Hartwick Pines - Grayling
This is probably the best-known stand of old growth forest in the lower peninsula. The pine forest itself is about 49 acres and is found inside the Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling, Michigan. This park is over 9,000 acres, so cool as they are, the Hartwick Pines are just part of a day trip or a longer getaway.
When you arrive, you can’t go wrong with a quick visit to the
Visitor’s Center. Here you can get maps and information, and you can
visit the logging museum. The museum exhibits artifacts from the
logging era; roughly 1840-1910. The Harwick Pines survived the
lumber industry and is one of the largest remaining old-growth pine
forests in Michigan.
The Old Growth Trail is nearby and takes you into the Pines. A quiet
walk through the giant White Pines can transport you back to a time
when forests like this covered nearly 90% of the state. Some of
these trees are estimated to be more than 350 years old. This trail
is fully accessible, is paved, and totals about 1.25 miles. There
are more than 20 miles of biking and hiking trails in the park. The
AuSable River Trail is a walking trail with interpretive signs that
enhance the enjoyment of the old-growth tree ecosystem. The Mertz
Grade Trail is built on an abandoned railroad bed. It’s a fun hike
to learn more about the history of the region. There is more to
explore in the park. Trails through the hills above the East Branch
of the AuSable River offer scenic views. There are small lakes, a
modern campground and places for birdwatching, fishing and hunting.
Harwick Pines is open year-round so you can plan on cross-country
skiing and snowshoeing as well.
THE BOG
So, you’ve got your history, your trails, your camping, and your
virgin forest. If that weren’t enough, there is a seldom visited
natural feature that is a rarity in northern Michigan, a bog. A bog
is defined as “wet muddy ground too soft to support a heavy body”.
In this case that is mostly true, but this bog is better described
as a swamp with mats of vegetation concealing very deep water. In
other words, should you decide to check it out, stay on the
boardwalk. The bog is quite a change from the towering trees in the
pine forest. It is a wide-open wetland that is its own ecosystem.
There are rare and unusual plants growing in the bog, including 4
different carnivorous species, quite rare for Michigan. Please,
don’t pick the pretty flowers, the bog is a protected area. Be sure
to ask park personnel for permission to visit this area.
OLD GROWTH FOREST OR VIRGIN TIMBER
The term “old growth” has become synonymous with “virgin”, but they
aren’t the same thing. The definition of “old growth” is somewhat
arbitrary depending on location. In Michigan “old growth” is
considered to be 200 years old or more. Strictly speaking, “virgin”
refers to trees that have never been harvested such as the “Big
Cedar” near Mio and the White Cedars on South Manitou Island in the
Valley of the Giants.