Day Hiking Areas

• East Zone

  The East Unit of the Hiawatha National Forest is located in the east side of the Upper Peninsula, bordering three of the Great Lakes:

  • Lake Superior
  • Lake Michigan
  • Lake Huron

  The eastern portion stretches north from the town of St. Ignace, which lies along Lakes Michigan and Huron, to the shore of Lake Superior west of the city of Sault Ste. Marie.

• North Country National Scenic Trail - East Zone
• Sault Sainte Marie Ranger District

  Sault Ste Marie Ranger district is located on the upper half of the east side of the forest.

• Monocle Lake Campground

  Monocle Lake Campground's location off of Monocle Lake and its proximity to so many recreational opportunities in the Sault Ste. Marie area makes it the perfect home-base as you go adventuring through the Upper Peninsula Michigan. Don't forget to add the Whitefish Bay National Forest Scenic Byway to the list. It runs along Lake Superior all the way to Tahquamenon Falls.  
  
  Monocle Lake offers a quiet, relaxing place to fish, swim, hike, and just enjoy the outdoors while camped along the shores of a lovely inland lake.  You will definitely want to add Monocle Lake to your Upper Michigan Fall color tour! Make a reservation, or view a map of the Monocle Lake Campground.

  Monocle Lake Accessibility

  • Sites have hardened surfaces and tent pads to accommodate accessibility needs.
  • Accessible tables, fire rings, and lantern posts are available at each site.
  • Accessible pressurized water and pit toilets are conveniently spaced throughout the recreation area.
• Monocle Lake Interpretive Trail
• Soldier Lake Campground
• Three Lakes Campground
• Waboose Cross-Country Ski Trail
• Walker Lake Trail
• St. Ignace Ranger District

  The St. Ignace Ranger District is located on the lower half of the east side of the Forest (southeastern portion of the Upper Peninsula). 

• Brevoort Lake Campground
• Carp River Campground
• Fisherman's Hike Trail
• Lake Michigan Campground
• Ridge Interpretive Trail
• Sand Dunes Cross-Country Ski Trail
• Grand Island National Recreation Area

  Bring the family, friends or yourself and check out Grand Island National Recreation Area!

  Grand Island is located in Lake Superior, about one-half mile from the mainland community of Munising, Michigan. Munising is about 43 miles from Marquette and 55 miles from Manistique.

  Grand Island is the perfect place to spend a day or even just a few hours biking, exploring, and appreciating nature. Please be aware that, in keeping with agency interim direction, the non-motorized trails (e.g. all bike trails) are not open to eBikes. The island is an exciting and secluded destination that offers: 

  • Breathtaking overlooks
  • Pristine sandy beaches
  • Fascinating cultural sites
  • Deep hardwoods
  • Inland lakes

  Online maps are available: Grand Island Recreation Area Map.

  How to Reach Grand Island: 

  Visitors can reach the island via passenger ferry or private watercraft. 

  The ferry departs from Grand Island Landing on the mainland, located on M-28 about 2.5 miles west of the Munising's blinking light. Look for the Grand Island National Recreation Area signs.  

  Some campsites are conveniently located for kayakers.

  History of Grand Island: 

  If you're interested in the island's history, check out the Grand Island 25th Anniversary Page (archived).

• Lighthouses

  Take a self-guided tour of our Lighthouses via the Hiawatha's OnCell App!

  Six historic lighthouses stand on Hiawatha’s Great Lakes shorelines, five of which are owned entirely or in part by the Forest Service. “Lighthouse lookers” eagerly seek out views and interaction with Pt. Iroquois, Peninsula Point, Round Island, East Channel (Grand Island), and Christmas Rear Range Light.   The area’s unique maritime history, and the personal accounts of those who ran the lighthouses are interpreted at Pt. Iroquois Lighthouse and museum.

  Automated aids to navigation replaced most of these facilities in the mid 1900’s, leaving these unique pieces of our cultural heritage available for other uses. The Hiawatha seeks to increase access to these treasures, while ensuring they are properly cared for.

