Wilderness State Park – Sunset Coast Birding Trail

Best Seasons to Visit
Available Amenities and Activities
Description
What’s Nearby
Notable Birds
Directions
Recent Sightings
Photos

Best Seasons to Visit

Spring Summer Fall Winter

Available Amenities and Activities

Restrooms Available Parking Available Trails Available Cross Country Skiing Snowshoeing Fishing Modern Camping Picnic Area Recreational Passport Required Paddling Boat Launch Cycling

Description

At over 10,000 acres, with miles of beaches, a boat launch, and almost 23 miles of mapped hiking trails, Wilderness Sate Park offers nearly unlimited opportunities for exploration. Habitats include miles of sand and cobblestone beach, forested dune and swale ecosystems, and various wetlands. With such ecological diversity and being located on great lakes shoreline, it is no wonder that visitors to the park have documented over 200 bird species. The sand and cobblestone beech provides excellent nesting habitat for the endangered Piping Plover although many other shorebirds have been documented during migration. The neighboring trees and wetlands provide shelter and food for many migrating and breeding songbirds, herons, rails, and raptors. The park also features a 250 site campground with modern facilities, making it an excellent home base for visiting the birding trail.

Please note that a State of Michigan recreation passport is required for entry.

Visitors to the park are asked to be respectful of areas posted closed to entry . These closures will include Piping Plover nesting areas, research study plots and other areas where closures are deemed necessary for visitor safety and natural resource protection.

For more information regarding the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, please visit their website at http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/.

To make camping reservations, please visit https://www.midnrreservations.com/WILDERNESSSTATEPARK.

Download a Trail Map.

What’s Nearby

Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island, Colonial Michilimackinac, McGulpin Point Lighthouse, The Headlands Dark Sky Park (also a Sunset Coast Birding Trail Site)

Notable Birds

Piping Plover, Bald Eagle, Common Tern, Caspian Tern, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Winter Wren, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Canada Warbler