Government Island

Primitive picnicking and camping are available on this beautiful, uninhabited island, just off La Salle Island and an easy 4 ½ miles straight out of Cedarville. Of all the 36 Les Cheneaux Islands, it was the only public land until the nature conservancies on Marquette Island were recently established. A Coast Guard Station was here from 1874 to 1939. Today Government Island is part of the Hiawatha National Forest. The pilings from its dock are on the cleared site at island's northwest end. Today, says the U.S. Forest Service, "the island is being managed to preserve the natural wilderness condition favorable to plant and animal life." Birch and conifers dominate the two-mile-long island. It's a popular day-trip destination for the area's many boaters.

The shore in general is surprisingly rocky and steep, though small boats can be beached at two places, depending on the lake level. The first spot, on the island's east shore, can be easily seen from a boat coming from Cedarville. After beaching your boat, walk up the hill into a meadow where you'll see two small outhouses. The cleared campsites and some picnic tables are nearby. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring.

A second place to beach a small boat, at the island's south side, is also readily apparent. It too is near a picnic area. The view here looks out into the expanse of Lake Huron.
Camping is permitted only on designated campsites. None are reservable. Campers are asked to follow the principles of leave-no-trace camping and leave the area as clean as it was when they arrived, or even cleaner.
A sandy beach stretches along the west shore for a third of a mile. Local Girl Scout troops help maintain the island.

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CEDARVILLE
POINTS OF INTEREST

Carmeuse Limestone, Cedarville Plant . Big port for freighters loading limestone that underlies most of this region ... more

Gerstacker Preserve. 890-acre stunning bedrock shoreline preserve has rare plants. 2+ miles of trails wind through dunes, forests. See loons, pileated woodpeckers. Swim off sandy beach. ... more

Government Island. This island of birch and conifers, the only public island among Les Cheneaux, is a nice picnic or camping destination, with a swimming beach ... more

Great Lakes Boat Building School. In this region long known for fine wooden boats there is now an impressive school teaching the art ... more

Les Cheneaux Historical Museum. Exhibits and excellent videos illuminate the natural history development of the Cedarville/Hessel area, from Indian artifacts to lumber camps and tourist and resort eras. ... more

Safe Harbor Books. This personal bookshop has a good selection of regional, Great Lakes maritime and nature books, plus rubber stamping supplies. ... more

Les Cheneaux Maritime Museum. Boats & boat-related things in a 1920s boathouse: sailboats, canoes, rowboats, old photos ... more

Prentiss Bay Marsh. Scores of nesting boxes for tree swallows are scattered across this wetland. ... more

Cedarville Wi-fi Hotspot. Les Cheneaux Public Library has wi-fi 24/7 in parking lot. Open Tues, Wed & Fri 11-5, Thur 11-8, Sat 10-3. 75 E. Hodeck St., south from I-134. ... more

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