The Scenic Zone recognizes that there are aesthetic qualities to be preserved and protected in our state park and recreation areas. Examples of this type of zone could include a scenic viewscape, such as the overlook escarpment feature at the Lake of the Clouds in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Another type of could be a linear component such as a scenic road or a scenic river.  A designated natural river would fall into this category.

1.   Natural Resources:

• Natural resources modified slightly to support visitor use and viewing, but tolerance for natural resource impacts is low.
• Human-caused habitat fragmentation minimized.
• This zone will reflect natural processes, with vegetative management only allowed to restore and maintain natural ecological structure and processes (such as removing of invasive species), to address hazard trees, and to manage pests and disease. Vegetation may also be managed to enhance the viewscapes of the zone.

2.  Historic/Cultural Resources:

• Cultural resources preserved, rehabilitated or removed.
• Historic structures could be adaptively used for operational uses or educational purposes.

3.  Recreation Opportunities:

• Moderate levels of recreation compatible with the purpose of viewing. 
• Non-motorized activity in trail and observation point accesses, and motorized activities in the form of scenic road designations. 

4.  Education Opportunities:

• Interpretive signage at key viewing points, trail heads, overlooks and parking areas.
• Moderate off-site interpretation 

5.  Visitor Experience:

• High visitor encounters.
• Visitors engaged in transit or sightseeing activities by hiking, car, bicycle, watercraft or other conveyance.
• Moderate time commitment.
• Moderate off-site interpretation.
• Moderate noise tolerance.
• Low interaction with DNR staff.

6.  Management Focus:

• Maintain the quality of the viewscapes on which the zone is based.
• Public safety.
• All activities or developments in this zone must be compatible with the over-riding purpose of view quality.

7.  Development:

• Moderate level of development to support visitor access, transit, interpretive activities and sightseeing such as roads, trails, parking, restrooms, overlooks, small picnic areas and interpretive media.
• Development blends with the natural and cultural environment.
• Site hardening (ie. boardwalks, barriers, fencing, surfaced pedestrian paths) to protect sensitive resources.
• High accessibility.