Grayling Visitor's Bureau

Official site for tourism information for the Grayling, Michigan area

Grayling, MI
Mon, February 6, 2023, 8:42 AM
 

Cloudy
19°F
real feel: 16°F
current pressure: 30 in
humidity: 85%
wind speed: 4 mph NE
wind gusts: 4 mph
UV-Index: 0
sunrise: 7:52 AM
sunset: 5:55 PM
© 2023 AccuWeather, Inc.
 
Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on FlickrFollow Us on YouTube
  • Home
  • Videos
  • News
    • Area Events
    • Arts
    • News
    • Races
    • River Related
    • Skiing
    • Snowmobiling
  • Links
  • How To Get Here
    • Crawford County Air Terminal
    • Historic Old U.S. 27
  • Contact Us
    • Mailing Lists
  • Special Places to Visit
    • The Arts
      • Murals
        • Post Office Mural
    • Fish Hatchery
    • Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling MI
      • Wedding/Chapel use
    • Historical Sites
      • Crawford County Historical Museum
      • Lovells Historical Society
      • W.J. Beal Tree Planting
      • Camp Grayling
    • Wellington Farm, USA
  • Things to Do
    • Birdwatching
    • Boating and Swimming
    • Canoeing & Kayaking
    • Disc Golf Courses
    • Downhill Skiing
    • Fall Color Tours
    • Fishing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Fishing Services
      • Fly Fishing
      • Lake Fishing
    • Geocaching
    • Golfing
    • Hunting
    • Morels-Morels-Morels
    • Motorcycle Friendly
    • Playgrounds
    • Skate Park
  • Events
  • Where to Sleep, Eat & Shop
    • Lodging
      • B&B/Specialty Accommodations
      • Cabins
      • Hotels
        • Ramada Inn
      • Motels
    • Wi-Fi/Computer Access
    • Restaurants
    • Night Life
    • Shopping
    • Camping
    • Churches
  • Trails
    • Biking
    • Cross Country Skiing
    • Hiking
    • Horse Trails
    • ORV
    • Skijoring
    • Snowmobiling
    • Winter Hiking, Ski Walking and Snowshoeing
  • Rivers & Lakes
You are here: Home / Special Places to Visit in Grayling MI / Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling MI

Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling MI

Hartwick Pines Challenge Trail Run
Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling MI – With nearly 10,000 acres, Hartwick Pines State Park is the largest state park in the lower peninsula and the fifth largest park in the entire state. The “Pines” is the location of the Michigan Forest Visitors Center, the official state interpretive center of the Michigan forest industry, from the rustic logging era of the late 1800s, to the modern high-tech forest product industries of today. A Recreation Passport is necessary to enter the park.

Enjoy a Visitors Center, paved and unpaved hiking trails, mountain biking trails, old-time logging camp and chapel and learn about part of Michigan’s forests and history.

Michigan’s Forest…its past, present and future, is the theme of the 1,500 square foot exhibit hall. Visitors find hands-on exhibits, dioramas and the talking “Living Tree”. Interpreted is the natural origin of the Michigan forest, the lumber era, forest products of yesterday and today and the development of forest management.
Within the Visitor Center is a 105 seat auditorium featuring a nine-projector multi-image slide program, “The Forest, Michigan’s Renewable Resource”. The 14 minute show orients visitors to the story of Forest Management from the logging era to the present. The Auditorium also hosts a variety of programs, videos and special presentations. Groups will find space for meetings and education opportunities in the conference style classroom. This room features a TV/VCR unit and a whiteboard. Seating capacity is approximately 35. The room is available by reservation. The Michigan Forest Visitor Center is open all year.

Visitors Center
Visitors Center

The principal feature of the park is the forest of old growth white pines. At one time totaling 85 acres, storm damage and age have reduced the mature forest to some 49 acres. Stretching skyward for 120 feet and more, the giant pines are the only remnants of what Michigan looked like before the arrival of men with axes.

By the 1860s the forests in the Eastern part of the country had been depleted, and Michigan became a source of supply. By 1869 the state had become the largest lumber producer in the country, and maintained that distinction until the turn of the century. Vast quantities of white pine went to re-build Chicago after the great fire, and to build the towns and villages popping up along the railroads in the treeless great plains.

Each year more than 250,000 visitors stroll through the pines, marveling at trees here before the Revolutionary War. Foot trails wind through the old growth forest area, with guided interpretive hikes and evening programs available from professional park interpreters. The park abounds in a multitude of ecosystems in addition to mature and immature pine forests, including lakes, streams, swamps and hardwood hills, which support thousands of bird, animal and plant species.

