DNR announces new camping options at Wilderness State Park
Michigan Department of Natural Resources hopes campers are excited about the the summer opening of a new campground at Wilderness State Park in
Emmet County. The campground will open to the public Thursday, June 23,
and reservations (which can be make up to six months in advance) are now being accepted.
The new campground will boast
spectacular views of Lake Michigan. It offers two options for camping,
including a full hook-up campground and a tent-only rustic campground.
Full hook-up campground
The full hook-up campground,
which includes 18 sites, is located on the wooded dunes looking out over
Lake Michigan's Big Stone Bay. All camping units must be self-contained
because there is no restroom or shower available. All the sites include
water, sewer and electrical hookup. The cost for lakefront sites is $45
per night and other sites are $40 per night.
The majority of visitors will
be able to watch the sun set over Lake Michigan right from their own
campsite. One of the sites is completely barrier-free, so that all
visitors can share in the sights, sounds and feel of a Lake Michigan
lakefront site.
Tent-only rustic campground
The tent-only rustic
campground, which includes 10 sites, is located along the Lake Michigan
shoreline. The sites are designed for campers to walk a short distance
into their campsites. A common water source and vault toilet
are available in a central location. No electricity, modern restrooms
or shower facilities are available. The cost is $20 per night. A
designated parking space is provided for each campsite.
The design of this campground
was derived from community input gathered both at the park and via
an online survey. More than 30 percent of the park’s total campers use
tents, and this group expressed a strong desire for more secluded sites,
fewer amenities and a location farther away from the sounds of larger
campgrounds.
"The new campground is an
exciting addition to Wilderness State Park," said Burr Mitchell, park
supervisor. "Not only does it have a gorgeous Lake Michigan backdrop,
but it also provides several unique features that are only found at this
campground."
To check camping availability and make a reservation, please visit www.midnrreservations.com or call 1-800-44PARKS (1-800-447-2757).
Wilderness State Park is
located on Carp Lake at the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula. The
park is home to wilderness areas, 26 miles of beautiful Lake Michigan
shoreline, multiple campgrounds, six rustic cabins, three rustic
bunkhouses and numerous year-round recreational activities.
For more information contact Burr Mitchell, park supervisor at Wilderness State Park, 231-436-5381.
