The Huron–Manistee National Forests are two separate

national forest National Forest may refer to: * National forest or state forest, a forest administered or protected by a sovereign state ** National forest (Brazil) ** National forest (France) ** National forest (United States) ** State Forests (Poland) ** The N ...

s, the

Huron National Forest The Huron National Forest is a United States National Forest, National Forest in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It was established in 1909 after the logging era began to decline. In 1945, it was administratively combined with the Manistee Nati ...

and the

Manistee National Forest The Manistee National Forest is a national forest located in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It has a total area of . It was established in 1938, and combined with the Huron National Forest in 1945 for administrative purposes, creating the Huro ...

, combined in 1945 for administration purposes and which comprise of public lands, including of

wetland A wetland is a distinct semi-aquatic ecosystem whose groundcovers are flooded or saturated in water, either permanently, for years or decades, or only seasonally. Flooding results in oxygen-poor ( anoxic) processes taking place, especially ...

s, extending across the northern

lower peninsula of Michigan The Lower Peninsula of Michigan – also known as Lower Michigan – is the larger, southern and less elevated of the Geography of Michigan, two major landmasses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan; the other being the Upper Peninsula of Mic ...

. The Huron–Manistee National Forests provide many benefits to the public, including clean air and water, recreational opportunities for visitors, habitat for fish and wildlife, and resources for local industry such as timber, minerals, and energy production. The Huron-Manistee National Forest is organized into four separate divisions. The Baldwin/White Cloud District is situated in the central region of the forest. The Manistee/Cadillac District lies in the northwest portion of the forest. The Huron and Tawas/Harrisville District is located on the eastern edge of the forest. The Milo District is positioned in the southern section of the Huron-Manistee National Forest. The headquarters for the forests is in

Cadillac, Michigan Cadillac ( ) is a city in and county seat of Wexford County, Michigan, Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,371 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the second most-populated city in the Northe ...

History

The Huron National Forest was established in 1909 and the Manistee National Forest in 1938. In 1945, they were administratively combined, although they are not adjacent. Huron has about 44.8% of the combined area, whereas the larger Manistee has about 55.2%. The Huron National Forest is prone to frequent seasonal forest fires, due to ecological and geological factors including the domination of the

jack pine Jack pine (''Pinus banksiana''), also known as grey pine or scrub pine, is a North American pine. Distribution and habitat Its native range in Canada is east of the Rocky Mountains from the Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories t ...

in sections of the forests, the needles of which are extremely flammable, sandy soil composition as a result of glacial

outwash plain An outwash plain, also called a sandur (plural: ''sandurs''), sandr or sandar, is a plain formed of glaciofluvial deposits due to meltwater outwash at the glacier terminus, terminus of a glacier. As it flows, the glacier grinds the underlying r ...

geology of sections of the Huron National Forest, and

barrens management practices to create nesting habitat for the

Kirtland's warbler Kirtland's warbler (''Setophaga kirtlandii''), also known in Michigan by the common name jack pine bird, or the jack pine warbler, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family (biology), family (Parulidae). Nearly Extinction, extinct just ...

resulting in dense, young stands of

that are extremely susceptible to crowning wildfires. In 2010, the Meridian Boundary Fire burned over in and near the Huron District of the Huron National Forest. The fire destroyed 13 homes, damaged two others, and destroyed or damaged 46 outbuildings.

Features

The Huron–Manistee National Forests boast an extensive network of waterways, with over 1,800 miles of rivers and 17,000 acres of lakes. The natural features within these waterways create diverse fish and wildlife habitats while offering many outdoor recreational opportunities. The Huron-Manistee National Forest is home to eight substantial river basins: the

Pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. ''World Flora Online'' accepts 134 species-rank taxa (119 species and 15 nothospecies) of pines as cu ...

, Manistee, Little Manistee, Pentwater, Big Sable, Pere Marquette,

Muskegon Muskegon ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Muskegon County, Michigan, United States. Situated around a harbor of Lake Michigan, Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, and boating. It is the most populous city along Lake Michigan' ...

, and White Rivers. The nationally known Pere Marquette and Au Sable Rivers offer quality

canoeing Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. In some parts of Europe, canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking, with a canoe being called an 'open canoe' or Canadian. A few of the recreational ...

and

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment (Freshwater ecosystem, freshwater or Marine ecosystem, marine), but may also be caught from Fish stocking, stocked Body of water, ...

. Additionally, over of trails are available for hiking. The Huron-Manistee National Forests offer a vast range of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing. Visitors also enjoy picnicking, canoeing, snowmobiling, scenic drives, off-road vehicle adventures, and harvesting natural resources. The Huron–Manistee National Forest features numerous developed spaces for outdoor enjoyment, including campgrounds, picnic areas, scenic observation spots, visitor centers, and various facilities designed to enhance outdoor experiences. The Huron–Manistee National Forests are an attraction to many campers. Most developed campgrounds offer amenities such as restrooms, fire rings, and picnic tables. These sites often require a reservation and typically have a fee for use. Tent camping in the forest, whether dispersed or primitive, is generally permitted in most areas unless specific restrictions are in place. Additionally, no fees are required for dispersed camping. A wood permit is required to cut firewood. The

portion is located in northwest lower Michigan. It has varying but largely sandy terrain covered with trees. There are numerous lakes and frontage on

Lake Michigan Lake Michigan ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and depth () after Lake Superior and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the ...

