Roscommon County: Lakes, Forests and History

Higgins Lake: Water and Nursery History

Roscommon County is best discovered through its lakes, forests and the traces of how they have been used. Higgins Lake is seven miles long and reaches a depth of up to 135 feet. South Higgins Lake State Park stretches along one mile of shoreline. Its Higgins Lake access includes a protected boat basin with nine slips. The park shop rents kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and floats from mid-May through September. This service is seasonal; check the dates before your trip.

On the north shore, North Higgins Lake State Park occupies the former site of the world’s largest tree nursery. The first state tree nursery was also established on the north shore in 1903. The Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum illustrates how the Civilian Conservation Corps provided work for young men during the Great Depression. The Higgins Lake Civilian Conservation Corps Camp began operating at the nursery in 1933. Allow about an hour for the museum and its grounds. As the schedule includes seasonal hours, it’s a good idea to check current dates before your visit.

Trails Through Forest and Nature

The Red Pine Natural Area Pathway runs for 1.4 miles through the Roscommon Red Pines Natural Area in the Au Sable State Forest. Hikers will find 16 interpretive stations along the trail. At South Higgins Lake State Park, Marl Lake is surrounded by 5.5 miles of forest trails. On a different scale, the eight-mile Tisdale Pathway in the Village of Roscommon is maintained by the Roscommon Area Recreation Authority under a land stewardship agreement with the Michigan DNR. These distances give you a concrete basis for choosing trails according to the length of outing you have planned. The Iron Belle Trail passes through North Higgins Lake State Park and along Old U.S. 27.

The 115-acre Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve is a wildlife refuge open to the public for hiking, biking and nature observation. Forest, wetland and pond areas are used for school trips. Roscommon County shares the Au Sable Birding Trail with Crawford County. Those interested in birds and wetlands can also visit a habitat restoration project at Houghton Lake Flats: the Observation Deck (Old 27) provides replacement habitat for waterfowl and other wetland species.

Winter, Fishing and Lakeside Communities

Houghton Lake is Michigan’s largest inland lake and is known for year-round fishing and boating. Ice fishing at Houghton Lake yields walleye, bluegill, crappie and sunfish; at Higgins Lake, anglers catch lake trout, smelt, cisco and pike. Tip Up Town USA is an annual ice-fishing and family festival held at Houghton Lake on the last two weekends of January. Exact dates and admission requirements vary from year to year. In winter, Roscommon County also offers trails for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

Additional boat launches are located in named communities across the county: Hiawatha Park in Roscommon has an accessible canoe and kayak launch. The public boat launch on Airport Road in Saint Helen includes a beach, an ADA-standard fishing pier, and a kayak and canoe launch. Cove Park is right next door, with a beach, marina, benches, playground and pavilion. As these are current visitor details about facilities, check availability before your trip.

History, Remembrance and Local Markets

The Houghton Lake Area Historical Society preserves and protects buildings and artifacts that reflect the history of the Houghton Lake area. The Historical Village includes 14 buildings. At the AuSable River Center, the region’s history is presented through heritage and artifacts, along with materials on the wildlife and environment of the Great AuSable River. The center is housed in a historic building constructed in 1936 during the Great Depression as an administrative building for the Michigan Department of Conservation. It also displays 32 works from the original collection of a self-taught artist from the Roscommon area.

The Michigan Firemen’s Memorial honors firefighters who have died in the line of duty; a wall bears the names of those who died protecting their communities. The Michigan Firemen’s Memorial Festival includes a parade, an antique equipment display, a memorial service, a light parade, music, dancing and competitions for emergency responders. The festival is usually held in the third week of September, but events may change. A seasonal addition is the Roscommon Farmers Market: it runs on Saturdays from mid-May to mid-October and averages more than 30 vendors. Check the schedule and vendor participation before your trip.

Roscommon County as a Starting Point for Your Trip

When searching for hotels, you can start by deciding which themes will shape your stay: water and boating, forest trails and nature observation, winter activities or historic sites. Roscommon County is located along the I-75 corridor and is easily accessible for travelers to and from Northeast Michigan. Discover more destinations: Roscommon, Roscommon Township, Ottawa, Houghton, Sanilac County, Wayne, Macomb and Bay.

For the broader travel overview: Michigan.