In the Village of Roscommon, options for staying active range from a paved pump track to a path along the northern edge of the village. There is also a nature preserve, insights into the history of the Great AuSable River, and unique collections. Roscommon thus offers different options for planning your trip, from outdoor activities to culture and model trains.
Get active on different paths
The Roscommon Area Community Park and Pump Track is located in the Village of Roscommon. Its paved pump track covers 21,000 square feet and is designed for bicycles, scooters, skateboards and wheelchairs. The on-site Bike Library lends bicycles and helmets to park visitors. Its size and facilities make the pump track a different kind of activity option from the surrounding paths: the focus here is a paved facility designed for several of the listed types of equipment.
The Tisdale Pathway is eight miles long and runs along the northern edge of the Village of Roscommon. This length describes a path, while the pump track’s size describes a facility. This lets you choose between two different forms of activity without equating the path’s length with a walking or cycling time that has not been specified.
Nature in the preserve and by the lake
The Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve is a public wildlife preserve on the former estate of Marguerite Gahagan. The main trail is wheelchair-accessible and passes an information kiosk on the way to Marguerite’s cabin, a picnic area and an outdoor restroom. The preserve has 2.5 miles of maintained trails; cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are available there in winter. The main trail and its listed destinations, along with the seasonal winter activities, offer different ways to navigate the area.
The nearby South Higgins Lake State Park is another natural area to visit. The park has one mile of shoreline on Higgins Lake, while 5.5 miles of wooded trails run around Marl Lake. These two figures represent different landscape experiences: shoreline on Higgins Lake and woodland trails around Marl Lake.
Cultural heritage and local collections
The AuSable River Center is housed in a historic building constructed in 1936 that served as the Michigan Department of Conservation’s administrative building for almost 40 years. The center presents cultural heritage and artifacts, as well as information about the wildlife and environment of the Great AuSable River. It also displays 32 original oil paintings by George W. Kestenholtz. The exhibits bring together topics related to the river and its environment with a specific art collection; the building’s former administrative role also gives it its own historical connection.
The Roscommon Historic Model Train Club displays model trains in N, HO, S, O and G scales. A separate 1.5-inch-gauge garden railway offers rides to children on Saturdays in summer. As this activity is seasonal, confirm specific dates locally. The garden railway adds rides for children to the models in the different scales, but only during the stated period.
On the water
Campbell's Canoe Livery in Roscommon rents canoes, kayaks and tubes for use on the South Branch of the AuSable River. The options range from boats to tubes; all three rental options are for use on the named river.
Discover more destinations: Roscommon Township.
Return to the main travel overview: Roscommon County.
