 Photo Courtesy Maxine Smith
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Facilities and Activities:
| Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hunting | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | yes |
State Park Location Maps:
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 Photo Courtesy Maxine Smith
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State Park Link:
Hartwick Pines State Park
Nearby Parks:
State Parks Central Warehouse
Au Sable State Forest Headquarters
Higgins Lake State Forest
Otsego Lake State Park
Au Sable State Forest
North Higgins Lake State Park
Kalkaska State Forest
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| State Park Contact Information: |
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Hartwick Pines State Park
4216 Ranger Road
Grayling, Michigan 49738
Phone: 989-348-7068
Reservations: 800-447-2757
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Area Accommodations
Area Places to Eat
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| Adopt-A-Park Contacts: |
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Photography: add your photos
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| State Park Reservations: |
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Reservations: 
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| State Park Overview: |
| With an area of 9,672 acres, Hartwick Pines is the largest state park in the Lower Peninsula. The park's rolling hills, which are built of ancient glacial deposit, overlook the valley of the East Branch of the AuSable River, four small lakes and unique timber lands. The principal feature of this park is the 49-acre forest of Old Growth Pines which gives the park its name. This forest is a reminder of Michigan's past importance in the pine lumber industry as well as a source of inspiration for the future of our forests. The park is rich in scenic beauty and because of the different habitats it encompasses, there is ample subject matter for the sports person, photographer, or naturalist throughout the year. The park is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. year round. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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A lovely place for a wedding
Last October we were married in the chapel and could not have imagined a better place to have our ceremony. It was beautiful!
Written by CSR
10-May-2008
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At Peace With Nature
I have been visiting this park since I was a little girl. It has always been a peaceful getaway!
Written by Vicki
17-Apr-2009
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chapel
If anyone has gotten married in the chapel, please give me some tips! I hope to get married there next summer! Thanks
Written by wonderweb77
20-Aug-2009
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| Camping: |
| Hartwick Pines-Group Use Area(989) 348-7068 0 site(s), Contact the park Group Use Area, Rustic Site, Vault Toilet
Hartwick Pines-Modern(800) 447-2757 100 site(s)Electrical Service, Modern Restrooms
Hartwick Pines-Rustic Cabin(800) 447-2757 1 site(s)Cabins & Lodges, Vault Toilet |
| Trails: |
| Trails in the park:
Hartwick Pines-Weary Legs 7.5 mi, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Cross Country Ski
Hartwick Pines-Deer Run Trail 5 mi, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Cross Country Ski
Hartwick Pines-Aspen Trail 3 mi, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Cross Country Ski
Hartwick Pines-Bright and Glory Lakes Trail .25 mi, Fishing, Hiking, Cross Country Ski
Hartwick Pines-Au Sable River Trail 3 mi, Hiking, Cross Country Ski
Hartwick Pines-Old Growth Forest Trail 1.25 mi, Hiking, Cross Country Ski |
| Picnicking: |
| Located near the old growth forest, this area has grills, tables, a modern bathroom facility and drinking fountains. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Fishing
Four small lakes can be found within the park boundaries. Lakes Bright and Glory have accessible fishing piers with a trail from the campground to access them.
Hunting
Outside of the old growth forest and the developed park areas, hunting is available. Signs mark the areas closed to hunting. |
| History of the Area: |
| The Story Behind The Pines:
In 1927, Karen Michelson Hartwick purchased over 8,000 acres of land, which included 85 acres of old growth white pine, from the Salling-Hanson Company of Grayling. Mrs. Hartwick was a daughter of Nels Michelson, a founding partner of the Salling-Hanson logging company. A short while later, Mrs. Hartwick donated the land to the State of Michigan as a memorial park to be named for her husband, the late Major Edward E. Hartwick of Grayling. Edward Hartwick had died overseas during World War I. Also wishing to commemorate the logging history of the region and of her family, Karen Hartwick requested that the Hartwick Pines Logging Museum (jointly administered with the Dept. of History, Arts and Libraries) be built in the park.
In 1934 and 1935, a Civilian Conservation Corps work crew located within the park built two log structures to house this museum. Today, the museum uses exhibits, artifacts, and photographs, to recreate the atmosphere of a logging camp and tell the tale of the "shanty boys" who turned Michigan's vast forests into timber. Period settings depicting a bunkhouse, mess hall, blacksmith shop, camp office, and van (store) give the visitor a sense of what logging camp life was like.
Mrs. Hartwick was also involved in the naming of two of the park's lakes. Nels Michelson had a team of oxen which he used for skidding logs out of the forest. They were named Bright and Star. Karen Hartwick requested that the former Alexander Lakes be renamed in their honor. The state board of geographic names felt that there were already too many Star Lakes in Michigan, but they settled on Glory instead, and our Bright Lake and Glory Lake became named after logging oxen.
In November of 1940, a fierce wind storm struck the area of the park and removed nearly half of the old growth pine. Today, only 49 of the original 85 acres remain standing. |
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| Area Accommodations |
| Hotels/Motels | |  | Comfort Suites Lakeside - Houghton Lake, MI
Located on the shores off of Michigan?s largest inland lake, Comfort Suites Lakeside offers a beautiful hotel, conference center, water park and restaurant. Take a pleasure cruise or use a number of available golf packages. We have you covered for all your accommodation needs.
Web Site: http://www.comfortsuiteslakesideresort.com/ |
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| Area Places to Eat |
| Restaurant | | | Comfort Suites Lakeside - Houghton Lake, MI
Located on the shores off of Michigan?s largest inland lake, Comfort Suites Lakeside offers a beautiful hotel, conference center, water park and restaurant. Take a pleasure cruise or use a number of available golf packages. We have you covered for all your accommodation needs.
Web Site: http://www.comfortsuiteslakesideresort.com/ |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| Maple Sugaring around Michigan - Maple Sugaring around Michigan. Southeast. Cranbrook Institute of Science Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Program Title: Maple Syruping. Program Dates: February 26, 27. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ... | | Spikes Keg O Nails Friends - Links to Grayling Michigan area Web sites | | Bicycling in Crawford County, Michigan - de up a mountain on your bike? Of course you don't, which is why Crawford country is perfect, no mountains. If you want rugged biking, head Northeast of Grayling to Deward, where you can view... | | Hartwick Pines State Park, Michigan - 517) 348-6373 Fax With nearly 10,000 acres, we have the biggest state park in the lower peninsula and the fifth largest park in the entire state. It's HARTWICK PINES STATE PARK, just North of... |
| Nature Programs: |
| Michigan Forest Visitor Center Programs, exhibits, and hands on displays tell the story of our state's forests. Schools and groups can make reservations for guided tours and programs by contacting the Visitor Center at (989) 348-2537. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The center is closed Mondays after Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. |
| Area Campgrounds | | |
| Directions: |
| N.E. of Grayling, I-75 Exit #259, North on M-93 three miles. |
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