Sylvania Wilderness
Most of Michigan's pristine forestland has been logged off, but here you'll find stands of the rare and treasured trees that once blanketed the state. In 1885 a man named A. D. Johnston purchased 80 acres...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Michigan |
| Size | 15,237 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1987, by Congress |
| Center point | 46.2108, -89.2943 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 9) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 6 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
36 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 39 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Clark Lake ↗ | 8.6 | |
| Land O' Lakes Ski Trail ↗ | 7.1 | |
| South Gate ↗ | 5.3 | |
| East Bear Lake ↗ | 4.8 | |
| Thompson Lodge | 2.5 | |
| Fisher Lake | 1.7 | |
| Loon Campsite | 0.8 | |
| Whitefish Lake (west) | 0.8 | |
| Badger Campsite | 0.6 | |
| Loon/Fisher Lake Portage | 0.5 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas, refreshed September 18, 2026. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedWatersmeet Admin Rx
7 mi from the center point
- WildfireBog
33 mi from the center point · 94 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 12.2 miForest Route 157--Tamarack River Bridge ↗Stambaugh Township, MI
- 13.9 miMayo School ↗Eagle River, WI
- 14.9 miBig Sand Lake Club ↗Phelps, WI
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Sylvania Wilderness?
15,237 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Sylvania Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Sylvania Wilderness in?
Michigan.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Sylvania Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1987.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Sylvania Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Sylvania Campground, 0.1 miles out. 6 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Sylvania Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 46.211, -89.294. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Sylvania Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-18, the nearest Watersmeet Admin Rx at 7 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Sylvania Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 9 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Sylvania Wilderness?
3 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Forest Route 157--Tamarack River Bridge and Mayo School.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.