Outdoor Recreation

Welcome to Manistee County, ranked 62nd out of the top 200 best outdoor recreation areas in the nation by the magazine Outdoor Life. Our terrain and landscape offer everything for the outdoor enthusiast and the scenic traveler. Lake Michigan provides Manistee County with 25 miles of freshwater shoreline, offering 56 points of beach access for recreation and swimming, fishing and picnicking.

East and north of the city of Manistee, the great Michigan outdoors is a way of life. The townships and villages of the county share the Manistee National Forest as background to their events and enticements. With over 26% of our total land area secured as Manistee National Forest, 49 lakes, and 276 miles of rivers, one can hunt, canoe or kayak, fish, hike, birdwatch and relax at camp knowing each village is prepared to serve as your outdoor headquarters.

The US Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources works closely with each community to maintain the forest and offer classes, maps and guidelines for enjoying our natural resources. You'll find a campground or recreation area down almost every road. The cabins, motels and restaurants here have a deep history in their walls, keeping you nestled in the forest while offering all the amenities you might need.

Whether you bring your mountain bike, cross-country skis, or your hiking boots, you'll find Big M in Norman Township exactly the secluded terrain you're looking for. Pine River and the Little Manistee River & Big Manistee River offer canoe trips and guided fishing tours , and plenty of access and boat ramps for Bass, Steelhead, Trout and Salmon fishing. An anglers' paradise, Manistee County can take claim to having 5 Nationally designated Wild & Scenic Rivers within its boundaries.

The North Country Hiking Trail is a premiere footpath that stretches for about 4,400 miles linking seven northern states. It offers breathtaking scenery within the county borders, with trailheads and facilities all along the way. If treasure hunting is your thing, this lower western peninsula is famous for prolific growth of the tasty, expensive Morel mushroom in early spring. Try to get a local to share their secret spot, or pull off the side of the road and good luck!

Our snowmobile trails are well cared for - groomed daily, with visible signage, links to surrounding trail systems all over the state, and convenient staging areas in every township.

You will find salmon fishing season & deer hunting season a busy time of year here, with plenty of Fall events and activities scheduled to bring the whole family, including Fishing Tournaments, Buck Pole Competitions, and the Fall Color Tours. Visit the Lake Bluff Audubon Center or Arcadia Dunes Preserve for some excellent bird and wildlife watching.

Outdoor activities are a fact of life here. Our youth grow up learning how to hunt and fish, and protect the nature we live side by side with. Most of us who live here have chosen to escape the hectic city life. Out here, there is no traffic, no long lines, and we are surrounded by wilderness and therefore wildlife. It is not uncommon to see a group of deer, turkey, a porcupine, or even a bear during just a short stay here in MC. We invite you to experience the freedom and beauty we enjoy daily here in outdoors Manistee County.

Outdoor Recreation Members