Sylvania Wilderness Area. This lake-studded 30-square-mile tract is a rare treasure: an old-growth forest that escaped the logger's ax, and lakes where motors are banned. ... more

Ottawa Visitor Center. The Ottawa National Forest info center also has an excellent nature bookstore, interesting exhibits, and anature trail ... more

Clark Lake and Clark Lake Trail. Convenient auto access up to the motor-free Sylvania Wilderness Area's Clark Lake with a long, sandy beach, good birding, and an 8-mile trail around the lake through the old-growth forest. ... more

Imp Lake Interpretive Trail. This memorable 1.5-mile path leads from an inviting swimming area into an old-growth hemlock forest ... more

Sylvania Outfitters. Veteran outdoorsman Bob Zelinski shares a wealth of information about the area, rents canoes, kayaks, skis, and snowshoes, and refers customers to fishing guides ... more

Mex-I-Min-E Falls & Campground. A short, powerful cascade in a quiet, pretty woodland spot with primitive camping. ... more

Ontonagon River Middle Branch. This pretty, underdeveloped brook trout stream can be paddled year-round. Rent a canoe. It's a fine first whitewater trip ... more

Sylvania Outfitters Cross-Country Ski Trails. 20 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails in the Sylvania Wildeerness Area, much of it over hilly terrain ... more

Watersmeet Rails to Trails. This old railroad grade leads through many habitats to downtown Land O'Lakes ... more

Ajibikoka Falls. Difficult to get to, this falls is one of the finest in the Watersmeet region ... more

SUPERIOR DOGS
(906) 358-0402

Out-of-the-ordinary Chicago-style hot dogs with fries ($2.70) head the menu, which also includes brats, pizza, and a very good cheeseburger. $6 weekday specials: rotating sandwich, fries, and drink. Eight counter seatsi nside, plus outdoor picnic tables. Many ice cream-based summer treats.

On U.S. 45 just north of U.S. 2 next to Nordine's convenience store/gas station. Open year-round. In season 7 days, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call for winter hours. Wheelchair-accessible.

DANCING EAGLE RESORT/ LAC VIEUX DESERT CASINO
(906) 358-4949

This complex has more on a single site than any other hotel in the Western U.P.: a 132-room hotel with indoor pool, conference rooms, a small exercise room, a large and attractive lobby with stone fireplace, 9 holes of golf in a forested setting, a casino with occasional big-name entertainment, and 14 sites for RV by the parking lot ($5/night, including water and electric). Across the road is an oval racetrack for snowmobile and ORV rallies.
The staff is competent and friendly. In season (June thru Sept.) standard double rooms are $75 Sun.-Thurs, $86 Fri & Sat. Otherwise they are $65 and $75. Deluxe kings with Jacuzzis and fridges are $119/$129 in summer, $108 and $119 otherwise. 14 two-room whirlpool suites have fireplace, pullout sofa, microwave, fridge, and wet bar. There's a smallish indoor pool room with a whirlpool and sauna. Many snowmobilers book winter weekends a year ahead; reservations for summer weekends should be made two months in advance.

On U.S. 45 about 2 miles north of U.S. 2 at the north edge of Watersmeet. Wheelchair-accessible: reserve ahead. Children: 17 and under free. Dogs in some smoking rooms. Call.

VACATIONLAND RESORT
(906) 358-4380

This attractive, 13-cottage resort enjoys a wooded setting and long, sandy beach on Thousand Island Lake, part of the Cisco Chain of 15 lakes. The lake, popular with boaters and anglers, is still quiet enough for nesting loons. (Otters and eagles are often seen, too.) The 13 newish housekeeping cottages have water views. Most sleep 4 to 7 in two or three bedrooms; three sleep two people. Smoking and non-smoking available.
Rentals are by the week from mid-June thru mid-August and Christmas week). Samples: cottage for 4 is $725 in summer, $455 or $90/day in in winter, spring, color and hunting season. Two larger cottages for 8 are $1,420-$1,600 week in summer, $890 and $1,000 or $175 and $200/night. Peak seasons are booked a year ahead, but waiting list people can sometimes be accommodated. See website for details. Attractive interiors have knotty pine paneling, maple furniture, picture windows, some fireplaces. Cottages come with aluminum boat, picnic table, grill, lawn chairs, microwave. No phones. TV with 5 channels (networks plus PBS).
Amenities include a playground, courts for tennis, basketball and volleyball, a swimming raft, bonfire pit, large sauna, and fish-cleaning station. Games, puzzles, good videos to borrow. Guests can borrow kayaks and canoes to explore the lake and Sunfish sailboats. The pontoon boat, motors, and upgraded fishing boats can be rented. No jet skis. 10 minutes from snowmobile trail if lake is frozen. Heated workroom.

Just off CR 535/Thousand Lake Rd. about 10 miles south of U.S. 2 Sylvania turnoff. Open year-round. Wheelchair-accessible: one cottage. Call. Children: Age 2 and under free. $15/night, $75/week/extra person. Dogs: in off season-only. Call.

