Wilderness State Park (backcountry)
Lower Peninsula, N (tip of the mitt) · Michigan DNR (state park)
Past the busy campground, the park earns its name: twenty-some miles of trail through cedar and shoreline pine, with two lone backcountry sites hidden in it. O'Neal is the commitment and the reward, a lake to yourself under the tip-of-the-mitt sky.
From above. USDA NAIP, public domain.The vibe
Works for hammock, tent. Measured dark skies, a real one for stargazing.
Hanging a hammock?
Depends whose trees they are. The DNR makes the rules, and wilderness areas can have their own take on hammocks, so check before you count on a hang. Wherever you hang: wide tree-friendly straps, no nails or wire, and don't tear the bark. We can't see the trunks from here, so eyeball it on arrival.
The rules
Two true backcountry sites, reservation-only: East Boundary (a 3/4-mile hike in on the North Country Trail) and O'Neal (3.6 miles to the north shore of O'Neal Lake). The park's drive-in campground is its own thing.
West of Mackinaw City; ~3.5 hr from Grand Rapids.
Thicket is not the managing agency and not affiliated with it. The vibe read is our estimate from open data (OpenStreetMap, USGS elevation, NASA Black Marble nighttime light); the rules, permits, and access can change. Confirm with the agency before you go, and leave no trace.