Wilderness State Park - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Sturgeon Bay Beach is a stunning natural beach known for its spectacular sunsets. The magical glimmers of the sun as it sets over the crystal blue waters of Lake Michigan create breathtaking vistas. The area also offers stunning scenic hiking trails, bike paths and picnic sites. Visitors enjoy this beach all year round; during summer months they can relax in the warm sunshine on the soft sand and during winter months they can appreciate the beauty of frost-covered sand dunes.

Waugoshance Point is a truly remarkable place. It is home to the oldest known lighthouse on the Great Lakes and offers stunning views of Lake Michigan from its picturesque bluffs. It is also home to 15 species of endangered plants, as well as wildlife like coyotes and cardinals. A National Historic Landmark, it features expansive beach areas for exploring, swimming, birdwatching, and fishing. With lush forest trails for hiking around the nearby Sturgeon Bay.

Headlands International Dark Sky Park is a unique public park that offers visitors unparalleled views of the night sky. With its pristine nighttime darkness, which is free from artificial lighting, Headlands provides astronomers and nature enthusiasts with the ideal environment to observe and photograph astronomical events. In addition, its dark night skies are also valuable habitat for bat species, nocturnal animals such as owls and deer, and other wildlife species adapted to darkness.

McGulpin Point Lighthouse, has protected the waters of Lake Michigan since 1869. The lighthouse stands an impressive 49 feet tall and was constructed of cut stone with a circular spiral stairway enclosed in its center. The beacon can be seen from up to 15 nautical miles away, protecting vessels that would have otherwise been at the mercy of treacherous waves and hidden rocks. There have been many adjustments over the years to update the century-plus old structure.

Waugoshance Lighthouse is a 102-foot wooden tower built in 1851 and one of the first lighthouses on Lake Michigan. Located at the most dangerous location on the lake, Waugoshance stands as an iconic reminder of early efforts to ensure safe navigation between Lake Michigan ports. Although it sustained heavy damage from ice during numerous winters, Waugoshance continued to be staffed until 1924 when an automated light was established.

St. Helena Island Lighthouse offers a stunning view of the Straits of Mackinac. The original lighthouse was built in 1862, with a two-story wooden structure framed around an octagonal tower that provided visibility for ships traveling through the straits. As time went on and ship technology changed, it became clear that the light could not be seen from certain angles. In 1903 a new tower was built adjacent to the old one, with a higher-powered electric beacon.