Crawford County: Forest Trails and River History

Crawford County can be explored through specific forest, river, and history themes. Trails lead through the region’s forestry history, museums cover different eras, and the Au Sable River offers its own visitor experiences. You can shape your trip around whichever of these themes best match the places and activities you plan to visit.

Experience Forest History on the Trails

Hartwick Pines State Park has a 21-mile network of hiking trails. These include the 1.25-mile, paved, accessible Old Growth Forest Trail. The park is named for an old-growth pine forest covering 49 acres, one of the last remaining stands of its kind in the state. Visitors looking for a paved, accessible route will find it here as a clearly identified option within the larger trail network.

The Hartwick Pines Logging Museum showcases Michigan’s 19th-century logging era. Its exhibits include reconstructed logging camp buildings from the 1890s. The museum is accessible. This offers a way to learn about forestry not only through trails and landscapes, but also through historic buildings and how they were used.

The Forest Heritage Trail connects three forest heritage sites in Crawford County and features 19 interpretive panels about the region’s forest history. The panels also explain the significance of the Au Sable River, the role of logging in the founding of Grayling, and the development of forestry. The trail thus brings together several perspectives: the region’s forests, how they were used, and the town’s origins.

More Trails and How to Navigate Them

The Iron Belle Trail runs through North Higgins Lake State Park and along Old U.S. 27. Another route described here is the 10.2-mile Grayling Bicycle Turnpike, also known as the Wayne C. Koppa Trail. The entrance to Hartwick Pines State Park is one endpoint of the route; it passes through downtown Grayling and crosses the Au Sable River on its way to the Hanson Hills Recreation Area. The routes offer different landmarks for planning: a state park and a highway on one, and downtown, a river crossing, and a recreation area on the other.

Higgins Lake and the Au Sable River

Crawford County borders Higgins Lake to the south, which is considered one of the state’s best inland fishing waters. North Higgins Lake State Park has a designated swimming beach. Since park facilities can change, check the latest information about the beach before your visit. The Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum also offers practical guidance: all public buildings are accessible.

Around Grayling, the Au Sable River and its tributaries offer opportunities to fish for brook trout, brook char, and rainbow trout. The Au Sable River Canoe Marathon covers 120 miles from Grayling to Oscoda; its historic connection with Grayling dates back to 1947. At the start, paddlers carry their canoes and run several hundred yards through downtown Grayling. This river experience includes both the long course and a distinctive running section through town. If you want the marathon to determine your travel dates, check the event schedule in advance.

Museums and Other Perspectives

Wellington Farm, USA is a 60-acre open-air museum where visitors can experience rural Midwestern life during the Great Depression. Offerings include tours with historical interpreters on weekends and during festivals; group tours are available by appointment. Contact the operator for current dates and opening hours.

At Wellington Farm Park, environmental education focuses on the importance of protecting land, water, forests, and natural resources. Together with the Hartwick Pines Logging Museum and the panels along the Forest Heritage Trail, this theme offers another way to learn about the landscapes and how they are used.

For your stay, this leads to a practical planning question: should your focus be on forest trails and forestry history, museums, or water and river history? Decide which visits matter most and, when looking for a hotel, check which location best fits your travel plans.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Jackson, Isabella, Van Buren County, Bay, Berrien, Branch, Saginaw.

Return to the main travel overview: Michigan.