Walking & Biking Guide
26. Eickholt-Pressprich Nature Preserve This 48-acre preserve is composed mainly of wetlands and is home to frogs, turtles, deer, waterfowl, and wildflowers including white flowered beardtongue, fringed and bottled gentians, wild sunflowers, and blue flag irises. Eickholt-Pressprich serves as an excellent landfall spot for migrating songbirds in the month of May and serves as excellent stopover habitat for the huge influx of warblers that cruise up the Lake Huron shoreline. Source: Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy. Location: Turn south off US-23 onto South Tonkey Road. Park along East Michigan Avenue near the intersection with Tonkey
27. Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area More than 900 acres of wetlands are found on this 3,023-acre site A network of gravel-topped dikes in the wetlands is open to foot traffic all year. Wigwam Bay is an outstanding site for viewing shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl, and gulls. Unique or rare wetland bird species such as black terns, Forster’s terns, Caspian terns, yellow-headed blackbirds, American and least bitterns, sandhill cranes, common moorhens, and northern harriers are also found here. Bald eagles nest here and are often seen soaring or sitting in perches along the dikes. Come in the spring to see nesting snapping turtles. Source: Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy. Location: From Standish, take Pine River Road east about 3.5 miles to Arenac State Road. Turn left (north) and drive about 1.5 miles to Stover Road (County Road 58). Continue east about 3.5 miles to the site entrance on the right.
28. Standish Nature Preserve The Standish Nature Preserve is a beautiful, mature hardwood forest with a series of wetlands and a pond that makes a home for many varieties of birds and wildlife. Standish provides another great spot for birding, with a small pond surrounded by dense hardwoods, all at the foot of a viewing area just a few steps inward from the trail access on the east side of the Preserve. Source: Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy. Location: Turn east off Arenac State Road onto Bordeau Road. Cross LaFave Road and turn right onto Bordeau Lane.
29. Saganing Nature Preserve is home to a dense woodland area and the delta wetland of the Saganing River, which can be accessed on foot from the Preserve parking area. The southern half of this Preserve is very thick, wetland habitat with no established trails. There is a rustic trail extending from the parking area out along the Saganing River, but it is seasonal and not well-established, so proceed with caution. Saganing Nature Preserve is perhaps best enjoyed in winter, especially for aficionados of skiing and snowshoeing. Source: Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy. Location: Turn east off Arenac State Road onto Worth Road. Drive past the casino and park near the preserve gate.
24. Alabaster Pathway & Arboretum/Tawas Bay Pathway Part of the Iron Belle Trail (a series of interconnected bike routes that run from Belle Isle in Detroit to the western tip of the Upper Peninsula), the Alabaster Pathway starts at Dyer Road at the southern line of Iosco County and winds north along US 23. The paved pathway also doubles as an arboretum – you’ll find trees marked with QR codes to teach trail users about the trees they are seeing! The path is plowed all winter for walking. As you travel north, the Alabaster Pathway connects to the Tawas Bay Pathway which allows users to travel along Lake Huron and provides stunning views of Tawas Bay and the Tawas Point Light. The Pathway then curves out onto Tawas Point and ends at Tawas Point State Park. Location: Along the east side of US 23, there is a trailhead at Dyer Road.
25. Sandy Hook Nature Trail (Tawas Point) A nature lover’s paradise! The park sits on a point that juts out into Lake Huron. Sandy beaches run along both the bayside and lakeside of the point. The Sandy Hook Nature Trail is an interpretive trail that runs from the campground to the tip of the park’s sandy crescent near the U.S. Coast Guard’s Fog Horn. It takes about 90 minutes to explore the natural features found along the route. Because of Tawas Point’s location, it attracts a large variety of waterfowl and shorebirds. A birding festival occurs the 3rd weekend in May. The site is also home to a large monarch butterfly population. Location: From US 23, turn east onto Tawas Beach Road
20. Shore to Shore Trail The Michigan Shore to Shore Trail is over 220 miles long that connects Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. Primarily used by horseback riders, the trail is also open to foot traffic. The trail features horse camps complete with privies and wells at approximately 18 to 25 mile intervals. Most of the camps overlook lakes or rivers. The east segment of the Shore to Shore Trail begins in Oscoda and generally parallels the AuSable River (south of the river). Some sections of the Shore to Shore Trail share segments with snowmobile trails. The Shore to Shore Trail has spurs which travel north into Cheboygan County and south toward Cadillac. Paper maps of the Shore to Shore Trail can be obtained from the Michigan Trail Riders Association. Sections of the trail are often re-routed due to logging, wind damage, water encroachment, etc, so be aware and follow the confidence markers (blue dots, triangles, arrows, etc). Location: Trailheads are found at various locations. Contact the Michigan Trail Riders for more detailed information.
