Hiawatha National Forest

{{use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}{{Infobox protected area

|name = Hiawatha National Forest

|iucn_category = VI

|photo = Hiawatha National Forest.jpg

|photo_caption = Road sign of the Hiawatha National Forest in Alger County

|map = USA#Michigan

|relief = 1

|map_caption =

|location = Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States

|nearest_city = Escanaba, Michigan

|coords = {{coord|46|08|N|86|40|W|display=inline}}

|area_acre = 894836

|area_ref = {{cite web |title=Land Areas of the National Forest System |publisher=U.S. Forest Service |date=January 2012 |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/LAR2011/LAR2011_Book_A5.pdf |access-date=20 June 2012}}

|established = January 16, 1931{{cite web |title=The National Forests of the United States |publisher=ForestHistory.org |url=http://www.foresthistory.org/ASPNET/Places/National%20Forests%20of%20the%20U.S.pdf |access-date=20 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028014355/http://www.foresthistory.org/ASPNET/Places/National%20Forests%20of%20the%20U.S.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2012 }}

|visitation_num =

|visitation_year =

|governing_body = U.S. Forest Service

|website = [http://www.fs.usda.gov/hiawatha Hiawatha National Forest]

}}

File:MichiganNationalForests.svg

Hiawatha National Forest is a {{convert|894836|acre|ha|adj=on}} National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan in the United States. Commercial logging is conducted in some areas. The United States Forest Service administers this National Forest; it is physically divided into two subunits, commonly called the Eastside {{coord|46|14|N|84|50|W|display=inline}} and Westside {{coord|46|08|N|86|40|W|display=inline}}.

Etymology

According to the forest service, it was "named after the Mohawk chief, Hiawatha, who brought about the confederation known as the Five Nations of the Iroquois. He was also the hero of Longfellow's poem, 'Hiawatha'."{{cite web |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r9/learning/history-culture/?cid=stelprdb5237971|title= Hiawatha National Forest |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |work=Eastern Region Forest names |access-date=February 17, 2012}}

Geography

In descending order of land area it lies in parts of Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft, and Marquette counties. Chippewa and Mackinac counties are in the East Unit, whereas the rest are in the West Unit. The smaller East Unit contains about 44% of the forest's area, whereas the larger West Unit has about 56%. Forest headquarters are located in Gladstone, Michigan. East Unit ranger district offices are located in Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace, while West Unit offices are in Manistique, Munising, and Rapid River.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ufwda.org/pdfs/USDAForestServiceRangerDistricts.pdf |title=USFS Ranger Districts by State |access-date=May 20, 2009 |archive-date=March 19, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050319150655/http://www.ufwda.org/pdfs/USDAForestServiceRangerDistricts.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The East Unit was a large infertile sandy area that was never homesteaded or developed. It was designated Marquette National Forest by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1909. This land was administered with Huron National Forest as the Michigan National Forest from 1918 until 1962, when it was transferred to Hiawatha. The forest was authorized to buy an additional {{convert|307000|acre|ha|-2}} in 1925 and {{convert|50000|acre|ha|-1}} in 1935. The government began purchasing land for the West Unit in 1928, this land and was designated Hiawatha National Forest in 1931. This unit was extensively replanted by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The Hiawatha National Forest contains six designated wilderness areas:

There are five National Wild and Scenic Rivers in the Forest: Carp River, Indian River, Sturgeon River, Tahquamenon River (East Branch), Whitefish River.

Ecology

File:Autumn Dirt Road - Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan (30354315253).jpg-paper birch plant communities in the northern portion of the national forest]]

Many wildlife species roam in this forest including timber wolves, white-tailed deer, golden eagles, black bears, moose, coyotes, bobcats, bald eagles, beavers, red foxes, river otters, Canadian lynxes, hawks, muskrats, weasels, sandhill cranes, minks, cougars, and wild turkeys.

The forest has over {{convert|100|mi|km}} of shoreline. Both units have shoreline on both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan; the east unit also has shoreline on Lake Huron and includes Round Island and its lighthouse. The West Unit borders Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which is administered by the National Park Service, and the Grand Island National Recreation Area, which is separately administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

Activities

Several lighthouses are located along the shores. The Point Iroquois Light is operated as a museum.[http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/hiawatha/recreation/lighthouses/point_iroquois_light/index.php National Park Service, Hiawatha National Forest, Iroquois Light and Museum]

=Hiking=

A section of the {{convert|4,600|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} North Country Trail passes through the forest.

=Camping=

Hiawatha National Forest has many popular areas for camping tourism. Some of the campgrounds include the following:[http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/hiawatha/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=13267&actid=29 List of Hiawatha National Forest campgrounds]

AuTrain
Bay Furnace
Bay View, a 24-campsite campground located near Brimley on Lake Superior. It offers a secluded beach that many visitors enjoy.{{Cite web |url=http://campthat.com/michigan/bay-view-campground |title=Bay View Campground |access-date=July 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130714224429/http://campthat.com/michigan/bay-view-campground |archive-date=July 14, 2013 |url-status=dead }}
Brevoort Lake
Camp 7 Lake
Carp River, 44 campsites located near the Mackinac Bridge; fishing is possible here.{{Cite web |url=http://campthat.com/michigan/carp-river-campground |title=Carp River Campground |access-date=July 14, 2013 |archive-date=April 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407110041/http://campthat.com/michigan/carp-river-campground/ |url-status=dead }}
Collwell Lake
Corner Lake
Flowing Well
Indian River
Island Lake
Lake Michigan: 35 campsites on Lake Michigan located near the Mackinaw Bridge
Little Bass Lake
Little Bay De Noc
Monocle Lake Campground, a 39-site campground located near Brimley near Lake Superior; it is a popular destination for RV camping.{{Cite web |url=http://campthat.com/michigan/bay-view-campground |title=Monocle Lake Campground |access-date=July 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130714224429/http://campthat.com/michigan/bay-view-campground |archive-date=July 14, 2013 |url-status=dead }}
Petes Lake Campground
Soldiers Lake Recreation Area
Three Lakes Campground
Widewaters Campground