Lake and Pond Fishing

Three men in a boat, fishing on a lake. The forest adheres to State licensing regulations, including size and quantity limits.

The following sites charge a recreation or concession day use fee:

Parent Location	Recreation Site
Manistee/Wellston	Pine Lake
Manistee/Wellston	Sand Lake Rec Area
North Country Trail	Benton Lake
	Highbank Lake
	Nichols Lake South
Wagner Lake	Island Lake
	Loon Lake
	Wagner Lake
Wakeley Lake	Kneff Lake

Look for this sign when you enter the site: Recreation Fee Symbol - Sign at Recreation Sites

Passes can be paid for at the site by using a fee envelope, located near the bulletin board or can be purchased from a Forest Serice Office or vendor. For more information on which passes are available and which pass will best suit your needs during your visit, visit the Passes and Permits section of the website.

Maps of some lakes are available on the Michigan DNR website.

Lake and Pond Fishing Areas

Au Sable River
From Mio Pond to Lake Huron, the Au Sable is primarily managed by the HMNF. The river is managed in two sections, one from Mio Pond to Alcona Dam Pond, the second from Alcona Dam to Lake Huron.

Au Sable National Wild and Scenic River

The Au Sable National Scenic River stretches 23-miles, from Mio to Alcona Pond. For additional information on our Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Au Sable River - Alcona Dam to Lake Huron

This section provides motorboat opportunities with a lake fishing atmosphere.

Highbanks River Trail

A short, 7-mile hike along the bluffs of the Au Sable River will provide day hikers with some of the best, and most dramatic, views of the Au Sable River, where hikers or skiers will be able to look over the river valley, with clear views almost to Lake Huron in some spots.

Lubmerman's Monument Visitor Center and Forest Discovery Trial

Lumberman’s Monument Visitor Center interprets the area’s colorful lumbering past. The 14-foot Lumberman’s Monument stands on a high bank with the Au Sable River providing a scenic backdrop.

River Road National Scenic Byway

The twenty-two mile River Road National Scenic Byway extends westward from Lake Huron into the Huron National Forest. It parallels the historic Riviere aux Sable (River of Sand). Lumbermen’s Monument Visitor Center sits at the center of the byway.

Brochures and Maps:
- Au Sable National Scenic River (pdf)
- River Road National Scenic Byway (pdf) - this brochure shows River Road, the Au Sable River and Lumberman's Monument
Flickr Photo Albums:
- Au Sable River - Alcona Dam to Lake Huron
- Au Sable National Scenic River
Au Sable River - Alcona Dam to Lake Huron
This section provides motorboat opportunities with a lake fishing atmosphere. Its flow of water still serves as an important link in the production of the state's electrical power supply.

Brochure with map:
- River Road National Scenic Byway (pdf) - this brochure shows River Road, the Au Sable River and Lumberman's Monument
- Highbanks River Trail Map (coming soon)
- Eagle Run Trail Map (coming soon)
The brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller. The trail maps are set to printon 8.5x11 paper.

Flickr Photo Albums:
Au Sable Area
Au Sable River Primitive Camping
Cooke Area
Sawmill Point Boat Launch
Corsair Area

This area contains all recreation sites located near the Corsair Area, located south of the Au Sable River and River Road National Scenic River in the southeast corner of the Huron National Forest. This area includes Corsair Hiking and Cross-Country Skiing Trail, Sand Lake Day Use Area, Round Lake Campground and Tuttle Marsh.
Round Lake Campground and Day Use Area
Sand Lake Beach Day Use Area
Hoist/Reid Lake Areas
Recreation areas located near Hoist and Reid Lakes, north of the Au Sable River in the northeast corner of the Huron National Forest.
Hoist Lake Area
Horseshoe Lake Campground and Boat Launch
Jewell Lake Campground
O'Brien Lake Access
Reid Lake Foot Travel Area
Sprinkler Lake Access Site
Hungerford Recreation Area
Mack Lake Motorized Trail System
As riders travel on this trail they will pass by a variety of scenary types. The trail is mostly on a 0 - 10% grade, with some short sections at a 30% grade. The trail system is marked with orange confidence markers.

Bull Gap Hill Climb provides a challenge for experienced riders, while the trail section near Maltby Hills is available for trail riders with less experience.

This trail is shown on the Huron-Manistee National Forests Motor Vehicle Use Map, available in the Maps and Publications section. A map is also located on the MI-DNRE website.
Mack Lake ORV Campground
Lake Michigan
The recreation sites in this area are all located on the Lake Michigan shoreline or within driving distance of the lake.

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is the only designated wilderness on the Huron-Manistee National Forests.  Adjacent to the wilderness area is the popular Lake Michigan Recreation Area.  Further inland visitors can go to Hoags Lake and enjoy a day of swimming, picnicking or fishing.
Hamlin Lake Boat Access
M-37: White Cloud to Baldwin
This area covers all recreation areas along M-37 between White Cloud and Baldwin. This does not include trailheads for the North Country National Scenic Trail or Hungerford Recreation Area.
Benton Lake Campground
Brush Lake Campground
Condon Lakes West
Highbank Lake Campground
Loda Lake National Wildflower Sanctuary
Minnie Pond Campground
Nichols Lake North
Nichols Lake South Campground
Shelley Lake Campground
Twinwood Lake Campground
Walkup Lake Campground
M-55: Manistee to Cadillac
This section includes all recreation areas along M-55 or a short distance from M-55 located between Cadillac and Manistee, except the Pine and Manistee Rivers.
Hemlock Campground and Boat Launch
Pine Lake Campground
Sand Lake Recreation Area
Manistee River
The Manistee River, from Tippy Dam to the M-55 Bridge, is a designated National Recreation River. There are several river access sites, day use areas and campgrounds located along this section of river. During the summer the river is popular with canoers and kayakers, while during the fall salmon season, sites such as Suicide Bend and Sawdust Hole are popular with anglers.

