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Wilderness State Park stewardship plan

Wilderness lakeshore drive

Wilderness State Park stewardship plan

The DNR is in the process of developing a natural resource stewardship plan for Wilderness State Park in Emmet County. A natural resource stewardship plan is a long-range planning tool that outlines resource protection and management strategies for parks’ natural resources. These plans also address visitor education and engagement needs and opportunities and are informed by general management plans.  

Public feedback
Visitors, community members and others interested in learning about the planned methods for managing the natural resources found within this state park have these opportunities to get involved and provide feedback:

  • In-person:  A public meeting is being planned to discuss the plan, and details will be shared soon. During the meeting, DNR staff will present an overview of the draft plan, followed by an opportunity for people to ask questions and provide comments.
  • Online public comment: An online public survey is available. Take the public survey. 

Resources

About the park
Wilderness State Park, located just west of Mackinac City, is one of the largest state parks in the Lower Peninsula. The 12,415-acre park features pristine beaches, majestic, old-growth pine forest and extensive dune and swale natural communities. The interior of the park features about 6,000 acres of fire-dependent jack pine forest, red pine forests, oak-pine forest – what are known as dry-mesic northern forest. Waugoshance Point is a popular destination within the park for birders during the spring and fall migration and for fisherman.

Contact
For more information, contact Steven Woods, northern Lower Peninsula ecologist for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, at 989-889-9492 or WoodsS10@Michigan.gov.