Facilities and Activities:
| Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hunting | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | yes |
State Park Location Maps:
(click here to zoom and navigate local map)
(click here to zoom and navigate regional map)
View TOPO Maps!
State Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
State Park Event Calendar:
volunteer positions open
Nearby Parks:
State Parks Central Warehouse
Au Sable State Forest Headquarters
Higgins Lake State Forest
Otsego Lake State Park
Au Sable State Forest
Kalkaska State Forest
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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.
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| 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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| 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 |
| 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.
Hartwick Pines Logging Museum The Logging Museum is located along the Old Growth Forest Foot Trail, a 1/4 mile walk from the Visitor Center. Open from May 1st through October 31, the museum is closed for the winter season. Guided, educational experiences are available for schools or groups calling the Visitor Center. The Logging Museum is jointly operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Parks and Recreation Division and the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries. The Logging Museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from Labor Day through October and May 1st through Memorial Day. It is closed for the winter season from November until April. |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your 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 or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (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) Information - A RING! Exclusive Feature Article -- Ha - HARTWICK PINES STATE PARK. Hartwick Pines State Park, with an area of nearly 10,000 acres making it the largest state park in the lower peninsula and the fifth largest park state-wide, is... | | Michigan Recreation Channel | RING! | ? - ... south of the M-72 intersection in Harrisville. P27 Hartwick Pines State Park Rt. 3, Box 3840, Grayling, MI 49738 517-348-7068 Hartwick Pines State Park features one of the few remaining tracts of ... | | 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. |
| Directions: |
| N.E. of Grayling, I-75 Exit #259, North on M-93 three miles. |
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