Grayling combines old pines with logging history and the starting point of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon. When looking for a hotel in Grayling, it helps to first decide what brings you here: nature, historical interpretation, or a summer event. There is also a fishing pond where visitors up to and including age 16 can fish for free, as well as a public launch site for canoes and kayaks. The attractions range from forest and museum to sporting event and activities on the water.
Old Pines and Logging History
Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling is named for its stand of old pines, which covers 49 acres.
The Hartwick Pines Logging Museum is a distinct cultural attraction. It portrays Michigan’s 19th-century logging era. Its two museum buildings recreate original logging camp structures from the 1890s. This brings together a portrayal of a broad historical era and the specific form of a camp: the museum conveys the wider context, while the recreated camp structures illustrate it through the 1890s.
Seasonal Program and Canoe Marathon
In summer, costumed historical interpreters at the Hartwick Pines Logging Museum demonstrate activities from an 1890s logging camp, including cooking, laundry, and camp games. The seasonal program complements the buildings’ portrayal with everyday activities. Since the program schedule may change, check current dates before your visit.
The AuSable River Canoe Marathon is a clearly scheduled event: it takes place annually on the last full weekend in July and starts at 9 p.m. in Grayling. Teams run with their canoes for four blocks to the river. The canoe portage is therefore already part of the described start procedure. Since event dates and details may change, check the organizer’s current information before you travel.
Fishing, Paddling, and Other Historical Connections
Visitors up to and including age 16 can fish for free at the Children’s Fishing Pond at the Grayling Fish Hatchery. Another option for boating activities is the public launch site for canoes and kayaks established by the City of Grayling at 103 S James St. The age restriction matters for fishing; if you are looking for the launch site, the address provides a specific point of reference.
Grayling’s historical connections also include the history of skiing: Hanson Hills opened in 1929 and was the first downhill ski area in Michigan and the second in the Midwest. The Crawford County Historical Museum offers a different glimpse into the past; it is housed in a former railroad depot. These two facts highlight different things: one concerns the early standing of a ski area, the other the building’s former use as a depot.
For the broader travel overview: Crawford County.
