Ice Fishing

Ice Fishing on an impoundment on the Au Sable River. Walk-on ice fishing is permitted on National Forest Lands. No vehicles may be driven onto the ice of any lake, pond, stream or river on the National Forest. Ice fishing is done at the fishermans own risk.

The forest adheres to State licensing regulations, including size and quantity limits.

Some sites charge a camping fee, but not a day use fee. Only sites that charge a day use fee are listed below.

Parent Location	Recreation Site
Hoist/Reid Lake	Reid - M-72 Trailhead
Manistee River	Blacksmith Bayou
Manistee/Wellston	Pine Lake
North Country Trail	Benton Lake
North Country Trail	Nichols Lake South

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.

Ice 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 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
O'Brien Lake Access
Reid Lake Foot Travel Area
Hungerford Recreation Area
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
Condon Lakes West
Indian Lake Campground
Minnie Pond Campground
Nichols Lake South Campground
Shelley Lake Campground
Twinwood Lake Campground
Walkup Lake Campground
Pine Lake Campground
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 National Recreation River
The Manistee River between Tippy Dam and the M-55 Bridge was designated as a National Recreational River in 1996. The river is wide and characterized by steep banks and sharp bends, with a swift current and mostly slow, wide bends.

The river corridor supports a wide variety of recreational activities throughout the year, including hiking on the North Country National Scenic Trail and Manistee River Trail.

In the fall, hunters come from all over to take advantage of the abundant white-tailed deer, waterfowl and small game hunting available along the river.

Anglers are lured by the annual salmon and steelhead runs, as well as brown trout, smallmouth bass and walleye. However, salmon season is particularly busy on the river.

Backwater bayous, extensive riparian areas and mature forest communities provide habitat for a diverse number of wildlife species. The lower Manistee River is considered to be the most extensive and least disturbed remnant of true red-shouldered hawk habitat in the state.

Click here for more information on our Wild and Scenic Rivers.

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
Blacksmith Bayou Access Site
Manistee River Area
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.
Whelan Lake Area

Alerts & Warnings

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Recreation Areas

Recreation Activities

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Ice Fishing

Ice Fishing Areas

Au Sable National Wild and Scenic River

Au Sable River - Alcona Dam to Lake Huron

Highbanks River Trail

Lubmerman's Monument Visitor Center and Forest Discovery Trial

River Road National Scenic Byway

Brochures and Maps:

Recreation Areas

Recreation Activities