Hiawatha National Forest
 

Recreation

Welcome to our Great Lakeshores, Great Lighthouses, Great Islands, Great Snow

Plan Your Trip

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you first enter the Hiawatha National Forest, look around. At first glance, you'll see a forest with abundant wildlife, miles of rivers and streams, and dozens of waterfalls. You'll see a forest that touches the scenic shorelines and beaches of three Great Lakes, and is home to six historic lighthouses. You'll notice Grand Island and Round Island, two great lakes islands. You'll see historical structures, archaeological sites, and prehistoric Native American artifacts that are a window to our past, which are being preserved for our future. (more)

I want to...

Find a place to go bicycling  Find a place to hike  Find a lighthouse

 

 

 

 

Find a place to go fishing  Find a place to go hunting  Find a place to go ohving

 

 

 

 

Find a cabin  Find a place to go camping  Find a place to paddle 

 

 

 

 

I Need to Know...

Campfire Safety How to contact an office

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Recreation Conditions Report

 Area Name Status Area Conditions
Au Train River Canoe Trail Open to Visitor This trail is not groomed in winter.
AuTrain Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open May 15 to September 30. Gated when closed.
Bass Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Site opens May 15 and closes Oct. 14.
Bay Furnace Campground Closed to Visitor Open Season May 15 to OCtober 8. Gated when closed.
Bay View Campground Closed to Visitor Open May 21 and closes October 15.
Bear Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Site opens May 15 and closes October 14
Brevort Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open May 7 to October 15. Gated when closed.
Camp 7 Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 8. Gated when closed.
Camp Cook Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14.
Carp River Campground Open to Visitor Open May 7 thru October 10. Gated when closed.
Carr Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14.
Chicago Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor
Civilian Conservation Corps - CCC Camp Round Lake Open to Visitor
Clear Lake Dispersed Camp Site   
Colwell Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 8. Gated when closed.
Cookson Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Corner Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open May 15 to September 3. Gated when closed.
Council Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
East Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Ewing Point Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Flowing Well Campground Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 8. Gated when closed.
Gooseneck Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Grand Island National Recreation Area Closed to Visitor Open May 24 to Oct 13
Haymeadow Creek Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Hovey Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Indian River Campground Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 8. Gated when closed.
Ironjaw Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Island Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open May 15 to September 3. Gated when closed.
Jackpine Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Lake Michigan Campground Open to Visitor Open May 7 thru October 15.
Lake Nineteen Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 15
Leg Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Little Bass Lake Dispersed Site Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14.
Little Bay De Noc Campground Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 8.
Lyman Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
McKeever Cabin Open to Visitor Open Year Round. In the winter, you must park at the entrance to the Widewaters Campground and ski or snowshoe FR2163 for approximately one mile. Snowmobiles are not allowed to the cabin.
Minerva Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 8
Monocle Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open May 20 to September 30. Gated when closed.
Mowe Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Petes Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open May 15 to September 30. Gated when closed.
Soldier Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open May 20 to September 30. Gated when closed.
Steuben Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Swan Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Three Lakes Campground Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 31. Gated when closed.
Toms Lake Cabin Open to Visitor Open Year Round. The road to the cabin is not plowed.
Triangle Lake Dispersed Campsite Open to Visitor Open May 15 to October 14
Widewaters Campground Open to Visitor Open May 15 to September 30. Gated when closed.

Spotlights

Clear Lake Education Center

The Activities Hall at Clear Lake Education Center

Clear Lake Education Center is a place for people of all ages to come and connect with their natural world through integrated educational and recreational programs. The Camp is located near Shingleton, Michigan in the middle of the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula.  Go to http://www.clearlakeinfo.org/ for more information

Christmas/Grand Island West Channel Range Light

During the hey-day of water transportation on Lake Superior, mariners lined up on pairs of "range lights," thus guided along a safe course through dangerous shallows of the island's west channel.  Today, visitors can view these range lights, conveniently located off of Highway M-28.

Grand Island National Recreation Area

Grand Island's beautiful North Beach

Bring the family and check out Grand Island National Recreation Area!

Grand Island is located in Lake Superior, about one-half mile from the mainland community of Munising, Michigan. Munising is about 43 miles from Marquette and 55 miles from Manistique. Grand Island is the perfect place to spend a day or even just a few hours biking and exploring. The island’s breathtaking overlooks, pristine sandy beaches, fascinating cultural sites, deep hard woods, and inland lakes make it an exciting and secluded destination.

Visitors can get to the island via passenger ferry or private watercraft. Some campsites are conveniently located for kayakers. The ferry departs from Grand Island Landing on the mainland, located on M-28 about 2.5 miles west of the Munising's blinking light. Look for the Grand Island National Recreation Area signs.  

To view the Grand Island Recreation Area Map Click Here.

If you're interested in the island's history, check out the Grand Island 25th Anniversary Page (archived).


https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/hiawatha/recreation