. The area is popular for fishing,

camping Camping is a form of outdoor recreation or outdoor education involving overnight stays with a basic temporary shelter such as a tent. Camping can also include a recreational vehicle, sheltered cabins, a permanent tent, a shelter such as a Bivy bag ...

boating Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, suc ...

snowmobiling A snowmobile, also known as a snowmachine (chiefly Alaskan), motor sled (chiefly Canadian), motor sledge, skimobile, snow scooter, or simply a sled is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. Their engines normally ...

cross-country skiing Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing whereby skiers traverse snow-covered terrain without use of ski lifts or other assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreational activity; however, some still use it as a m ...

and

hunting Hunting is the Human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products (fur/hide (sk ...

. The

North Country Trail The North Country Trail (NCT, officially designated the North Country National Scenic Trail) is a long-distance hiking trail in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern and Northeastern United States, Northeastern United States. The trail exten ...

passes through it. It has a total area of . In descending order of land area it lies in parts of

Lake A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...

, Newaygo,

Wexford Wexford ( ; archaic Yola dialect, Yola: ''Weiseforthe'') is the county town of County Wexford, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the ...

, Manistee, Mason, Oceana,

, Mecosta, and Montcalm counties. There are local ranger district offices located in

Baldwin Baldwin may refer to: People * Baldwin (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname Places Canada * Baldwin, York Regional Municipality, Ontario * Baldwin, Ontario, in Sudbury District * Baldwin's Mills, ...

and Wellston at the historic Chittenden Nursery location. The Manistee National Forest is not one continuous mass but is broken by private property and towns. Much of the land had been abandoned by logging companies after being logged off a century ago. The Lumberjack 100, a 100-mile ultra-endurance mountain bike race is held annually within its bounds. The

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness is a listed wilderness area within the Manistee National Forest. It is located north of Ludington, Michigan, and is best known for its 4 miles (6.4 km) of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline. Geology The ...

is a unique feature in the Manistee portion. This relatively small area of , situated on the east shore of Lake Michigan is one of the two designated

wilderness area Wilderness or wildlands (usually in the plural) are Earth's natural environments that have not been significantly modified by human activity, or any nonurbanized land not under extensive agricultural cultivation. The term has traditionally ...

s in Michigan, and one of few in the U.S. with an extensive lake shore

dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, flat ...

s ecosystem. Most of the dunes are 3500 to 4000 years old and some stand about higher than the lake. The Nordhouse Dunes are interspersed with woody vegetation such as juniper, jack pine and hemlock. There are many small water holes and marshes dotting the landscape and dune grass covers many of the dunes. The beach is wide and sandy. There are two trailheads to access Nordhouse Dunes: from the north at the Lake Michigan Recreation Site and from the south off Nurmberg Road. The Huron National Forest portion is in northeast lower Michigan. It has a total area of . It lies in parts of Oscoda, Alcona, Iosco, Crawford, and Ogemaw counties. There are local ranger district offices in Mio and Oscoda. The Huron-Manistee National Forest offers approximately 6,997 miles of primitive scenic roads as well as 3,730 miles of forest system roads designed for off-road motor vehicle use. The Manistee portion of the forest has four separate trail systems designed for off-road recreational activities. The Cedar Creek Motorsport Trail, located near Twin Lake, is a 24-mile (38 km) single-track trail designed for ORV use and runs along Pine Creek with predominantly flat and rolling terrain. The Holton Motorcycle Trail is a 28-mile (45 km) trail located near the village of Holton, which weaves through dense oak-pine forest and is designed for ORV use. The Horseshoe Motorcycle Trail, located near Hesperia is a 32-mile (51 km) trail surrounded by oak forest with an understory of grass and ferns and designed for ORV use. The Michigan Cross-Country Cycle Trail is a 177-mile (284 km) trail located near the village of

, that traverses much of the Manistee Forest through heavily forested areas, rolling hills, open meadows, and grassy understories. The Bull Gap ORV Trail is located in the Huron portion of the forests. It contains of ORV trails. The Huron-Manistee National Forest is home to five federally listed threatened and endangered species, including the

Bald Eagle The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies the same niche ...

Indiana bat The Indiana bat (''Myotis sodalis'') is a medium-sized mouse-eared bat native to North America. It lives primarily in Southern and Midwestern U.S. states and is listed as an endangered species. The Indiana bat is grey, black, or chestnut in colo ...

, Karner blue butterfly, and

Pitcher's thistle ''Cirsium pitcheri'', sometimes called Pitcher's thistle or dune thistle, is a species of thistle native to sand dune shorelines along the upper Great Lakes. It is native to Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario. It is listed by t ...

. The threatened

nests in the area, and tours are available, subject to time restrictions.Tours, Huron–Manistee National Forest

References

External links

History

Features

See also

References

External links