The US 23 Heritage Route runs along the Lake Huron coast through Alcona County. Nature, architectural history and events offer different starting points for planning a trip: you can consider whether you are mainly interested in trails and waterways, historic buildings or a particular event. The topics described do not automatically form a single route, so choose what suits your stay.
Trails, Shorelines and Waterways
Harrisville State Park is located on the sandy shore of Lake Huron. A 2-mile paved Heritage Trail runs through the park and connects it to Harrisville via Third Street. The trail’s length and destination are therefore clearly stated for planning purposes. There is also a boat launch at the south end of the day-use parking lot for boats that are carried to the water by hand. The trail and boat launch offer different activities; using the boat access explicitly involves carrying the boat.
A 1,100-acre park lies along the historic floodplain of the Au Sable River above Alcona Dam. The shoreline extends for three miles on each side of the river. Hubbard Lake covers 8,850 acres. Northern pike, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch and walleye are found in Hubbard Lake. While the park information concerns the river’s location and shoreline, the focus at Hubbard Lake is on its size and fish species.
Public fishing is available at Mill Pond, which is stocked with trout. A waterwheel and a small waterfall are located at the dam. Visitors can feed fish at Cedarbrook Trout Farm. These offer different ways to engage with fish: Mill Pond is for public fishing, while the farm offers fish feeding. The waterwheel and waterfall add distinctive landscape features to Mill Pond.
Lighthouse and Railroad History
Sturgeon Point Lighthouse was built in 1869 to warn boaters of a reef that extends 1.5 miles into the lake from Sturgeon Point. Its tower is 70 feet tall, and the lighthouse is equipped with a Paris-made third-order Fresnel lens. The construction date, warning function and optics offer different starting points for exploring the building’s history and design.
Lincoln Train Depot was built in 1886 by the Detroit, Bay City and Alpena Railroad. Together with the lighthouse, it offers a different historical point of reference: here the focus is on railroad construction, while the lighthouse served to warn boaters of a reef.
Events and Finding a Hotel
The Alcona County Fairgrounds host the Alcona County Fair and are also known as the Alcona Recreation Area (ARA). The Sunrise Side Wine and Food Festival takes place every July. Various activities and the Harrisville Summer Concert Series may take place at the Harbor Pavilion in summer. If you want an event to determine your travel dates, check the dates for your intended travel year, especially for seasonal programs.
Then tailor your search to the destinations you actually want to visit, and check the location and availability of any specific accommodation. This keeps your hotel choice aligned with your travel plans without assuming a fixed tour.
More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Hubbard Lake, Cheboygan County, Menominee County, Ottawa, Iosco County, Lake County, Gratiot County, Genesee.
Go to the main travel overview: Michigan.
