AuTrain River Public Access, Parking and Rehabilitation Partnerships

Release Date: Jun 22, 2016

The Hiawatha National Forest, Au Train Township, and Alger County Road Commission continue to collaborate on addressing the parking and access, erosion, litter, recreation experience and safety concerns on H-03 (Au Train - Forest Lake Road) related to increased recreational use of the Au Train River.
  
Situated south of the village of Au Train, the Au Train River meanders for several miles through forest and dunes as it flows from Au Train Lake to its mouth on a stretch of sandy Lake Superior shoreline.  The river passes through both private and public lands, with about half its scenic course adjacent or through the Hiawatha National Forest lands.
   
Each summer, thousands of visitors float canoes, kayaks and inner tubes down the scenic river – especially the river segment between the Doucette Bridge and the Cameron Crossing bridge. Concerns about the impacts of increasing use resulted in the current collaborative effort to identify solutions including new parking and access sites, and rehabilitation of riverbank erosion.  Discussions and site visits have resulted in immediate actions each partner could take to help address parking safety and user access.
  
The partners have agreed to install signage directing traffic to designated parking areas, overflow parking areas, fifteen minute loading and unloading areas, and installation of no parking signs to help minimize congestion and increase safety along the busy county road during the 2016 use season.

This is a temporary solution to the parking and access needed along the river.  According to Charlie Marsh, Munising District Ranger on the Hiawatha National Forest,    “We have started the development of a more permanent solution, working closely with our partners and community members.  However, it could be 2-4 years before we can address restoration of heavily-used, eroded sites along the river or implement long-term canoe/kayak launches and parking sites on a more permanent basis.  In the interim, we are asking river users to abide by the improved signage along H-03 to increase public safety and reduce user conflicts.”

If you’re interested in tracking this project, watch the local newspaper for notice of public scoping, or check the Hiawatha National Forest’s “Projects” page regularly for updates at: www.fs.usda.gov/projects/hiawatha/landmanagement/projects.