Outdoor Safety

Remember to consider outdoor safety as you plan your trip to the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Please review these important outdoor safety tips.

Maps and Navigation:

  • Print maps. Order Hiawatha National Forest maps online or call any Forest Service office to purchase a map during office hours. 
  • Downloadable maps. Download the current Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for free and learn which Forest roads and trails are open to your type of motorized vehicle use.
  • Offline navigation. Use the MVUM maps in the free Avenza Maps® app.

Weather on the Hiawatha National Forest

Weather presented through USDA Forest Service sites is public domain and derived from data from the National Weather Service. The Forest Service is not responsible for the accuracy of this data.

Is there Fire Danger on the Hiawatha National Forest?

Burn Permits

If you are seeking a burn permit you must check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Burn Permit website for conditions and to obtain a burning permit. Please purchase or gather firewood locally to reduce the spread of invasive species.

Emergency Contacts

If you have an emergency on the Hiawatha National Forest, the best thing to do is call 911 and they will dispatch the nearest help.

Visiting the Hiawatha National Forest

Weather, trail, and road conditions can be highly dynamic and may change with little or no warning. Other changes in both natural and management conditions may also affect your visit. Some conditions to be alert for:

  • High winds and down trees
  • Trees blocking roads and trails
  • Hanging branches
  • High water levels
  • Flooding on trails and roads

The Forest Service cannot foresee or control most of these changes, but we do our best to make this information available to help visitors avoid unpleasant surprises. It is your responsibility to know before you go. So, before your trip, check the weather, learn about trail and road conditions, and check for important notices.

Closures


Conditions

Fire Danger Ratings

Fire Danger - extreme

Fire Danger Ratings help firefighters describe the risk of wildfire based on the current environmental conditions. Here's what those ratings mean.

Biting Insects

Michigan's Upper Peninsula plays host to a wide variety of wildlife species ... including mosquitoes, black flies, deer flies, horse flies and stable flies!  Come prepared and you'll make your stay more enjoyable!


Public Notices

Forest Supervisor's Orders

As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors.

These rules are available to you on-line below or at any office of the Hiawatha National Forest. Please take time to read and understand them. If you have additional questions please call your local Forest Service Office for clarification.

Keep Safe: Marijuana Grow Sites and Meth Labs

Your safety is important. Illegal drug operations damage natural resources and threaten public safety. Forest Service law enforcement and investigations officers work with federal, state and locat partners to address illegal drug operations on National Forest System lands.  For more information about these efforts, click the headline and read on ...


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