Maps & Publications

Interactive Visitor Map shows recreation areas and roads on all national forests. The map is now available for mobile download, look for "Visitor Map: Map of Forest Service Lands".

MI-Trail maps (NOTE: the Forest Service does not endorse the product or organization nor does the FS exercise any responsibility over the content)

GEMs Walking Trail Maps (NOTE: the Forest Service does not exercise any responsibility over the content)

Two segments of the North Country Trail traverse the Ottawa National Forest: the Alberta to Cascade Falls segment, and the Cascade Falls to Ironwood segment.

Alberta to Cascade Falls – 79.6 miles: This segment traverses the rugged Trap Hills and passes spectacular waterfalls on the Black River. It also passes through ancient virgin forests and along the rocky Lake Superior shoreline of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

Cascade Falls to Ironwood – 79.4 miles: Hiking this segment is an adventure across a landscape that features streams and waterfalls, rocky escarpments with spectacular views, gently rolling uplands, and pine plains. Fish for trout, bass, perch, walleye and northern pike in the ponds, lakes and streams along the Trail. Observe wildlife, visit historic sites, and spend the night in shelters or campgrounds along the trail.

Maps for both segments are available for free to print or download to your smartphone at the North Country Trail Association

• Waterfall Trails ( pdf
• Short Hikes ( pdf)
• Hiking Recreation Guide ( pdf)
• Snowmobiling ( pdf)
• Remote Camping ( pdf)

• Black River Harbor Map (Updated 10/06/2017) - pdf
• Black River Harbor Waterfall Map (Updated 1/18/2017) - pdf
• Black River Harbor Pamphlet with Map - pdf

• Sylvania Wilderness
  • Wilderness Map - ( pdf)
  • Clarks Lake Campground Map (Updated 4/25/2011) - (pdf)
• Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness Map - (pdf)
• McCormick Wilderness Map - (pdf )

• Agonikak Trail Map - pdf
• Courtney Equestrian & Cross Country Ski Trail Map - pdf
• Bergland Ski Trail Map - pdf
• Ge-Che Ski Trail Map - pdf
• Land O' Lakes Ski Trail Map - pdf
• National Trails Map - pdf

• GPS Coordinates for Ottawa National Forest Campgrounds - pdf
• GPS Coordinates for Sylvania Wilderness Campsites - pdf

• Ottawa Waterfall Map - pdf
• Trap Hills Map (Updated 2023) - Front | Back
• Lake Ottawa Recreation Area ( pdf)

• Bear Aware (pdf)
• Biting Bugs and Plants to Avoid (pdf)

• Bicycling (pdf)
• Camping (pdf)
• Canoeing (pdf)
• Cross-country Skiing (pdf)
• Fishing (pdf)
• Hiking (pdf)
• Horse Riding (pdf)
• Snowmobiling (pdf)
• Snowshoeing (pdf)

• North Country Trail (pdf)
• Points of Interest (pdf)
• Rivers (pdf)
• Short Hikes (pdf)
• Trap Hills (pdf)
• Waterfalls (pdf)

Visit the MI-DNR website for interactive on-line maps.

• Bluebill Creek ( pdf)
• Blue Road ( pdf)
• Bond Falls South ( pdf)
• Cooks Run ( pdf)
• Davidson Lake ( pdf)
• Harris Creek ( pdf)
• Interior Grouse ( pdf)
• Moraine Lake ( pdf)
• Morrison Creek ( pdf)
• Norwich GEMS ( pdf)
• Scaup Lake ( pdf)

Aspen stands are ever changing due to timber sales and natural processes. Due to these changes, the grouse maps will be updated periodically to reflect the most current aspen stand conditions.

• Bergland RD Aspen Map (08/2022 Version)
• Bessemer East RD Aspen Map (08/2022 Version)
• Bessemer West RD Aspen Map (08/2022 Version)
• Iron River RD Aspen Map (08/2022 Version)
• Kenton RD Aspen Map (08/2022 Version)
• Ontonagon RD Aspen Map (08/2022 Version)
• Watersmeet RD Aspen Map (08/2022 Version)

Download all the files (folder)(zip file)

• Central Front pdf
• Central Back pdf
• East Back pdf
• East Front pdf
• West Front pdf
• West Back pdf
• McCormick Wilderness

NOTE: Maps are formatted in a .pdf format and are extremely large documents. To view and print, you will need to use the “zoom” tool.

