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Grayling Visitors BureauLodging and Local Attractions |
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The Grayling area is blessed with a wide variety of plants and animals. Some, like the Kirtland's Warbler, are rare or endangered.
Kirtland's
Warbler
The Kirtland's Warbler or Dendroica kirtlandii
(den-DROY-kah kert-LAND-ee-eye) is Michigan's rarest bird. This
endangered species makes it's nests in a 50-mile radius from Mio,
Michigan. Warbler nesting grounds are found exclusively in the
80+ acre Jack Pine forests around the
Grayling area.
The female Warbler builds her nest of leaves and grass below 5-20 foot tall Jack Pines in the midst of dense undergrowth. Four to five cream-white or pink-white eggs with brown spots are placed in the nest in May or June, and sometimes Warblers will start new nests after the first nest has hatched.
In the fall Kirtland's Warblers migrate to the Bahamas. Usually 2000 to 2400 Warblers migrate, but only 1000 return to Michigan in May every year. The Warbler's extinction is being caused primarily by loss of its very selective habitat. Managed timber harvest, tree planting, and controlled burning have helped double the number of Kirtland's Warblers from 1961 to now.
For more information on the Kirtland's Warbler visit the Department of Natural Resources Kirtland's Warbler Site
Guided tours are available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
East Lansing Field Office
1405 South Harrison Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
(989) 337-6650
Ruffed
Grouse
The Ruffed Grouse makes its nests in the same manner as the
Kirtland's Warbler, but both birds are almost never seen in the
same territory together. This game-bird is not as selective as
the Warbler, and can be found in a variety of terrain. Open
spaces and aspen stands are the best places
to view the Ruffed Grouse, though. The male can sometimes be seen
perched on a log or fallen tree, making a loud "drumming" sound
with its wings to attract females.
White-Tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer is Northern Michigan's most famous animal.
Deer can be seen all year round along the roads and highways, or
where wooded areas meet open spaces and fields.
The deer is a popular game animal in Michigan.
Turkey
The Wild Turkey is so plentiful in Northern Michigan that they
are considered to be a nuisance by local farmers. Along with the
white-tailed deer, turkeys are popular game animals. Traveling
the back roads around Grayling should afford you many
opportunities to catch a family of Turkeys crossing the road.
Black
Bear
Black Bears make their diet of insects and berries, and can be
usually be found near groves of aspen or
other open spaces. The Black Bear is shy and reclusive, but
leaves much evidence of its passing. Look for paw prints,
droppings, or mauled Juneberry bushes.
Bald
Eagle
America's national bird is the Bald Eagle, which is easily
identified by its white head. The Bald Eagle is endangered, but
is making a comeback in Northern Michigan. The AuSable and Manistee rivers make great nesting
areas for the eagle. They can sometimes be seen around the river,
or over fields where Bald Eagles hunt for mice and other small
mammals.
Trumpeter
Swan
The Trumpeter Swan, cygnus buccinator, is another of the
area's endangered species. This swan can be identified by its
characteristic "trumpeting" call. Trumpeter Swan's weigh between
25-35 pounds, and can grow to 8 feet in length. These swans mate
for life, and return year after year to the same nesting sites.
Shallow marshes are its preferred nesting areas.
"Old Growth"
Forests
Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling boasts
a "old growth" forest with trees more than 150 feet tall and over
150 years old. The Red, White, and Jack pines are home to a
variety of wildlife, including: the
Kirtland's Warbler, bluebirds, beavers, white-tailed deer, black bear, snowshoe hares, grouse,
sparrows, sandpipers, warblers, turkeys,
badgers, owls, woodpeckers, wildflowers, blueberries, big
bluestem, fern, and a few endangered plants like: Hill's thistle,
rough fescue, and pale agoseris.
Aspen
Grayling and its surrounding area is covered by Aspen and Poplar
stands. These trees provide a home for: woodcock, snowshoe hares,
white-tailed deer, juneberries,
blackberries, black bear, black
squirrels, red-eyed vireos, and woodpeckers.
Morels and
Mushrooming
Mushroom hunting is a popular activity in Northern Michigan.
Morels and their family of mushrooms are delicious when cooked,
but be careful. Not all varieties are edible, and some people are
allergic to some of the edible varieties. If you plan to go
"mushrooming", buy a guide book. Take along good shoes, a basket
or paper bag and a knife for cutting the mushrooms from their
base.
Morels can be found all over Michigan from April to mid-June, but be prepared to hunt for them. Morels grow randomly at best.
