Hiawatha National Forest
National Forest · Gladstone, Michigan
Hiawatha National Forest covers about 900,000 acres of the Upper Peninsula in two separate units: an eastern unit near St. Ignace and the Straits of Mackinac, and a western unit stretching from the Munising area south toward Escanaba. Between them it holds about 100 miles of shoreline on Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron, along with inland lakes, rivers, swamp, pine and hardwood. It is a campground, beach and paddling forest rather than a single scenic stop, and it surrounds, but does not include, Pictured Rocks. Highlights are Grand Island National Recreation Area off Munising, the lighthouses and sand beaches, and the monarch butterfly gatherings at Peninsula Point in September. Distances are long, cell coverage is thin, and black flies and mosquitoes can be fierce in early summer. Plan a day for one unit or a week to cover both. Bring layers even in July, since Lake Superior breezes stay cool and nights can drop near 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
820 Rains Drive, Gladstone, Michigan, 49837, United States
The forest is open year-round and there is no gate for the land. Campgrounds, beaches and boat launches are mostly seasonal, usually from late May or June to September or October, and many gravel roads are unplowed in winter. The Grand Island ferry runs on a summer schedule from Munising and the season and times change by year, so confirm before you drive. Ranger district offices in St. Ignace, Munising, Rapid River and Escanaba keep weekday office hours and are often closed on weekends. Lake-effect snow can close roads from late autumn through spring, when snowmobile and ski use takes over. Check the forest service for current closures, fire bans and campground openings.
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