Hiking the Huron: Oscoda's Foot Travel Areas

Exploring Michigan’s greatest woodlands is a fun, exciting, and rewarding activity during your stay with us that provides an opportunity to connect with our scenic landscape and region and escape the noise and technology of motorized society. Particularly for those inclined to be outdoors, the Michigan trails have an enchanting adventure to offer. Wooded pathways, diverse ecosystems, and rare sightings of endangered species, like the bald eagle and famous songbird, Kirtland’s warble, all make the trails through the Huron section of the National Forest a premier destination for visitors of the Sunrise Coast.

Head west on Oscoda’s local National Scenic Byway, River Road, for 2.5 miles to find the Eagle Run Hiking Trailhead, a gentle, 7-mile moderate hike that follows marked pathways along the beautiful AuSable River. The AuSable’s waters of plentiful trout, picturesque vistas, and lush foliage made the waterway’s 23-mile stretch through the Huron-Manistee National Forest a designated National Wild and Scenic River in 1984.

If you read our recent blog post about Oscoda’s sacred site, then Iargo Springs will sound familiar. Once considered holy by Native Americans for the healing properties of its bubbling groundwater, Iargo Springs is now the trailhead of the Highbanks Trail. The 12.7 mile journey to Sidtown passes such historical markers as the historical logger’s tribute, the Lumberman’s Monument, but is a moderate (and lengthy!) trek for those mainly seeking a relaxing stroll outside or casual birding excursion.

Hoist Lakes Foot Travel Area has two hiking loops that are more inclined towards those seeking a challenging exercise on moderate and rugged terrain, but both loops also offer some of the most beautiful hiking opportunities in the Lower Peninsula. You can find the East Loop trailhead near Barton City, east of Harrisville to the north of Oscoda. The East Loop trailhead is near the three Hoist Lakes themselves so you don’t have to spend too much time on these challenging paths if you want to catch a glimpse of the lakes before heading back to the Huron House. Keep your eyes peeled for foxes, turkeys, porcupines, and beavers.

Reid Lake Foot Travel Area is an easy to moderate 12-mile collection of trails that leads to a large beaver pond and through forested ridges and wetland moors like Fannys Marsh and Mossy Bog. For the most scenic vistas on this trail, turn south at Post No. 3. You’ll find a pair of shady spots on a bluff overlooking the lake from the south side, making this excursion a great one to pack a light picnic lunch and soak in the unforgettable view. It’s well worth the 45-minute drive, and the trail has several pathways that give you a chance to get back to the trailhead.

Familiarize yourself with the trail maps before heading out on an outdoor excursion using the National Forest Service website. Check the weather, and reschedule if storms are a possibility. You’re more than welcome to stay indoors and relax at the bed and breakfast!