take place for children and adults. So put on the hiking shoes, pack the sun tan lotion and head to Wilderness State Park!
903 Wilderness Park Drive, Carp Lake MI, 49718
(231) 436-5381
Summer’s not summer without a day at the beach and Northern Michigan offers some of the best beaches anywhere.
Historic Mill Creek Discover Park has 625 acres along Lake Huron, 3.5 miles of hiking trails, a reconstructed saw mill, mill dam, and more.
The Mackinac Bridge is the 10th largest suspension bridge (over water) in the world and connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsula.
Advertisement – Please scroll below for more information.
A visit to Northern Michigan is not complete without a walk along the Lake Michigan in search of Petoskey stones.
The Harsha House and the Charlevoix Depot Museum, run by the Charlevoix Historical Society, preserve much of Charlevoix’s rich history.
Petoskey State Park is one of the premier destinations for campers and outdoor lovers and is tucked away between Petoskey and Harbor Springs.
Shop Northern Michigan antiques shops, art galleries, and furniture stores for home furnishings that are unique and affordable.
The Andrew J. Blackbird Museum is named for a counselor who helped Native American veterans. Native American artifacts fill the museum space.
Mackinaw City’s Heritage Village lets visitors explore life in the Straits of Mackinac as it was during the era of 1880-1917.
Take a beautiful color tour as you travel under a tunnel of colorful trees along M-119 from Harbor Springs to Cross Village.
Bicyclists, walkers, and roller bladers can go from Harbor Springs to Charlevoix on the 26-mile long Little Traverse Wheelway.
North Central Michigan College’s Natural Area in Petoskey includes over five miles of trails that run through unique habitats.
Arch Rock is a geologic wonder on Mackinac Island and stands 146′ over the Lake Huron shoreline- nearly 15 stories tall.