Hiawatha National Forest
Work Outdoors This Summer- Hiring Starts Soon!
Hiring starts February 20, 2026, at USAJOBS.Join the Forest Service for the 2026 recreation season. We’re hiring up to 2,000 seasonal employees nationwide in recreation, natural resources, visitor services, and more. Build skills, gain experience, and explore careers in public land…
Temporary Area Closure for Big Pines Picnic Area
The Big Pines Picnic Area will be temporarily closed due to timber harvest. Activities in the area may include logging trucks and other equipment. For your safety, please stay alert while in the vicinity and choose another location for recreation. Other locations for accessing the beach for…
Hiawatha National Forest Seeks Public input on Grand Island Visitor Use Management Project
The Hiawatha National Forest is seeking input on the development of a management plan for the Grand Island National Recreation Area.Two public meetings will be held, one each on May 12 and 14 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Alger Parks and Recreation building at 413 Maple Street in Munising, MI. All…
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…
Restricting Public Entry to Stonington Quarry
Persons with a valid permit; Federal, State, or Local members of rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of official duties; Forest Service employees conducting surveys or monitoring and as approved by the Forest Supervisor.Protection of objects and areas that are of significant…
Haymeadow Trail and Bridge Closed
The Haymeadow Creek Hiking Trail Bridge is closed until it can be repaired or replaced. -- Located on the hiking loop near Haymeadow Creek Dispersed Campsites, the bridge failed an inspection due to significant rot. We will update this notice as repairs are implemented. (4/2018),(4/2021).The…
Small Craft Advisory issued March 2 at 3:09PM EST until March 2 at 10:00PM EST by NWS Marquette MI
* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and waves 1 to 2 ft occurring. * WHERE...Munising to Grand Marais MI and Grand Marais to Whitefish Point MI. * WHEN...Until 10 PM EST this evening. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Small Craft Advisory issued March 2 at 3:09PM EST until March 2 at 5:00PM EST by NWS Marquette MI
* WHAT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt and waves around 0 foot occurring. * WHERE...Manitou Island to Point Isabelle MI, Point Isabelle to Lower Entrance of Portage Canal MI, Lower Entrance of Portage Canal To Huron Islands MI Including Keweenaw and Huron Bays, Huron Islands to Marquette MI and Marquette to Munising MI. * WHEN...Until 5 PM EST this afternoon. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Overview
Hiawatha National Forest spans nearly 900,000 acres across Michigan's Upper Peninsula, uniquely positioned along three Great Lakes (Superior, Huron, and Michigan). The forest is currently open and fully operational for recreation. Current alerts include: Big Pines Picnic Area temporarily closed for timber harvest operations (as of October 2025), Haymeadow Creek Hiking Trail Bridge closed since 2017 due to structural issues (significant rot), and public entry restricted at Stonington Quarry. The forest is actively seeking public input on a management plan for the Grand Island National Recreation Area. The forest offers 19 developed campgrounds, 2 cabins for rent, 6 historic lighthouses, 6 designated Wild and Scenic Rivers, 3 islands, and hundreds of miles of trails including the North Country National Scenic Trail. The forest features both Eastside and Westside units separated geographically. Fee-free days are available throughout the year on major holidays. Visitors should be aware of Forest Supervisor's Orders regarding occupancy and use restrictions. With 100 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, the forest offers extensive water-based recreation including sea kayaking, canoeing, and fishing across 75+ lakes and 600 miles of streams.
Top Campgrounds
- Au Train Lake Campground
- Bay Furnace Campground
- Bay View
- Bermuda Campsite On Grand Island
- Brevoort Lake Campground
- Carp River Campground
- Channel Marker Campsite On Grand Island
- Colwell Lake Campground
- Driftwood Campsite On Grand Island
- Duck Lake Campsite On Grand Island
- Freighter View Campsite On Grand Island
- Game Fence Campsite On Grand Island
- Grand Island Cabins
- Grand Island Thumb Area Facilities
- Gull Point Campsite On Grand Island
- Hardwood Campsite On Grand Island
- Hemlock Campsite On Grand Island
- Juniper Flats Campsite On Grand Island
- Lake Michigan At St. Ignace
- Little Duck Campsite On Grand Island
- Loon Call Campsite On Grand Island
- Monocle Lake
- Murray Bay Group Campsite On Grand Islan
- Preservation Point Campsite On Grand Is
- Roads End Campsite On Grand Island
- Shelter Ridge Campsite On Grand Island
- Soldier Lake
- Three Lakes
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