Wilderness State Park - Carp Lake,
Wilderness State Park – A Pet-Friendly Gem in Carp Lake, MI
Looking for the perfect spot to enjoy outdoor adventures with your canine companion? Wilderness State Park in Carp Lake, Michigan, stands out as one of the region’s best pet-friendly destinations. Set against scenic backdrops of pines and lakeshore, this expansive park offers miles of dog-friendly hiking trails, rustic and modern campsites, and a beautiful, clean beach section where dogs are welcome. Whether you’re drawn in by trails like the North Country Trail or seeking a peaceful lakeshore view, Wilderness State Park provides the natural escape you and your pup crave.
What makes this park special for dog owners is the inclusion of a designated dog-friendly beach area, plenty of shade from tall pines, and access to long, winding hiking trails perfect for on-leash adventures. Families with children will love the playgrounds, picnic areas, and onsite restrooms, while accessibility features ensure everyone can enjoy the park. Bring your four-legged friend and explore one of Michigan’s flagship state parks—just don’t forget your bug spray!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed at Wilderness State Park? Yes, dogs are allowed at the park and on the designated pet-friendly beach areas and hiking trails.
- Are there dog-friendly hiking trails? Yes, the park offers numerous pet-friendly trails, including sections of the North Country Trail.
- Is there a swimming area for dogs? Yes, there is a section of the beach where dogs are welcome to swim.
- Are restrooms available for owners? Yes, public restrooms and bath/shower facilities are available onsite.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, there are wheelchair accessible entrances and parking areas.
- Is there a playground or activities for kids? Yes, there are playgrounds, swings, slides, and other family-friendly activities nearby.
- Are picnics or BBQs allowed? Yes, barbecue grills and picnic tables are provided throughout the park.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, Wilderness State Park is known for its extensive trail network, perfect for hikers and dog walkers alike.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? Yes, the park receives positive reviews for being very well maintained and organized, with friendly staff.
Reviews
This is a beautiful campground with sites in the pines and on the lakeshore. I typically bring a travel trailer but decided to tent camp this November. The tent sites near the lakeshore are very nice. Some have great views of the lake. For me, the best part of this park is the numerous miles of hiking trails and the beach which has a dog-friendly section. The North Country Trail passes through Wilderness and there are many other trails for exploring.
This campground has it all. From rustic sites (including a couple back-country) to modern full hookup.
Very well maintained park. Full hook-up sites were spaced and divided well. The beaches were very pleasant. There is a main country road that connects the different sections of the park, but it is easy to navigate. Many trails with gorgeous views – just don’t forget your bug spray. Lots of great programming.
I stayed for three nights at rustic walk-in 118 in early August 2024. I had to book the site six months in advance down to the second. This park in general seems hard to get a reservation anywhere and anytime, especially for any decent site. I chose a walk-in site, because I knew how crowded and noisy the Lakeshore and Pines campgrounds were from a previous visit. If you want a peaceful and quiet camping experience, try the walk-in sites. It was hard to find any information about the walk-in sites, and the park map online isn’t helpful. You’re actually right up against the Full Hook-up campground, and none of the sites are really private or require any long walking. None of them are actually lakefront sites but some simply have a distant view. It was about a 100-yard walk to the beachfront, and this section of the beach is relatively isolated.
From the website photos and description, site 118 looked big, level, sunny, and grassy. In reality, it was uneven, very sandy, shady, and probably wouldn’t be spacious enough for two regular tents. I was camping alone, and there was only one small plot of sand to put my tent, which was still slightly not level. Site 119 was also very close, and there was a lot of foot traffic since my site was closest to the outhouse. Overall, the rustic sites were still much better than the others. It was mostly peaceful and quiet—no kids, no dogs, and nobody was rustic partying. It was a short walk to the Lakeshore campground to use those restrooms and showers.
The park overall is very nice and one of the best state park I have ever visited. The beach stretches for miles, and the water was very clean. It was a very nice beach to sunbathe, swim, and relax. I walked all the way to the end of Waugoshance Point, which is a long and rocky beach where you can see distant views of Waugoshance and White Shoal lighthouses. It was a very nice journey. There are numerous hiking trails, but some of them were closed for repairs while I was there, although I attempted a few trails further away from the campgrounds. Cell phone service was adequate.
One of the best state parks in Michigan.
Outstanding view of Mackinac bay and the mighty mac bridge to the upper peninsula.
IMHO this is the flagship of Michigan state parks. Very well organized and maintained, with a friendly staff.
Great park. Few years ago it was all renovated. New roads, fire pits and bath/shower building. They even have a dishwashing station for the diehard tenters. We loved it. The beach is awesome and never seems that busy. It’s relatively quiet. Sites can be kind of tight, but that seems to be the case most of of Michigans State parks. I
It’s a great park for when you like to do day trips up to the U.P. We visited Tahquamenon Falls, the Soo Locks, as well as the White Fish point and the Shipwreck Museum. (Great place for rock hounds) and even stopped at the Mackinaw Bridge Authority office and grabbed a piece of the bridge they happen to be selling.