Berry Picking
All along Michigan's roads and throughout its woods grow a huge
supply of blueberries, blackberries, Juneberries, raspberries,
and strawberries. Blueberries are ripe during late July or
August, and strawberries reach their peak season during over all
the summer months. Look for blueberries in sandy, wooded areas,
while strawberries can be found in scrub fields. Juneberries,
blackberries, and raspberries are easiest to find along roadways
in the late summer or early fall months.
AuSable
River
Right through the heart of Grayling passes the mighty AuSable.
Home to trout, blue herons, otters, ospreys, and the bald eagle, the AuSable is one of the best
places to view Grayling's wildlife.
Manistee
River
The Manistee river is similar to the AuSable for much of its
length. Like the AuSable, the river is home to a wide variety of
fish and wildlife, and public access is plentiful.
Fall Color
Tours
The contrasting evergreen and hardwood forests of Northeast
Michigan are spectacular in Autumn. The fall foliage promises to
put on a brilliant show. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy a
leisurely drive down the backroads, cycling through Hartwick
Pines, or taking in the riverside colors while canoeing down the
world famous AuSable and Manistee Rivers. Local canoe liveries
are open, and the weather is still warm enough for a pleasant
afternoon on the water.
Skyline Ski Area, a family vacation spot during the Winter, has generously offered the use of their ski slopes as a Fall color viewing site. Skyline is conveniently located off I-75 at the Four Mile Road exit, South of Grayling. Coming from the South, turn right on Four Mile Road, then immediately turn right again on Old 27. Two miles down the road take Skyline Road to the Left and follow it for one mile. If coming from the North, take the Four Mile Road exit, turn left, then follow the same directions. There is ample parking at Skyline and it is only a short hike to a magnificent view at the top of the ski hill.
From Grayling take the Four Mile Road Exit off I-75, turn left across the overpass, then take Old U.S. 27 South to North Higgins Lake Drive and turn left, which is East. Stay with North Higgins Lake Drive until you come to County Road 200, which will continue East. Follow this road until you come to S. Grayling Road where you will turn left and head North. Continue North until reaching Four Miile Road where you take a left and head West until reaching Military Road. At this point turn right and follow Military Road until you reach M-93 and turn fight. This will take you back to M-72 West where you turn right and head East back into Grayling.
Another beautiful viewing site is on Lake Margrethe, West of Grayling. Take M-72 West to McIntyres Landing Road and following the state campground signs. This is a picnic area, boat launch and rustic state campground.
For other scenic drives through Crawford county, take M-93 to Hartwick Pines State Park. After touring the park, continue North until M-93 ends at County Road 612. Follow CO 612 West into Frederic. At the blinking light in Frederic, CO 612 jogs briefly to the South, with an immediate West turn.
From here, depending on the amount of time you want to spend, there are several possible routes. For "back road" driving, turn right onto Kolka Creek Rd., the first road West of Frederic. Follow Kolka Creek Road to Cameron Bridge Road, then tum left onto North Manistee River Road. When you again reach CO 612, turn left and return to Frederic.
For a longer drive, with all the traveling on a main road, follow County Rd. 612 West towards Kalkaska until you reach Mancelona Road. At that point CO 612 ends and you turn left onto Mancelona Road. Follow it to M-72 and turn left, which is East, and continue back into Grayling.
For a tour to the East, follow North Down River Rd. to Red Oak Rd. in Oscoda County. Turn left (North), and follow to Lewiston, to County Rd. 612. Follow CO 612 right (West) through Lovell's, into Frederic, and pick up the other fall color tours from that location.
Crawford County has something to offer every season. This Winter you will want to come back to snowmobile our over 200 miles of groomed trails. If your Winter Sport is cross country you will find some of the best trails anywhere. Skiline and Hanson Hills offer downhill skiing for families at reasonable rates. There is nothing like our Spring, when trout season opens on the famed AuSable and Manistsee Pivers. Summer speaks for itself.
Reprinted from a flyer from the:
Grayling Area Visitors Council, (800) 937-8837
Annual AuSable
River Festival
In late July every year people flock from all over Michigan to
celebrate the annual AuSable River Festival and canoe race. The
celebration includes arts & crafts show, a parade, the 10k
run and 1 mile fun run/walk, Special Olympics and children's
races, and the Weyerhauser AuSable canoe marathon. The continuous
14 hour, 120 mile race brings contestants from all over the U.S.
and Canada. To find out more about this year's AuSable
River Festival, call the Grayling Regional Chamber of Commerce at
(800)-937-8837.
Winter Months
When the weather turns cold, don't worry. You can still get a
glimpse of nature in Grayling. The area is covered with hiking
and cross-country skiing trails where
you can see winter songbirds, squirrels, rabbits, and the
occasional deer.