Headlands
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →State designated
Wilderness State Park, a State Dark Sky Preserve
Twenty-six miles of Lake Michigan shoreline near the Straits of Mackinac, with a dark sky preserve designated by the Michigan Legislature and open around the clock.
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Food & town
- Mackinaw City · about 8 mi
- State designated
- Dark Sky Preserve · 2012
How dark is it, really?
Dark enough to see the Milky Way overhead on a clear night, though glow from nearby towns washes out the sky near the horizon. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 4, an estimate.)
When should I go?
Pick a night when the moon is down. The next stretch of moonless evenings is Nov 6–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–12 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Leonids) |
| Dec 5–11 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Geminids) |
| Jan 3–9 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars, and a meteor shower peak (Quadrantids) |
More dark windows, through Oct 2027
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1–8 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 2–9 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 31–Apr 7 | Crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 30–May 7 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| May 30–Jun 6 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Jun 30–Jul 9 | Mostly none · crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 5 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 4 | Crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Mid Mar to early Sep. Out of season until mid Mar. In season now, through early Sep. Out of season until mid Mar.
Meteor showers ahead: Leonids on Nov 17–18 (half moon, sets around midnight), Geminids on Dec 13–14 (thin crescent, sets early), Ursids on Dec 22–23 (full moon, up all night), and Quadrantids on Jan 3–4 (none · darkest skies)Lyrids on Apr 22–23 (bright moon for most of the night)Eta Aquariids on May 5–6 (none · darkest skies)Southern Delta Aquariids on Jul 30–31 (thin crescent, rises late)Perseids on Aug 12–13 (bright moon for most of the night).
Email me before the next dark window at Wilderness State Park.
About one email a month, a few days before the moon goes dark: the dates here, the moonlight, and what's worth staying up for. Unsubscribe in one click.
We'll email you a link to confirm.
Almost there. Check your email for a link to confirm your address. Once you confirm, we'll email you the dates at Wilderness State Park a few days before each dark window, with the Dark Sky Trip Calendar.
That email address doesn't look complete. Check it and send it again.
We couldn't check that you're a person. Click into the form, wait until the check below the button shows success, then send it again.
Too many sign-ups from this connection just now. Please try again in an hour.
Something went wrong on our side and your address wasn't saved. Please try again later.
We use your email only for this, and never sell or share it. How we handle it.
What it's like
Wilderness State Park sits 11 miles west of Mackinaw City, with 26 miles of sandy Lake Michigan shoreline, more than 20 miles of trails, and Temperance and Waugoshance islands off the tip of Waugoshance Point. It is one of Michigan's six state-designated dark sky preserves, set aside by the Michigan Legislature in 2012, and the marked preserve is open 24 hours a day.
The park is also just 9 miles from Headlands Dark Sky Park. From parts of Wilderness you can see the 170-year-old Waugoshance Lighthouse to the west and the Mackinac Bridge to the east. On clear winter nights, look north: Michigan's DNR says the northern lights are best seen from late August through early April.
To stay after dark, reserve a campsite or one of the rustic cabins, some of which date back to the Civilian Conservation Corps. The East Lakeshore campground is a short walk from the shore, though a line of trees limits the view of the lake from the campground itself.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Mackinaw City, MI is about 8 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (Mackinaw Family Market), 3 gas stations, and 17 places to eat on the map. The nearest gas is closer: a gas station, about 5 mi away. Nearest places to eat on the map: Harbor Lights Grille (about 7 mi, in Carp Lake, MI), Darrow's Family Restaurant (about 8 mi), and Wienerlicious Mackinaw City (about 8 mi). The preserve area isn't plowed in winter (only the area near park headquarters is), so plan cold-season visits around what's cleared.
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
✓ Designation verified Sep 2026 against Michigan Legislature: “Dark Sky Preserve”, designated 2012 · darkness: Bortle 4, estimated · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Dark sky places near Wilderness State Park
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Dark Sky Park Dark Sky Sanctuary Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →State Dark Sky Preserve Thompson's Harbor State Park
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →State Dark Sky Preserve Rockport State Recreation Area
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →