Nineteen information panels make the Forest Heritage Trail a gateway to Crawford County’s forest history. They explain the significance of the Au Sable River, the role of logging in the founding of Grayling and the development of forestry. The trail connects three forest heritage sites in the county. The river, the town’s development and forestry are thus linked by a common theme.
Forest History on Trails and in the Museum
Hartwick Pines State Park has a total of 21 miles of hiking trails. One clearly defined individual trail is the Old Growth Forest Trail: it is 1.25 miles long, paved and accessible. This lets you distinguish the park’s wider trail network from a trail with its own specific length and accessibility features. The park is named after a 49-acre old-growth pine forest, one of the last remaining stands of its kind in the state.
The Hartwick Pines Logging Museum showcases Michigan’s 19th-century logging era. Reconstructed buildings from an 1890s logging camp give this subject a tangible historical setting; the museum is accessible. While the panels along the Forest Heritage Trail cover several aspects of forest history, logging takes center stage here. You can therefore explore forestry history in different ways: through regional connections in one place, and through the reconstructed camp buildings and the era presented by the museum in another.
Rivers, Lakes and Canoeing
In the Grayling area, the Au Sable River and its tributaries offer opportunities to fish for brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout. Higgins Lake borders Crawford County to the south and is considered one of the state’s best inland fisheries. North Higgins Lake State Park has a designated swimming beach. Since park offerings may change, check the latest park information before your visit.
The Au Sable River Canoe Marathon covers a 120-mile course from Grayling to Oscoda. At the start, paddlers carry their canoes and run several hundred yards through downtown Grayling. Comparing the long river course with this opening run shows two different aspects of the race format: the distance between the endpoints and carrying the canoes at the start. If you’re interested in canoeing, this combination of course and starting format gives you a concrete sense of the event.
A Closer Look at History and Landscape
Wellington Farm, USA is a 60-acre open-air museum. Visitors can experience rural life in the Midwest during the Great Depression. Its historical focus differs from that of the Hartwick Pines Logging Museum: here, the focus is on everyday life in a different region and era, while the other museum explores Michigan’s 19th-century logging era. Wellington Farm Park also offers environmental education about the importance of protecting land, water, forests and natural resources. Alongside the historical themes, this brings the stewardship of the landscape and its resources into focus.
More Named Routes
The Iron Belle Trail runs through North Higgins Lake State Park and along Old U.S. 27. The 10.2-mile Grayling Bicycle Turnpike, also known as the Wayne C. Koppa Trail, has a starting or ending point at the entrance to Hartwick Pines State Park. Its route passes through downtown Grayling, crosses the Au Sable River and continues to the Hanson Hills Recreation Area. These route descriptions identify different landmarks: the Iron Belle Trail is described by its park and road, while the Grayling Bicycle Turnpike is also given a length and several points along its route.
Discover more destinations: Grayling, Roberts County, Wexford County, Berrien, Mason County, Houghton, Gratiot County, Midland County.
For the broader travel overview: Michigan.