21. Highbanks Trail A short 7-mile trek along the bluffs of the Au Sable River will provide some of the best and most dramatic views of the river, where snowshoers and skiers will be able to look over the river valley with clear views almost to Lake Huron in some spots. The trail has access areas and parking at Iargo Springs and Lumberman’s Monument (accessed off River Road National Scenic Byway). The grounds of these sites are open in the winter, but the sites are not maintained and no toilet facilities are available. The trail is not groomed but is maintained by the US Forest Service and Corsair Trail Council – this means the trail is well-marked and cleared of fallen trees. Location: Trailheads are found at Iargo Springs and Lumberman’s Monument off River Road.
22. Eagle Run Located approximately 2 miles west of Oscoda, Eagle Run is 7 miles of loop trails for hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing located in a quiet setting following the shoreline of the Au Sable River. This area is one of the finest spring wildflower walks and a great area for bird-watching enthusiasts. It is the only trail system in this section of the National Forest open to mountain biking. The trail is groomed by the Corsair Trails Council and the trailhead is plowed. Location: Eagle Run is accessed off the River Road National Scenic Byway.
23. Corsair Trails The Corsair Trail System is one of the largest groomed trail networks in Michigan. The trail system is perfect for hiking and cross country skiing and winds through red pine forest and along Silver Creek in the Huron National Forest. There are several loops that allow for quick half hour trips or all day adventures. The trails are groomed for cross-country skiing and the warming shelter is open most weekends making this area a fun winter getaway. The Corsair Trail Council operates and maintains Corsair Trails. Entry fee applies at all trailheads. Water and toilet facilities are available. Warming shelter available. From Corsair Trailhead - This portion of the trail has a spur to a 600-foot interpretive and fishing trail along Silver Creek. From Silver Valley Trailhead - The portion of trail from this trailhead offers skiing that is gentler and less hilly. There are 2 Silver Creek bridge crossings on this section. Wrights Lake Trailhead - This portion of the trail provides a little more challenge with longer loops and steeper hills. Location: Trailheads are located on Monument Road.
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Take a journey off the beaten path to experience the tranquility Northeast Michigan has to offer. While staying in our cabins enjoy a mesmerizing sunrise/sunset on the shores of Lake Huron, marvel at the fish swimming under your kayak in the summer or at your feet under the ice in the winter. Have a bonfire, grill out, or cozy up next to the fireplace while witnessing nature’s authentic landscape all around you, from the deer getting a drink at the lakeshore, to the squirrels chasing each other in the trees, to the turkeys or peacock stopping by to say hello!! There’s also a chance of watching the otters play in the bay, or seeing the turtles laying their eggs in the sand. You may even catch a glimpse at a mink, badger, or bobcat! With the trees displaying their beautiful color in the fall, to the budding blossoms filling the air with their sweet aroma in the spring, Lake Life cabins have a breathtaking panoramic view year round.
Following the US-23 heritage route as a guide to the area, you will come across scenic drives, quaint towns, museums, lighthouses, bird-watching areas, wildlife sanctuaries, biking trails, and so much more. Your hosts would love to share their awe-inspiring views of the Scenic Wonders of AuGres, and show you why you will fall in love as they did, and want to journey back in the future to dive deeper into all that Lake Life Cabin rentals and Northeast Michigan has to appreciate. Your hosts excitedly await your arrival to what is not only a vacation, but a unique blissful experience that will capture your heart and make you want to come back time and time again…