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Hunts' Guide to Michigan's UPPER PENINSULA

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WATERSMEET
POINTS
OF INTEREST

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

WATERSMEET

Watersmeet Rails to Trails

An old railroad grade goes from the Ottawa Visitor Center eight miles south to the Land O'Lakes library downtown. It goes through many habitats - forests, lowlands, beaver ponds, clearcuts, and open areas, and crosses a stream with brook trout. It all makes for good wildlife viewing, with warblers (chestnut-sided, Nashville, and yellow) and, around the beaver ponds, beaver, muskrats, mink, and shorebirds. The trail is one of 36 U.P. natural areas featured in Michigan Watchable Wildlife, in book form or online at www.michigan.gov/dnr/; go to "wildlife and habitat," then "viewing wildlife" for photos and details.
Hikers, bicyclists, ATVs, snowmobiles, and skiers are all permitted on the trail, so naturalists and skiers might want to get out early before the ATVers and snowmobilers are up.

The north trailhead starts 100 yards east of the parking lot at the visitor center on U.S. 2 at U.S. 45. The south trailhead is at the Land O'Lakes library (see below). No fee.

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