Iosco County: Discover Nature, Trails, and History

Tawas Point State Park is located at the tip of a sandy spit that forms Tawas Bay on Lake Huron. In spring and fall, the park is a stopover for hundreds of migratory birds. Iosco County also offers coastal landscapes, outdoor trails, and insights into regional history. When choosing a hotel, it helps to decide what you want to focus on during your stay: wildlife watching, outdoor activities, or culture and traditions.

Shoreline Landscapes and Wildlife

Lake Huron Coastal Preserve encompasses old-growth hardwood stands, wooded wetlands, and almost a mile of Lake Huron shoreline. These landscapes provide habitat for plants and wildlife. At the Preserve entrance, at the intersection of US-23 and Dyer Road, there is parking and signage, as well as access to the paved Alabaster Bike Path Arboretum. Check the parking and signage conditions on site.

From Foote Pond Overlook, the view stretches across Foote Pond from high sandy bluffs. Nearby, visitors can watch eagles that nest there. The Au Sable River is also part of the region’s landscape: it is a major tributary of Lake Huron, and its watershed includes parts of Iosco County.

Trails, River, and Views

The Highbanks Trail runs seven miles from Iargo Springs to Sawmill Point. The Iosco Exploration Trail provides walking and biking access to the Lake Huron shoreline and to viewpoints along the AuSable River. It currently ends at Old Orchard Park on Cooke Dam Pond; this endpoint may change as construction progresses. A 44-mile route through several communities in Iosco County is planned for the trail. Individual phases are complete, but the full route is still under development. Check the current endpoint before planning your trip.

Iargo Springs Interpretive Site is an outdoor educational area with information about the history, geology, and plant and animal life of the area. Facilities include an accessible parking area, an observation platform, restrooms, stairs, boardwalks, benches, and interpretive signs. Check the condition of the facilities before your visit.

At Lumberman's Monument, visitors can learn about the logging industry, climb over a log jam, use a Peavey, and cut a wood disk with a crosscut saw. At Foote Dam, there is access to the stretches of water below the dam that are used for steelhead and salmon fishing. Facilities there include accessible fishing opportunities, parking, restrooms, and a boat launch; check the condition of the facilities before your visit.

The River Road Scenic Byway is a 22-mile route that extends west from Lake Huron into the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Cooke Dam Hydroelectric Plant offers a different point of interest: it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lighthouse, Museums, and Tradition

Tawas Point Lighthouse was in operation from 1876 to 2016. Visitors can climb the tower via 85 steps, provided the site’s safety rules allow it. The original fourth-order Fresnel lens is still in the tower. The lighthouse offers a look at its construction and operating history, as well as a distinctive feature of its equipment.

Iosco County Historical Museum is housed in a home built in 1903 by James D. Hawks, the first president of the Detroit and Mackinaw Railroad. The exhibits cover local industry, families, culture, and traditions. Wurtsmith Air Museum focuses on a different subject: its three hangars cover military and aviation history and include static aircraft displays, artifacts, equipment, and memorabilia from Wurtsmith Air Force Base.

The Iosco County Fair has also been part of the county’s tradition since 1944. Its program includes activities for children, entertainment, food and merchandise vendors, agricultural competitions, livestock shows, and main-stage events. Dates and programming change; check them before traveling if you plan to attend the fair.

Explore more destinations: Tawas City, Oscoda, Manistee County, Crawford County, Van Buren County, Antrim County, Oceana County, Calhoun.

For the broader travel overview: Michigan.