Hiawatha National Forest

Hiawatha National Forest encompasses a total area of about 890,000 acres of land that is in the Eastern upper and Central peninsula of Michigan. Some of the nearby cities and towns to the forest include Escanaba, Munising, Sault Saint Marie Manistique, Rapid River, and Saint Ignace. Several roads can be used to access the forest's facilities including US 2, US 75, US 41, MI 28, MI 94, and MI 1. The forest was established on January 16, 1931, and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. 

The forest is named after a Mohawk chief called Hiawatha, who united a confederation called the Five Nations of the Iroquois. He is also considered a hero. Visitors to Hiawatha National Forest can enjoy several attractive features including access to miles of Lakes Michigan, Lake Superior, and Lakes Huron’s shorelines, over 100 waterfalls, hundreds of miles of rivers and streams and numerous historic lighthouses. 

In total, the area protected under Hiawatha National Forest has a total of about 413 lakes. Furthermore, the forest is also home to several designated wilderness areas including Delirium Wilderness, Round Island Wilderness Big Island Lake Wilderness, Mackinac Wilderness, Rock River Canyon Wilderness, and Horseshoe Bay Wilderness. 

Other attractions include five National Wild and Scenic Rivers including Indian River, Whitefish River Carp River, Tahquamenon River (East Branch), and Sturgeon River. Besides these attractions, the forest is also an excellent place for visitors to enjoy hunting, camping, fishing, boating, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, ORV riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing. 

Amenities in the forest include cabins, 24 campgrounds, visitor center (Point Iroquois), boat launches, group camp, beaches, fishing piers, 17 dispersed campsites, picnic sites, trails (nearly 700 miles), and scenic drives. If you have a dog, you can bring them to enjoy the forest's resources. That said, you have to respect the forests rules and ensure that you always maintain immediate control of your dog.