Named after Longfellow's poem "The Song of Hiawatha," the Hiawatha National Forest is located in the central and eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Forest is comprised of rolling hills forested with northern hardwoods, white pine and hemlock, flatland covered by red pine, jack pine and aspen, and large open and tree covered wetlands.

The Forest encompasses approximately 880,000 acres, and receives over 1.5 million recreational visits per year. Many of these visits are directly attributed to the use of Grand Island National Recreation Area, National Wild and Scenic Rivers, winter recreation, trails, numerous lighthouses and other historic sites, a scenic byway, wilderness areas and many camping, hunting, and fishing opportunities. Every Spring and Fall, anglers come to enjoy fishing. The summer season attracts hikers, anglers, mountain bikers, campers, and sightseers. During the Fall, hunters flock to the forest seeking white-tailed deer, bear, and other wildlife. Color touring is spectacular and also draws many visitors annually. During the winter months, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing is extremely popular throughout the area.

• Hike to one of the many lighthouses in Hiawatha National Forest.
• During the winter, crosscountry ski or snowmobile on the trails.