Hiawatha National Forest's Wildflower Viewing Areas
By jan schultz on Jul 7, 2012
Evening primrose. (Photo by Chuck Warner)
New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae). (Photo by Sara Davis, Hiawatha National Forest)
Where to find rare native plants and flowers on the Hiawatha.
Wildflower Viewing Areas are sites of high botanic interest selected by botanists for the native plants and flowers found within them. Five of these areas can be found on the Green Mountain National Forest. Consider visiting these sites during your next trip to the forest. Don't forget your camera!
Au Train Songbird Trail (Munising District): The Hiawatha National Forest, within the Eastern Region, is home to many spectacular wildflower viewing opportunities. In the heart of the Hiawatha, within the Au Train Campground is the Au Train Songbird Interpretive Trail. During the spring and summer months of late May-August, the Au Train Songbird Trail treats visitors to spectacular flora displays as the fern laden trail winds through unique wetlands and geological features. There are ample recreational opportunities on site and in addition, an audio tape is available for use while walking the trail. The tape provides the visitor with songbird information as well as the calls of various songbirds such as the illusive Oven bird among many others. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…
Grand Island NRA Viewing Area (Munising District): Grand Island National Recreation Area (NRA) provides visitors an opportunity to travel through a variety of native plant communities. All of which are highly influenced by Lake Superior which creates a lush, moist environment. You will see rich mesic northern hardwood forests, rich conifer swamps, Great Lakes beaches with a unique dune-swale ecosystem, a tombolo, marshes and an old farm field. Grand Island's old farm field provides an opportunity to view native plant restoration in progress. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…
Munising Ranger District Native Garden (Munising District): The Eastern Region's Hiawatha National Forest is home to many spectacular wildflower viewing opportunities. One is in the heart of the Hiawatha- located at the Munising Ranger District / Hiawatha National Forest Interpretive Office. During the spring and summer months of late May through August, the Munising native plant garden provides visitors spectacular flora displays; an interpretive brochure guides the visitor through the gardens. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…
Pointe Aux Chenes Natural Area (St. Ignace District): Pointe Aux Chenes is a section of Lake Michigan shoreline that is protected by the Hiawatha National Forest as a candidate research natural area. It runs from the mouth of the Pointe Aux Chenes River west for about 1.5 miles. The area is a prime example of a dune and swale complex natural community, where you can find sandy beaches, vegetated dunes, and wetland swales. This little-known beach has few access points and is seldom used by recreationists, making it a fine viewing area for native wildflowers. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…
St. Ignace District Native Plant Garden (St. Ignace District): The St. Ignace District office is home to a beautiful array of native wildflowers that can also be found locally throughout the Hiawatha National forest. All the plants in the gardens are native to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, which is home to many different plant communities. Both woodland plants and prairie species are abundant in the gardens. These native plants thrive without the benefit of fertilizer or watering. Stop by throughout the seasons to view early spring wildflowers to late summer bloomers that attract butterflies. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…
Contact People: Deb LeBlanc at the Munising District Office at Dleblanc01@fs.fed.us or (906) 387--2515. Stephanie Blumer at the St. Ignace District Office at sblumer@fs.fed.us or (906) 643 7900.