The section north of Tippy Dam, up to Hodenpyl Dam Pond, is bordered on either side by the Manistee River Trail and the North Country National Scenic Trail. This area is also within the Manistee River Semi-Primitive Nonmotorized Area, a 7,900 acre area of the Forest.

Brochure with map:
This brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller.

Flickr Photo Albums
- Manistee River
- Manistee River Trail
Manistee River Area
Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
The 3,500 acre Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is a beautiful and complex feature along Lake Michigan’s eastern shoreline, in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, located between Ludington and Manistee. It is popular for hiking, primitive and dispersed camping, beach combing, hunting, picnicking, nature study and wildlife viewing, also offering approximately 10-miles of trails accessed from two developed trailheads:  Nurnberg Road and Lake Michigan Recreation Area.  The designated Wilderness area is a protected natural space, an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.

Our Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Story has more information on what is being done to protect this special place and how you can help.
Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness - Nurnberg Trailhead
North Country National Scenic Trail
Did you know that the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) passes through three National Parks, eight National Forests, and one National Grassland?

The North Country National Scenic Trail is being constructed across federal, state, county and private land. Upon completion the trail will extend from Crown Point, New York to Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota. It will be the longest, continuous hiking trail in the United States.

The 128.8-mile portion of the NCNST that goes through the Manistee portion of the National forests has 15 spur trails to other forest hiking and interpretive trails.

The NCNST is marked with blue rectangle-shaped blazes. Connector trails are marked with white rectangle blazes on trees. For information on the NCNST visit the National Park Service www.nps.gov/noco/index.htm.

Brochure with map:
- North Country National Scenic Trail
- Manistee River Trail
This brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller.

Flickr Photo Albums
- North Country National Scenic Trail
- Manistee River Trail
Pere Marquette River
The Pere Marquette National Scenic River is a sixty-six mile stretch from the junction of the Middle and Little South Branches east of Baldwin to the Old Highway 31 Bridge.

The Bowman Lake Special Area is 1,100 acres and has both the Pere Marquette and North Country National Scenic Trail going through it.

Whelan Lake Special Area is a 2,800 acre area located near the south branch of the Pere Marquette River.
Bowman Lake Area
This area not only has the Pere Marquette River running through it, but also contains a portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail and habitat for the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly.

The Bowman Lake area is located in Lake and Sweetwater Townships in Lake County. A total of 1,145 acres of NFS lands and 368 acres of private lands are within the boundary of the Bowman Lake area.

The terrain is characterized by rolling hills, glacial depressions and leatherleaf bogs. A 3-acre lake is located within the area. The area tends to be densely forested with a mix of hardwoods, red and white pine and aspen. Wildlife species that commonly inhabit this area include white-tailed deer, bobcat, coyote, red fox, raccoon, porcupine, squirrels, pileated woodpecker, ruffed grouse, wild turkey and various songbirds.

Visitor recreation activities include camping, fishing, mushroom gathering, bird-watching, hunting, hiking and canoeing. Mountain biking and horseback riding are also common uses on the area trails. Although trails are not groomed in the winter, the area is popular for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

The Bowman Lake Trailhead serves as a main entry point onto the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT). A 3-mile segment of the NCT is located within this area and mountain biking is allowed on this section of trail. In addition, a small trailhead is located on NFS Road 6267, giving access to the Bowman Lake Campground Trail, which is approximately 7.5 miles of loop trail designed for nonmotorized recreation.

This trail system can also be used by mountain bikers and horseback riders. Four improved campsites are located on Bowman Lake. Segments of the State of Michigan snowmobile trail system and Michigan Cycle Conservation Club Trail (MCCCT) system are located immediately south of the area.
Bowman Lake Campground
Whelan Lake Area
Pine National Scenic River

The lower 26-miles of the Pine River was designated a National Scenic River in 1992. The Pine River provides a unique recreation experience for lower Michigan, supporting quality opportunities for a diversity of recreation activities in a relatively undeveloped setting. Canoeing and kayaking are the primary activities on this river, with much of the appeal being the fast water and light rapids. It is a designated "Blue Ribbon" cold-water trout stream, with fishing being the second most popular activity on the river. The Pine River has the fastest average flow of any river in lower Michigan.

Scenery is one of the most outstanding attributes of the river. The designated portion of the river contains a unique riparian landform with its deeply incised river channel and high, exposed sand banks. Diverse vegetation contributes to the overall "scenic" feel of the river. Tree species vary from cedar-hemlock, ash, elm, sugar and red maple, and basswood in the lowland portions to mixed oak, pine and aspen in the upland areas. There are small openings scattered throughout the corridor that provide habitat diversity for many species of wildlife.

Brochure with Map: This brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller.

Flickr Photo Album

Click here for additional information on our Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Peterson Bridge North Day Use and Boat Launch Area
Wagner Lake Area
This section contains information on the sites located in the southern section of the Huron National Forest.
Crater Lake Fishing Access
Island Lake Campground
Loon Lake Day Use Area
Wagner Lake Campground
Wakeley Lake Area
Recreation areas near the Wakeley Lake. This is the section of the Huron National Forest furthest west, and most sites are located along or north of M-72.
Kneff Lake Campground
Wakeley Lake Area