XC Skiing/Snowshoeing

Highbanks River Trail along the Au Sable River

Trails in italics have snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, trails without italics only have cross-country skiing:

Trail	Length	Groomed
Big M	37	Yes
Bowman Lake	10
Corsair	28.3	Yes
Crystal Valley	12	Yes
Eagle Run	6.8	Yes
Forest Discovery Trail	.6
Highbanks	7
Hoist Lake	19.6
Loud Trail	7.6	Yes
Manistee River Trail	10.5
McKenzie	10.1	Yes
Nordhouse Dunes	14
North Country Trail	128
Ruffed Grouse Walk	.6
Wakeley Lake	8.6
Wolf Creek Trail	4.5

XC Skiing/Snowshoeing 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
Highbanks River Trail
Forest Discovery Trail
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). The Au Sable River was a major transportation route for floating Michigan’s giant white pine from forest to the sawmill towns on Lake Huron. You can learn more about this lumbering history at Lumbermen’s Monument Visitor Center that sits at the center of the byway.

Byway travelers will find abundant recreation opportunities, from motorized trails for off-road vehicles and snowmobiles to quiet trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. Camping, fishing and boating facilities are accessible from the byway. For a more relaxed experience, visitors will enjoy the lush forest and breathtaking vistas from the many scenic overlooks along the route. Visit www.byways.org for more information.

For information on Lumberman's Monument, Monument Campground or the Visitor Center visit the Lumberman's Monument section of the website.

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:
Eagle Run Cross-Country Ski and Hiking Trail
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.
Corsair Hiking and Cross Country Skiing Trail
Crystal Valley Ski Trail
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
Hungerford Recreation Area
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.
Loud Creek Ski/Hike Trail
Nichols Lake North
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.
Big M Cross-Country and Mountain Bike Trail
MacKenzie Cross-Country and Mountain Bike Trail
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 Trail
The Manistee River Trail follows the east shore of the Manistee River for 8.8 miles through rolling hills. The trail traverses past several wetlands and there are bridges crossing two creeks. A waterfall near the northern end of the trail is very popular with many hikers. The Manistee River Trail/North Country National Scenic Trail connector is also the site of the largest wooden suspension bridge in Lower Michigan. Several observation sites along the trail provide hikers with vista views of the Manistee River and surrounding area. There are several dispersed campsites along the trail.

A 23-mile loop trail is formed with the Manistee River Trail along the Manistee River. The loop trail can be accessed from the Marilla and Upper River Road Trailheads for the North Country National Scenic Trail and the Red Bridge and Seaton Creek accesses for the Manistee River Trail.

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
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.
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
40th St. Trailhead
76th St. Trailhead
Bowman Lake Trailhead
Freesoil Trailhead
Marilla Trailhead
Udell Trailhead
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
Shore-to-Shore State Horse Trail

The trail begins in Empire near Lake Michigan, on the west side of the state and ends at Lake Huron on the eastern side of the state. The trail passes under I-75, north of Grayling, and then continues eastward to follow the historic Au Sable River to its end in Au Sable, just south of Oscoda. 112 miles of trail run through the Huron portion of the Huron-Manistee National Forests.
Luzerne Horse Trail Campground and Trailhead
McKinley Horse Trail Campground
River Road Trail Camp and Trailhead
South Branch Trail Campground and Trailhead