For a paper copy of the MVUM(s) you need please call one of our offices or email us at ottawa_nf@usda.gov

• Quad/Topographical Map Index ( pdf)

Topographical (1:24,000) Map : These maps are at a scale of 2.64 inches equals 1 mile and are in a 7 ½’ latitude by 7 ½’ longitude quadrangle format. They were derived from the U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Quadrangles, are highly detailed, and serve as the base for all other Ottawa National Forest maps. Topography is shown with a contour interval of 10 or 20 feet or 5 meters. See Ottawa quad map index to select map located on the last page of the Ottawa Map Order Form.

"Topographic Maps" provide the greatest level of detail and only cover small portions of a forest. The maps are available for download or purchase from the US Geological Survey website.

Topographical maps show topography of an area, boundaries between private and federal land, most roads and trails, and all water systems. For a map that shows the most up-to-date road and motorized trail information see the information on obtaining a Motor Vehicle Use Map.

Forest Recreation Map:"Visitor Maps" for each national forest and grassland provide forest-wide information on attractions, facilities, services, and opportunities. These maps are available to purchase from any Forest office or the US Geological Survey website.

This is a map of the entire Forest at a scale of ½ inch equals 1 (one) mile. It shows the road system, trails, wilderness areas, lakes, streams, developed recreation sites including camp and picnic grounds and boat landings, winter sports areas, points of interest including waterfalls, and other information beneficial to visitors. This map includes the North Country National Scenic Trail, winter recreation, snowmobiling, wildlife, canoeing, hunting, fishing and more. (2008 Edition.)

The forest visitor maps show property boundaries, private and public land, recreation areas and day use areas, major roads and towns, and major water systems. These maps DO NOT show all existing Forest Service roads. For a map that shows the most up to date road and motorized trail information see the information on obtaining a Motor Vehicle Use Maps.

Land management within the US Forest Service and on the 1,000,000+ acre Ottawa National Forest (NF) is driven by a wide mix of resource and societal demands that prove a challenge in fulfilling the Forest Service’s mission of “Caring for the Land and Serving the People.” Programmatically, the 2006 Land and Resource Management Plan guide natural resource management activities on lands administered by the Ottawa National Forest.

The Forest Plan describes management direction and practices, resource protection methods and monitoring, desired resource conditions, and the availability and suitability of lands for resource management. Technology enables staff to address these land management issues and Forest Plan direction by using a science-based approach to facilitate effective decisions. Ottawa NF geospatial services, using enabling-technologies, incorporate key tools such as Environmental Systems Research Institute’s ArcGIS desktop suite and Trimble’s global positioning system (GPS) units to meet program and Forest needs.

The Forest has a broad set of geospatial datasets that capture geographic features across the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan's landscape. Many of these datasets are available to the public through our download site.

To access the Online tool for selecting and downloading FS spatial data from the EDW please click here.

Data disclaimer – The USDA Forest Service makes no warranty, expressed or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, nor assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, reliability, completeness or utility of these geospatial data, or for the improper or incorrect use of these geospatial data. These geospatial data and related maps or graphics are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such. The data and maps may not be used to determine title, ownership, legal descriptions or boundaries, legal jurisdiction, or restrictions that may be in place on either public or private land. Natural hazards may or may not be depicted on the data and maps, and land users should exercise due caution. The data are dynamic and may change over time. The user is responsible to verify the limitations of the geospatial data and to use the data accordingly.

Selected GIS datasets that encompass the Ottawa National Forest are available for download by scrolling to the GIS datasets table below. A link to the FGDC compliant metadata is provided for each dataset. All zipped shapefiles, layer packages, and keyhole markup language files are in the following projection:

Universal Transverse Mercator
Zone: 16
Units: Meters
Datum: NAD 1983
Spheroid: GRS 1980

Instructions for downloading and view shapefiles:

• Click on the .zip file and save to the desired location on your hard drive.

   

• To view the GIS Shapefile, unzip the file. You will need software that can display the shapefile. One option - download the free app from ESRI.com. According to their website, the app is compatible with Android, iOS & Windows.

   

Instructions for downloading and viewing Google Earth kml files:

• Click on the .kmz file, save the file to the desired location on your hard drive.  2. To view Google Earth kmz files, download the freeware Google Earth. Instructions for using Google Earth can be found at their site.