  • Christmas/Grand Island West Channel Front and Rear Range Lights
  • Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse
  • Grand Island North Lighthouse
  • Peninsula Point Lighthouse
  • Point Iroquois Lighthouse
  • Round Island Lighthouse
• Point Iroquois Lighthouse

   

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  In 1975, The Point Iroquois Lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

  The Point Iroquois Lightstation stands high above the waters of Lake Superior at the entry to St. Mary's River. It served passing sailors by marking the narrow channel.

  The name Point Iroquois references a battle that took place in 1662 between the local Ojibwa (also known as the Chippewa or Anishinaabeg) and an invading Iroquois war party. The Iroquois had invaded the area in an attempt to gain influence and dominate the fur trade, but the Ojibwa were able to defeat the Iroquois war party, thus halting their westward expansion. According to the Indian agent of scholar, Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, the Ojibwa called Point Iroquois " Nau-do-we-e-gun-ing", which in their native language means "Place of Iroquois Bones."

  In 1620, the first white men to the area were French explorers Brule and Grenoble. From that time, Point Iroquois became a familiar landmark for the French explorers, fur traders and the missionaries who were to follow. Sault Ste. Marie was the first white settlement in what was later to become Michigan.

  The discovery of copper and iron ore in 1844 necessitated a passage for ore-carrying vessels through the rapids of St. Mary's River to the steel plants of the lower Great Lakes. In 1865, the St. Mary's Falls Canal (commonly known as the Soo Locks) was opened. The locks have since become the most heavily used commercial shipping canal in the world.

  The first lighthouse and lightkeepers residence were built in 1855, and the light was exhibited for the first time on September 20, 1857. With the growth of traffic through the locks, the importance of the lightstation increased. In 1870 the wooden tower and residence were replaced with the brick buildings that stand today. The tower is 65 feet high. After 107 years of service, the light at Point Iroquois became history; it was replaced by an automatic light in the channel off Gros Cap, Ontario.

  Climb the spiral staircase to the top of the 65-foot light tower. Observe the beauty of Canada, the lake, and the ocean-going freighters plying the river and Lake Superior as they come and go through the Soo Locks. Visit with the volunteer hosts in the museum to learn more about life as it once was in a lighthouse on Lake Superior.

  Lighthouse Videos

  A Great American Outdoors Act Success Story Spotlight: Point Iroquois Lighthouse Point Iroquois Lighthouse

  Interpretive Programs

  During the summer months, interpretive programs are periodically provided on site to tell the history of the lighthouse and other related topics. Please see the Forest's events webpage for specifics.

  Event/Commercial Permits Policy

  To learn more, visit our Event/Commercial Permits page.

• West Zone

  The West Unit is located in the central of the Upper Peninsula, bordering two of the Great Lakes - Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. The western portion of the Hiawatha extends from the towns of Rapid River and Manistique, along Lake Michigan, to the town of Munising on the Lake Superior shore.  For information about free educational campground programs on these three Ranger Districts, visit the Events page.

• Munising Ranger District

  Munising Ranger District is located on the northern part of the west side of the Hiawatha National Forest. Stop by for up-to-date information and suggestions for your trip.

• Au Train Lake Campground
• Au Train Songbird Trail
• Bay De Noc Grand Island National Recreation Trail
• Bay Furnace Campground
• Bay Furnace Historic Site and Interpretive Trail
• Bruno's Run Trail
• Ewing Point Campsite
• McKeever Hills Cross Country Ski Trail
• North Country National Scenic Trail - West Zone
• Pete's Lake Campground
• Valley Spur Cross Country Ski Trail
• Valley Spur Single Track Mountain Bike Trail
• Widewaters Campground
• Rapid River/ Manistique Ranger District

  Rapid River Ranger district is located on the lower half of the west side of the forest.

• Bayshore and White Pine Trails
• Camp 7 Lake Campground
• Colwell Lake Campground
• Colwell Lake Hiking Trail
• Haymeadow Creek Campsites
• Haymeadow Falls Trail
• Ironjaw Lake Campsites
• Lake Nineteen Campsites
• Maywood History Trail
• Nahma Marsh Trail
• Peninsula Point Interpretive Trail
• Pine Marten Run Trail
• Rapid River National Cross Country Ski Trail
• Swan Lake Campsites
• Triangle Lake Campsite
• Van Winkle Lake Trail