dv enture Guide to Michigan Kevin & Laurie Hillstrom HUNTER Hunter Publishing, Inc. 130 Campus Drive, Edison NJ 08818 (732) 225 1900, (800) 255 0343, Fax (732) 417 0482 e-mail: About the Authors Kevin Hillstrom and Laurie Collier Hillstrom have backpacked or paddled throughout the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michi- gan, their long-time home. In addition, their adventure travels have taken them to some of North America’s most spectacular wilderness areas, including Alaska’s Gates of the Arctic and Lake Clark National Park, Arizona’s Grand Canyon, the Canadian Rockies, Olympic National Park, and various other destinations throughout the Pacific Northwest and High Southwest. The Hillstroms are also partners in Northern Lights Writers Group, an editorial services firm. They are the authors of several books, including the award-winning Biography Today, Environ- mental Leaders and The Vietnam Experience: A Concise Encyclo- pedia of American Literature, Songs, and Films. Acknowledgments During the course of writing this book, we drew upon the knowl- edge and experience of a wide range of people, including an array of outfitters, dive shop and canoe livery operators, and bike shop owners; rangers and other staffers who protect Michigan’s parks and forests; and a wide circle of friends who share our enthusiasm for exploring the state’s rivers, lakes, and woodlands. We thank all of these folks for their help. www.hunterpublishing.com Our Web site features an in-depth sysnopsis of each Hunter travel guide (we have several hundred different titles), including the lat- est arrivals hot off the press! Comments from book reviewers are quoted, along with price, page count, ISBN and even an author profile. Quick-loading cover images show you every title. Secure online ordering is available with payment by credit card or check. Commercial customers may also use the Web site to place their orders. Contents Introduction 12 History 12 Geography/Land 19 Climate 21 Flora & Fauna 22 Government/Economy 22 People/Culture 24 Travel Information 26 When to Go 26 Costs 26 Transportation 27 Special Concerns 28 Important Phone Numbers 30 How to Use This Book 30 Southern Lower Michigan 31 Huron-Clinton Metroparks 33 Getting There 34 History 34 Flora & Fauna 35 On Foot 36 On Wheels 36 On Water 37 On Snow 39 Camping & Accommodations 39 Warren Dunes State Park 40 Getting There 41 History 41 Flora & Fauna 42 In The Air 43 On Foot 44 On Snow 44 Camping & Accommodations 44 Waterloo-Pinckney Recreation Areas 45 Getting There 45 History 47 Flora & Fauna 47 On Foot 49 On Wheels 50 On Water 51 v n Contents On Horseback 52 On Snow 53 Camping & Accommodations 53 Adventures Region-Wide 54 On Horseback 54 On Water 56 On Wheels 77 On Snow 84 Where To Sleep 91 Southwest Michigan 91 Southcentral Michigan 93 Southeast Michigan 95 Where To Eat 97 Ann Arbor 97 Detroit 98 Flint 100 Grand Rapids 100 Holland 100 Kalamazoo 101 Lansing 101 Port Huron 102 Saginaw/Bay City 102 Northern Lower Michigan 105 Huron National Forest 105 Getting There 107 History 107 Flora & Fauna 108 On Foot 109 On Wheels 110 On Water 111 On Snow 115 Camping & Accommodations 117 Manistee National Forest 117 Getting There 118 History 118 Flora & Fauna 119 On Foot 119 On Wheels 121 On Water 122 On Snow 127 Camping & Accommodations 129 Pigeon River Country State Forest 131 Getting There 131 Contents n vi History 131 Flora & Fauna 133 On Foot 133 On Wheels 135 On Water 135 On Snow 138 Camping & Accommodations 139 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 139 Getting There 140 History 142 Flora & Fauna 144 In The Air 145 On Foot 145 On Water 149 On Snow 151 Camping & Other Accommodations 151 Thunder Bay Underwater Preserve 152 Getting There 153 History 154 On Water 156 Adventures Region-Wide 160 On Foot 160 On Wheels 166 On Water 179 On Snow 198 Where To Sleep 209 Northwest Michigan 210 Northeast Michigan 210 Where To Eat 211 Alpena 211 Cadillac 212 Charlevoix/Petoskey/Harbor Springs 212 Cheboygan 213 East Tawas/Tawas City 213 Frankfort 213 Gaylord 214 Grayling 214 Midland/Mt. Pleasant 214 Traverse City 215 The Upper Peninsula 219 Hiawatha National Forest 219 Getting There 220 History 220 vii n Contents Flora & Fauna 221 On Foot 221 On Wheels 223 On Water 224 On Snow 226 On Grand Island 228 Camping & Accommodations 231 Isle Royale National Park 232 Getting There 233 History 236 Flora & Fauna 236 On Foot 238 On Water 239 Camping & Accommodations 245 Mackinac Island State Park 247 Getting There 247 History 249 Flora & Fauna 250 On Foot 252 On Wheels 253 On Water 254 Camping & Accommodations 255 Ottawa National Forest 256 Getting There 258 History 258 Flora & Fauna 258 On Foot 259 On Wheels 260 On Water 261 On Snow 264 Camping & Accommodations 265 Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 267 Getting There 267 History 268 Flora & Fauna 268 On Foot 270 On Water 272 On Snow 274 Camping & Accommodations 274 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park 275 Getting There 275 History 277 Flora & Fauna 277 On Foot 278 Contents n viii On Wheels 279 On Water 280 On Snow 280 Camping & Accommodations 282 Tahquamenon Falls State Park 283 Getting There 285 History 286 Flora & Fauna 286 On Foot 286 On Water 287 On Snow 288 Camping & Accommodations 288 Adventures Region-Wide 290 On Foot 290 On Wheels 293 On Water 296 On Snow 320 Where To Sleep 332 Western Upper Peninsula 332 Eastern Upper Peninsula 333 Where To Eat 334 Western Upper Peninsula 334 Central Upper Peninsula 335 Eastern Upper Peninsula 336 Appendix 337 Hunting in Michigan 337 Michigan State Parks 339 Major Festivals & Outdoor Events 344 Outdoor & Conservation Organizations 351 Booklist 353 Index 359 n Maps Huron-Clinton Metroparks 32 Warren Dunes State Park 42 Waterloo Recreation Area 46 Pinkney Recreation Area 48 Waterloo-Pinckney 49 Potawatomi Trail 51 South Michigan Rivers 56 ix n Maps Huron River 59-60 Thumb Area Preserve 70 Kai-Haven Trail Sesquicentennial Park 82 Grand Rapids 92 Lansing 94 Detroit 96 Lower Peninsula National Forests 106 Au Sable River & South Branch 112 Pere Marquette River 123 High Country Pathway 134 Pigeon River 136 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 141 South Manitou Island 146 North Manitou Island 147 Thunder Bay Underwater Preserve 153 Shore-to-Shore Riding-Hiking Trail 161 VASA Trail 168 Northern Michigan Rivers 180 Straits of Mackinac Preserve 190 Traverse City 215 Lower Peninsula Highway System 217 Upper Peninsula Highway System 218 Bay de Noc - Grand Island Trail 222 Big Island Lake Wilderness 225 Grand Island Trails 229 Isle Royale National Park 234 Mackinac Island State Park 251 Ottawa National Forest 257 Presque Isle River 263 Pictured Rocks National Seashore 269 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park 276 Tahquamenon Falls State Park 284 Upper Peninsula Rivers 297 Manistique River 301 Whitefish Point Preserve 314 Upper Peninsula State Parks 338 Lower Peninsula State Parks 340