Mackinaw State Forest, State forest in Lower Peninsula of Michigan, United States
Mackinaw State Forest is a state-owned forest in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, covering land across several counties in the northern part of the state. It is made up of mixed woodland with maple, pine, birch, and cedar trees, crossed by rivers, streams, and a network of trails and forest roads open to the public.
The land was heavily logged in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and once the timber companies left, much of it sat empty and untended. Michigan gradually took ownership through unpaid property taxes and began managing the land as a state forest through the mid-20th century.
The forest is used year-round by people who fish, hunt, hike, and ride snowmobiles along its many trails and waterways. Along the rivers, you will often see anglers standing quietly in the current, as trout fishing is a deep-rooted local tradition in this part of Michigan.
The forest has many entry points along the main roads in northern Michigan, and most trails and forest roads are easier to use in the warmer months. In winter, the area has designated snowmobile and cross-country ski routes, but conditions can change quickly, so checking ahead is a good idea.
Deadman's Hill is a viewpoint inside the forest whose name comes from a logging accident in 1910 that killed a young teamster. From the top, you look out over the headwaters of the Jordan River, one of the few rivers in Michigan that stays cold enough year-round to support wild trout.
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