J.W. Wells State Park
Cedar River, MI
J.W. Wells State Park is a 678 acre park on M-35 along Green Bay, about halfway between Menominee and Escanaba near Cedar River. Its long shoreline mixes sand and stone, and the Civilian Conservation Corps built many of its original structures in the 1930s. It's a quiet, wooded state park that rarely fills.
Peaceful and historic with room to spread out, though the shoreline is more stones than sand in places.
How we score beachesLook for the 1930s CCC stonework around the park. It's some of the best preserved in the UP.
A Michigan Recreation Passport (or nonresident pass) is required.
Short paths lead from the day-use area to the shoreline.
Summer swims are comfortable by July on this sheltered side of Green Bay. Late September brings calm days and fall color along M-35.
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