A replica old time logging camp shows how thousands of men lived and worked in the forests a century ago. During several weekends in the warm months the camp comes alive when the steam engine from the working sawmill is fired up to cut lumber. During these times men and women skilled in the old crafts, such as blacksmithing and carving, settle in as a living exhibit.

The Hartwick Pines Chapel, a favorite wedding place in the heart of the forest, is a secluded spot for a few minutes of peace and serenity. A brochure leads visitors on a self guided, one hour tour along the paved, handicapped-accessible Old Growth Forest Foot Trail. Several other hiking trails are available and Cross Country skiers and Mountain Bike enthusiasts share miles of rolling wilderness terrain in their own season.

Campers can enjoy a 100 site campground, including 36 full hook-up modern facilities. For those who want to stay, but not camp, a secluded Rustic Cabin, with sleeping capacity for six is available by reservation. Also in the park is a day use area, which provides a picnic area, playground and covered shelter. For reservations call 800-44PARKS.

Fishing is allowed along the East Branch of the AuSable River and from handicapped accessible piers at Bright and Glory Lakes. Outside the old growth forests and developed areas, the park is open to hunting during established seasons.

Bright Lake
Bright Lake

Established in the 20s, the park was donated to the state by Karen Hartwick in memory of her husband Edward E. Hartwick, a lumberman who was killed in World War I.

School groups can make a reservation for a guided experience by calling [989] 348-2537. For information write: Michigan Forest Visitor Center, Hartwick Pines State Park, Route 3, Box 3840, Grayling, Michigan 49738.

Volunteers from the Friends of Hartwick Pines State Park help at special events and sponsor several Summer festivals. The group is a non-profit organization, committed to the preservation of Michigan’s rich logging history. The Friends group also operates a bookstore at the Visitor Center. It features reference books, field guides, stationery, children’s items, and a variety of merchandise related to logging and Michigan’s natural history.

Big Wheel
Snow roller
Next to the Logging Museum
Chapel
Chapel
Paved walking trail
Logging Museum
An Evening in the Logging Camp
Logging Museum
Paved walking trail
Black Iron Days
Black Iron Days
Woodshaving Days 2022
Woodshaving Days
Chapel Interior
steam engine
irons
Chapel
Hartwick Pines State Park Chapel in the Woods
Hartwick Pines State Park Chapel in the Woods
Chapel
kids sawing during Forest Fest
Logging Museum Cook Shanty

 

 

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Snowmobile Trail Conditions

For up-to-date snowmobile trail conditions, please visit the AuSable Valley Snowmobile Association Trail Conditions page >>

News Topics

  • Area Events
  • Arts
  • Hiking
  • News
  • Races
  • River Related
  • Skiing
  • Snowmobiling

Events Calendar

Loading view.
  • February 2023

Calendar of Events

S Sun

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

0 events, 29

0 events, 30

0 events, 31

0 events, 1

0 events, 2

0 events, 3

1 event, 4

2023-02-04

BlizzardFest

BlizzardFest

February 4 - February 5

BlizzardFest

Location: Hanson Hills   More details TBD

1 event, 5

2023-02-04

BlizzardFest

BlizzardFest

0 events, 6

0 events, 7

0 events, 8

0 events, 9

0 events, 10

0 events, 11

0 events, 12

0 events, 13

0 events, 14

0 events, 15

0 events, 16

0 events, 17

0 events, 18

0 events, 19

0 events, 20

0 events, 21

0 events, 22

0 events, 23

0 events, 24

0 events, 25

0 events, 26

0 events, 27

0 events, 28

0 events, 1

0 events, 2

0 events, 3

0 events, 4

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
February 4
All day

BlizzardFest

February 4
All day

BlizzardFest

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
View Calendar

Tags

animals ARCM art arts barn car show classic cow craft craft show cross country family family friendly fish fishing fun grayling hanson hills hartwick pines state park Historic homemade july labor day nordic pig race races river river festival sale shopping ski skiing snowmobile snowmobiling summer tipuptown tractor truck vintage weekend event wellington farm park winter winter event woodshaving days

RSS Feeds

  • Area Events Feed for all posts filed under Area Events
  • Arts Feed for all posts filed under Arts
  • Hiking Feed for all posts filed under Hiking
  • News Feed for all posts filed under News
  • Races Feed for all posts filed under Races
  • River Related Feed for all posts filed under River Related
  • Skiing Feed for all posts filed under Skiing
  • Snowmobiling Feed for all posts filed under Snowmobiling
      • Special Places to Visit
      • Things to Do
      • Events
      • Where to Sleep, Eat & Shop
      • Trails
      • Rivers & Lakes
      • Links
      • How To Get Here
      • Contact Us

      Copyright © 2023 Grayling Visitor’s Bureau

      Designed & Powered by Ponder Consulting ®

      We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok