Recreation

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

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.

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Link to Interactive Visitor Map

Superior Wildlands Newsletter (pdf)

Fall Color (html)

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Recreation Conditions Report

Area Name	Status	Area Conditions
Au Train River Canoe Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Au Train Songbird Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Bay De Noc Grand Island National Recreation Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Bay Furnace Historic Site and Interpretive Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Bruno's Run Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Colwell Lake Hiking Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Fisherman's Hike Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Haymeadow Falls Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Indian River Canoe Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
McKeever Cabin		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.
McKeever Hills Cross Country Ski Trail		This trail is groomed in winter. The parking area/trailhead is plowed.
McNearney Cross Country Ski Trail		This trail is groomed in winter. The parking area/trailhead is plowed.
Monocle Lake Interpretive Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Nahma Marsh Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
North Country National Scenic Trail East Side		This trail is not groomed in winter.
North Country National ScenicTrail-Munising		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Peninsula Point Interpretive Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Pine Marten Run Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Rapid River National Cross Country Ski Trail		Trail will not be groomed until after the muzzleloader deer season (mid December)
Ridge Interpretive Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Sand Dunes Cross Country Ski Trail		This trail is groomed. The parking lot/trailhead is plowed in winter.
Toms Lake Cabin		Open Year Round. The road to the cabin is not plowed.
Valley Spur Cross Country Ski Trail		This trail is groomed. The parking lot/traihead is plowed.
Valley Spur Mountain Bike Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Van Winkle Lake Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.
Waboose Cross Country Ski Trail		This trail is  NOT groomed. The parking lot/trailhead is plowed.
Walker Lake Trail		This trail is not groomed in winter.

Spotlights

Grand Island National Recreation Area

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).

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.