National Forests in Michigan

Manistee, according to the records of early white men in Michigan, is the Indian equivalent of "the spirit of the woods." The Manistee National Forest, in west central Michigan, takes its name from the river which flows through its northern portion and which, in turn, derived its name from the constant murmur of the forest at its headwaters. The forest adjoins the eastern shore of Lake Michigan and covers an area of 1,256,000 acres.

MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST (click on image for a PDF version)

Reforestation

Some of the most extensive pine plantations in the world are on the Manistee National Forest. Since 1933, 75,000 acres have been planted to pine. Growth has been rapid and survival satisfactory.

Plans call for planting 12,000 to 20,000 acres a year until all idle lands of true forest soil are producing a valuable forest crop. It is estimated that nearly one billion trees will be needed for this, and to supply them the Forest Service has established the Chittenden Nursery at Wellston on Highway M—55. This is one of the largest nurseries in the United States and has a capacity of over 50,000,000 trees annually. During the height of the planting season more than a million trees per day are often shipped to the field planting crews.

Reforestation cannot be successful without protection from fire, and the forest supervisor, at Muskegon, and the Manistee rangers, located at White Cloud, Baldwin, Manistee, and Cadillac, ask forest visitors to be careful with fire in the woods.

ENTERING MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST. F—367739

MILLIONS OF SEEDLING TREES ARE RAISED EVERY YEAR AT THE CHITTENDEN NURSERY FOR USE IN REFORESTATION. F—367713

Fishing and Wildlife.

Fishing in the clear, fast streams of the Manistee National Forest—for brook, rainbow, and German brown trout—is good, largely because of the restocking program of the Michigan Department of Conservation. The Manistee, White, Pere Marquette, and Pine Rivers are among the important trout streams.

Hunting for the native white-tailed deer is good around Big Star Lake, Baldwin, Wolf Lake, Peacock, Irons, and the Pine River country in the southwestern section of Wexford County. Ruffed grouse have increased from year to year, finding an ideal habitat in the forest cover, brush lands, swamps, and old fields. Black duck is the most abundant of the waterfowl, but broods of ring-necked, golden-eye, and blue-winged teal are also found.

Campgrounds.

Numerous lakes, streams hills, and swamps make the Manistee a vacation paradise. Twenty well-planned campgrounds and picnic areas are available to the summer visitor. They are easily accessible, but are screened from the main routes of travel. Each area has its special attractions, and all have excellent drinking water and essential sanitary and protective conveniences, including latrines, garbage pits, incinerators, parking areas, fireplaces, tables, and fuel-wood supply.

To prevent vandalism and to preserve these places in their simple, natural beauty, the cutting of boughs and picking of flowers is prohibited within camp areas. Fires are restricted to designated places, and boisterous and improper conduct is prohibited.

LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER FROM RIVERSIDE CAMPGROUND. F—367718

Udell Rollway Campground is a beautiful spot on the Big Manistee River directly east of Manistee and 2 miles north of Highway M—55. On the Pine River, east and south of Cooley Bridge near Wellston, is the Peterson Bridge Campground, frequented by fishermen and other vacationists from early spring to late fall. Timber Creek Campground, directly adjacent to U S 10, halfway between Walhalla and Baldwin, is primarily a camp for tourists, but it is in the midst of one of the best deer hunting areas on the forest.

Forest rangers will gladly give advice concerning campgrounds and picnic areas to suit individual needs.

SNOWSHOEING IN CABERFAE WINTER SPORTS AREA. F—364609

Winter Sports.

Winter sports enthusiasts enjoy the Caberfae Winter Sports Area on the Cadillac Ranger District. The area surrounds the Caberfae lookout tower about 14 miles west of Cadillac and just north of M—55. Here are 10- and 15-meter ski jumps, slalom courses, and two toboggan slides, each 2,600 feet in length. Longer slides are being planned. Ashcan slides are available for youngsters, and ski runs are provided for those not wishing to jump. A ski tow and warming shelter are included in plans for future development of the area. There is plenty of parking space for automobiles.