Winter at Wilderness State Park

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By Mark Flemming
Harbor Light Newspaper

For the hearty souls that reside in the North Country a vacation usually entails a long drive or a plane ride to a warm sunny land far from the snow. But a mid-winter vacation for group of friends and I entailed a 45-minute drive north to the winter wonderland that is Wilderness State Park.

Although most might think of Wilderness as a summer destination, the park holds a number of activities for the winter outdoor enthusiast. Several weeks ago I checked the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website to see if there were any openings in the cabins located in the park. Having already seen most of the cabins, I set my sights on one of the older cabins constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during their occupation of the park between 1933 and 1936. Normally cabins in the park are booked up to a year in advance but I was able to find an open weekend at the Sturgeon Bay Cabin during January. Immediately I booked the cabin for two nights, via the Michigan DNR website and contacted several people to come along for the adventure.

On the day of departure a buddy and I loaded my truck with an abundance of gear that surely made us look like the “Beverly Hillbillies,” short of “Granny” perched on top with her rocking chair. Our supplies included food and cooking supplies, a camping stove, packs with sleeping bags and extra clothes, cameras, snowshoes, and ice skates. We also brought a toboggan and a snowmobile to haul the aforementioned gear to the cabin located 3.5-miles from the parking area, the furthest of any cabin. In the summer all cabins are accessible by car, but in the winter only the rustic bunkhouses can be reached that way. All other cabins are accessible by cross-country skis, snowshoes and snowmobiles except for the Nebo cabin which is not open to snowmobiles.

Upon arrival at the cabin we settled in, unpacked our gear and started a fire, with the provided wood, in the woodstove located inside the cabin. Surprisingly the cabin heated up very quickly, forcing us to open a window on occasion to release some of the heat.

While we waited for several other friends to arrive we took a short walk down the path to the beach to watch the picturesque sunset over Sturgeon Bay and contemplated ways we could talk park management into letting us live here full time.

As the rest of our small group arrived by snow shoe we ushered them in for a candle lit dinner of venison spaghetti around the CCC crafted table located in front of the large window facing the lake. With stomachs full and hearts warm we decided to take a moonlit stroll out to the beach. As the snow shimmered and the stars shined bright everyone agreed that this is how life ought to be.

In the morning I awoke to a blue jay hopping around in the snow outside my window searching for food. The sun had already risen and the temperature was slowly climbing from below zero. After we donned our long johns and ate a hearty breakfast we set out for a day of hiking. Our area of interest was Waugoshance Point and our path of travel was just offshore across the crystal clear ice. As you looked down you could see straight to the sandy/rocky bottom I felt as if you were walking on water. Along the way we spotted various wildlife including coyotes, partridge, deer and an occasional bald eagle. As the sun set we ice skated on the endless amount of glassy ice that changed colors with the fading sun.

After we arrived back at camp and ate dinner we started a fire in the fire pit outside the cabin (firewood provided by the park is for the woodstove only, firewood for the fire pit must be brought by cabin occupants) and indulged in a delicious s’mores session and discussed the adventures of the day. After a long day of hiking everyone opted out of another night hike and passed out early.

The next morning brought a sad realization that it was time to leave our winter paradise and head back to civilization, but we had one more adventure planned after we checked out. We loaded our gear onto the toboggan and headed back to our vehicles to drop off the cabin key at park headquarters. Our next stop was the cross-country skiing trail head that led to a newly constructed portion of trail.

This was my first time on cross-country skis but after the first mile or so I had the rhythm of the sport down. The conditions were slightly icy due to the lack of snow this winter but they were still in good shape. The park staff grooms the trails regularly depending on snow conditions and they will soon have the addition of a track setter on their equipment.

The new section of trail connects Big Stone Trail to Hemlock Trail, a section that previously traveled along a county road. The new trail connects a loop approximately 10-kilometers in length that is accessible only by non-motorized modes of transportation.

“In the past people had to go down the county road in order to get back to their car,” said Park Supervisor Burr Mitchell. “Now they have an access straight across so they don’t have to go down the county road.”

The new section of trail is approximately a mile long and currently does not have a designated name. Other improvements to the trails system include a wooden boardwalk over wetlands areas and a newly constructed bridge. The 10k loop travels through a variety of landscapes ranging from wetlands and coniferous to a near old growth section of forest. Half way through our ski we made a stop at the trailside shelter, also built by the CCC, which lies just past the Nebo Cabin.

By the time we finished our ski journey everybody was ready for a warm shower and some clean clothes, but we were still reluctant to leave after an unforgettable weekend.

Wilderness State Park has six rustic cabins that can accommodate four to eight people and include bunks, a woodstove, an outhouse and a water pump. Prices range between $60- $70 a night. For larger groups there are three bunkhouses, with electricity, that can accommodate up to 24-persons. The bunkhouses and the Nebo Rustic Cabin are located on cross country ski trails. For an even more rustic winter adventure two backcountry campsites can be reserved for $12 a night by calling the park at (231)436-5381. Cabins can be reserved by going online to www.michigan.gov/dnr and clicking on the recreation and camping tab, or by calling the park at (231)436-5381.

Park hosting Cross Country ski outing Saturday, Feb. 6

Wilderness Sate Park will host a Cross Country Ski Outing this Saturday, February 6, from noon to 4:30 p.m. as a grand opening of sorts for the new section of trail. At noon participants will be welcomed with coffee and hot chocolate in front of the fireplace at the park’s Dining Hall located in the Pines Campground. From there they will ski Swamp Line Trail to South Boundary to Nebo Trail. At Nebo Trail Side Shelter there will be a fire going in the fire place and supplies for s’mores. Participants will then continue on Nebo Trail to Wiikenhs Trail and across newly installed boardwalks and foot bridge to end back at the Pines Campground. For more details contact the park at (231) 436-5381.

For cross-country ski rentals visit The Outfitter on Main Street in downtown Harbor Springs.

To learn more about Wilderness State Park visit www.harborlightnews.com and search the archives for the article entitled “Exploring Wilderness: One of Michigan’s great state parks,” published July 22, 2009, or visit the park website at www.wildernessstatepark.net.

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the park entrance and headquarters. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A nonresident annual is $29 and a nonresident daily is $8.

This is part of the February 3, 2010 online edition of Harbor Light Newspaper.

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