WILDERNESS BAY RESORT
(906) 358-9956; 358-4319

Veteran fishing guide Tom Schwanke and his wife, Joanne, bought part of an old resort on an east bay of Thousand Island Lake in 1995. They have built five new cabins, mostly log and mostly with covered porches, next to the lodge that now houses an impressive bait and tackle shop and general store with groceries, beer, and wine. Tom is happy to mark maps and advise anglers. He posts a weekly fishing report on his web site, along with detailed info on the Cisco Chain of Lakes. Store customers are welcome to use picnic tables by the lake. No jet skis or snowmobiles. The resort now caters to quiet sports like fishing and hunting, and in winter ice fishing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. (Sylvania's trails are nearby.)
    Cabins are close-spaced, all with lake views and a gentle slope down to the beach. All have satellite TV and DVD/VCR, complete kitchens, grill and picnic table, and a 14' boat. No phones. They sleep from 3 ($725/week, or $600 or $120/night in off-seasons) to 8 ($1,100/week, $900 or $180/night in off-seasons). Changing availability posted on web site. Spring fishing and summer book up early.

E20060 Thousand Lake Road/CR 535 southwest of Watersmeet. Handicap access: call. A few steps. Pets: $50/week extra.

SYLVANIA WILDERNESS AREA/Ottawa National Forest.
See below for phones; www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/

These 29 wilderness campsites, nestled in these old-growth woods, can be reached by water. (For canoe and kayak rentals, see Sylvania Outfitters.) 13 are also reachable by land on defined hiking trails. An inconspicuous brown shoreline post marks each campsite. Campsites are so artfully deployed that you can feel quite alone here, even when every campsite is full.
    No-trace, low-impact camping is the rule: no music around the campfire, no noisy games. The idea is to be quiet and inconspicuous so campers can feel alone and hear the sounds of nature and wildlife, day and night sounds. Noise carries clearly across water.
Only five people and two tents per campsite are allowed. The maximum size for group travel (by water or by foot) is ten. Mechanical devices including bicycles, sailboats, and portage wheels are not permitted. Washing must be done at least 150 feet away from lakes and wetlands, using biodegradable soap if soap is necessary. Baking powder makes a good biodegradable toothpaste. To reduce food debris that attracts bears, strain dishwater and pack out all food scraps and garbage in your trash bag. Camp furnishings consist only of a big cast-iron fire ring and a wilderness latrine.
    Wilderness camping means having the discipline and courtesy to be inconspicuous in this popular area. Wear earth tones when possible. Wearing soft-soled shoes like moccasins around the campsite is easier on the ground and more comfortable. Use a fast, efficient, lightweight stove instead of a campfire. Dead or downed wood, pine cones, and bark can be burned, but only within the fire ring. Collect firewood away from your campsite to reduce impact.
    Water can contain harmful organisms, so it should be boiled, filtered in a .5 micron filter, chemically treated, or carried in. Water pumps are at the Crooked and Clark Lake launches and at the entrance station. Take precautions against bears.
    Camping regulations: All overnight campers at Sylvania must camp at designated sites. At all times between May 15 and September 30, users must have an overnight camping permit validated by Forest Service staff. Get it in person at the contact station off County Road 535. (See below.) From October through May 14, campers should self-register and pay at the A-frame or other trailheads. Camping fee per site per night: $10. Vehicle pass: $5/day, $20/season in 2005.
    Reservations are taken for specific campsites between January 15 and May 14. Mailed reservations are opened by lottery Jan. 15, then according to postmark dates. Phone reservations taken from Feb. 1; call 906-358-4724 Wed-Sat 10-4. After May, they're first-come, first-served. 25% of sites currently reserved for walk-in camping. For complete regulations etc., go to www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/ then go through "Recreation and rog" to "Sylvania."

The entrance contact station is on CR 535/Thousand Island Rd. about 7 miles south of U.S. 2. Clearly signed at intersection 4 miles west of Watersmeet. From May 15 through Sept 30, it's open daily from 8 to 5, to 6 Fridays, Central Time. (That's 9-6 Eastern Time.) Its phone: (906) 358-4404. Visitor Center info: (906) 358-4724. Off-season Ottawa National Forest office: (906) 358-4551. Handicap accessibility: call for tips. Requires assistance.

IMP LAKE CAMPGROUND/Ottawa National Forest
(906) 358-4551

This small campground, with 22 private, shady sites, is choice. All sites have lake views; most are on the water. An informal swimming beach is on 84-acre Imp Lake. Best of all is the Imp Lake Interpretive Trail, a 1.5 mile loop through an old-growth forest and past wetlands. Fishing for splake is good, trout fishing decent.

6 miles southeast of Watersmeet just south of U.S. 2. $10/night. Open mid-May thru Nov. Handicap accessibility: vault toilets have a step. First half of trail is accessible.

MARION LAKE CAMPGROUND/Ottawa National Forest


This 39-site rustic campground is quiet but not far from Watersmeet or Sylvania. At least half the campsites are right on the 318-acre lake, which has decent fishing for muskie, walleye, bass. One campsite loop is high, with lake views. Two loops are on the lake. All are shaded by maples. Reservable group camping is in a separate area. May fill on holiday weekends. The swimming beach has a 1930s changing house built by the CCC. There's an open playfield for games.

5 miles east of Watersmeet on Marion Lake Rd., north off U.S. 2. Open mid-May thru Nov. $10/night. Wheelchair-accessibile: all but toilets (1 step).

BURNED DAM CAMPGROUND / Ottawa National Forest


A primitive option on national forest land is the small, unusually scenic Burned Dam Campground at Mex-I-Mine Falls. Four roomy, well-spaced, wooded sites are near a prime canoeing stretch of the Ontonagon River Middle Branch, a few miles northeast of Watersmeet. No charge for camping.

See "Mex-I-Min-E Falls" for directions. Campground is downstream from falls. No charge for camping. Handicap accessibility: call (906) 358-4551.