Hiawatha National Forest is a National Forest located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States. It covers an area of 894,836 acres (362,127 hectares). Commercial logging takes place in some parts of the forest. The United States Forest Service manages this National Forest, which is divided into two subunits known as the Eastside and Westside. The Eastside is near the coordinates 46°14′N 84°50′W, and the Westside is near the coordinates 46°08′N 86°40′W.

Etymology

According to the forest service, it was "named after Hiawatha, a Mohawk chief who helped create the group called the Five Nations of the Iroquois. He was also the hero of Longfellow's poem, 'Hiawatha.'"

Geography

The Hiawatha National Forest covers parts of several counties in order of land area: Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft, and Marquette. Chippewa and Mackinac counties are in the East Unit, while the other counties are in the West Unit. The smaller East Unit makes up about 44% of the forest's total area, and the larger West Unit makes up about 56%. The main office for the forest is in Gladstone, Michigan. Ranger offices for the East Unit are in Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace, while ranger offices for the West Unit are in Manistique, Munising, and Rapid River.

The East Unit was once a large area of sandy soil that was not suitable for farming or settlement. It was named Marquette National Forest by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1909. From 1918 to 1962, this land was managed together with Huron National Forest as the Michigan National Forest. In 1962, it was moved to Hiawatha National Forest. The forest added 307,000 acres (124,200 hectares) in 1925 and 50,000 acres (20,230 hectares) in 1935. The government started buying land for the West Unit in 1928, and this area was named Hiawatha National Forest in 1931. The West Unit was replanted with trees by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The Hiawatha National Forest includes six wilderness areas:
• Big Island Lake Wilderness
• Delirium Wilderness
• Horseshoe Bay Wilderness
• Mackinac Wilderness
• Rock River Canyon Wilderness
• Round Island Wilderness

There are five National Wild and Scenic Rivers in the forest: Carp River, Indian River, Sturgeon River, Tahquamenon River (East Branch), and Whitefish River.

Ecology

This forest is home to many types of wildlife, such as timber wolves, white-tailed deer, golden eagles, black bears, moose, coyotes, bobcats, bald eagles, beavers, red foxes, river otters, Canadian lynxes, hawks, muskrats, weasels, sandhill cranes, minks, cougars, and wild turkeys.

The forest has more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) of shoreline. Each unit has shoreline along Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. The East Unit also has shoreline along Lake Huron and includes Round Island and its lighthouse. The West Unit borders Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which is managed by the National Park Service, and the Grand Island National Recreation Area, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Activities

Several lighthouses are found along the shoreline. The Point Iroquois Light is used as a museum.

Part of the 4,600-mile-long (7,400 km) North Country Trail goes through the forest.

Hiawatha National Forest has many popular areas for camping. Some of the campgrounds include the following:

• AuTrain
• Bay Furnace
• Bay View, a 24-campsite campground located near Brimley on Lake Superior. It offers a quiet beach that many visitors enjoy.
• Brevoort Lake
• Camp 7 Lake
• Carp River, 44 campsites located near the Mackinac Bridge; fishing is possible here.
• Collwell Lake
• Corner Lake
• Flowing Well
• Indian River
• Island Lake
• Lake Michigan: 35 campsites on Lake Michigan located near the Mackinaw Bridge
• Little Bass Lake
• Little Bay De Noc
• Monocle Lake Campground, a 39-site campground located near Brimley near Lake Superior; it is a popular destination for RV camping.
• Petes Lake Campground
• Soldiers Lake Recreation Area
• Three Lakes Campground
• Widewaters Campground