The Grayling area is a sanctuary for those who seek the great outdoors. When you’re here, you enter “River Time Zone”– where time has no meaning.
Year round, Grayling offers casual adventures for outdoor enthusiasts. We have biking, hiking, golfing, disc golfing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing on the AuSable and Manistee Rivers as well as a fish hatchery, endangered Kirtland’s Warbler tours, geocaching and historical sites such as Hartwick Pines State Park, Crawford County Historical Museum, Wellington Farm Park, USA, Lovell’s Historical Society, W.J. Beal Tree Planting and the Grayling Fish Hatchery.
In the winter, sledding, snowboarding, and downhill skiing as well as numerous groomed or ungroomed trails for cross country skiing, skijoring, snowshoeing and snowmobiling are all available. 70% of the land in Crawford County is owned by either the State or Federal government, allowing public access to literally thousands of acres.
Whether it’s a family vacation, a weekend getaway, or just the desire for the total outdoor experience, when you arrive in Grayling, you have access to all that Northern Michigan has to offer.
Grayling Visitor’s Bureau has a wealth of information on things to do in and around Grayling. We encourage you to take a look at their website for further information.
Click here for a list of Special Places to Visit / Historical Sites:
Art
The City of Grayling has two Art Galleries right in the heart of downtown on Michigan Avenue which houses both local and regional talent. In addition to the galleries below, there are many shops along the way that house additional local art – find out more about the Grayling Art Tour.
- Artisan Village – 989-312-3660
- Main Branch Gallery – 989-344-0030
A variety of terrain and numerous scenic trails for the novice to expert rider are making Crawford County an increasingly popular mountain bikers’ destination.
For Bike Sales & Service, visit the following Chamber member businesses:
- Northbound Outfitters/Cross Country Ski Shop/The Bicycle Shop – 989-348-8558.
For Bike Rentals, visit the following Chamber member business:
- Penrod’s AuSable River Resort – 1-888-GO RIVER
Area Bike Trails:
- Grayling Area Paved Pathway / Grayling Bicycle Turnpike – over 11 miles long. 6 miles of the trail is an extended shoulder that runs to Hanson Hills Recreation Area. From town to Hartwick Pines State Park, the trail is a separate pathway (Grayling Bicycle Turnpike) which is a family friendly paved hiking & biking trail (7+ miles). Once at Hartwick Pines State Park, the only fee to enter the state park is a Michigan Recreation Passport (State Park Permit). People on foot or bike entering park do not pay a fee.
- Hanson Hills Recreation Area — 989-348-9266. Offers some of the best terrain in Northern Michigan for hiking & biking with over 15 miles of the state’s best single track for the mountain biker.
- Hartwick Pines Biking Trails – 989-348-7068 – Hikers and bikers will find 5 trails from 7.8k to 20.8k. Hiking trails range from dirt to paved, through Old Growth Trail. The park is located just 7 1/2 miles northeast of Grayling off M-93 North (Exit 259 off I-75). Trails: Aspen Trail, Deer Run Trail, and Weary Legs Trail.
- Rayburn Estate Trail – family friendly paved 2 mile hike & bike pathway which crosses the AuSable River with a wooden foot bridge. Parking area is located a few miles east of town off N. Down River Rd. across from M.A.T.E.S.
Birding is excellent throughout the county because of the heavy and varied forest growth. The Grayling Visitor’s Bureau’s Bird Watching page shows known locations where specific species, including the Kirtland’s Warbler, have been spotted. The birds listed are just a sample of what can be seen; many more species live in those areas.
Boating and Swimming
There are public access locations throughout Crawford County for swimming and boating. Lake Margrethe has a public beach at the public campground off McIntyre’s Landing Road, M-72 West. Located at the southern end of the county, Higgins Lake offers two state parks (North Higgins Lake and South Higgins Lake) with large beaches and wonderful swimming facilities. Jones Lake, Kneff Lake and Shupac Lake also have small public beaches for swimming. There are boat launches located at Lake Margrethe and Higgins Lake for those with larger boats or for jet-skiis.
Bowling
The American Legion Grayling Post 106 offers bowling to the public – 989-348-7232
Canoeing & Kayaking
The world famous AuSable and Manistee Rivers have no rocks or rapids, a slow current and crystal clear water. Canoeing or kayaking through beautiful forests of pine, birch and cedar on rivers designed for beginners, couples, families or large groups is the ideal way to enjoy a warm summer day or to view the magnificent fall colors.
We recommend the following Chamber members if you wish to plan a canoe trip.
- Borchers AuSable Canoe & Kayak – 989-348-4921
- Penrod’s AuSable River Resort & Canoe Trips – 989-348-2910
Cross Country Skiing / Snowshoeing / Winter Trails
The Grayling area offers miles of exceptionally well-groomed cross country ski trails for the novice to the expert, and ungroomed, pristine trails for snowshoeing or back-country skiing.
Trail conditions are available by calling the Grayling Visitors Bureau at 1-800-937-8837, or by entering their web site under Updates – skiing. Trail conditions can also be found at Cross Country Ski Headquarters, Cross Country Ski Shop, Forbush Corners, Hanson Hills Recreation Area and VisitGrayling.com.
Our members who offer Cross Country Skiing and Winter Trail updates can be found on our Categorical Member Directory under Skiing – Cross County.
Fly Fishing: Crawford County has over one hundred miles of cool, crystal clear streams to explore, among them the AuSable and Manistee Rivers, premier world-famous trout streams.
Visit the following local Chamber Member businesses for your fly fishing needs:
- Gates AuSable Lodge – 989-348-8462
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Old AuSable Fly Shop – 989-348-3330
- Ron’s Fly Shop – 989-344-2700
Lake Fishing/Ice Fishing: The Grayling area has numerous lakes, including Lake Margrethe, that offer a variety of fresh water fish. For ice fishing, many lakes have high quality ice.
Fish Hatchery: Over 5,000 trout swim in the ponds of the Grayling Fish Hatchery. Part of the fun of visiting the hatchery is watching the water churn as the greedy trout fight for their share of the fish food which can be purchased for a small donation. The thousands of brook, brown and rainbow trout range from 2 1/2 to 28 inches in length.
Grayling Township Park has a 9 hole disc golf course that can be played twice to turn it into 18 holes.
Hanson Hills Recreation Area now has two amazing disc golf courses – 989-348-9266:
The contrasting evergreen and hardwood forests of Northern Michigan are spectacular in Autumn. Enjoy the scenery with a leisurely drive, cycling or canoeing.
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment. Currently there are over 300 hidden geocaches in the 49738 zip code of Grayling.
Grayling area has three public golf courses to offer visitors. Going in any direction from your stay in Grayling, you will be within an hour’s drive of over thirty different golfing adventures.
We recommend the following Chamber members if you wish to plan a golf outing:
- Forest Dunes Golf Club – 989-275-0700
- Fox Run Country Club – 989-348-4343
- Grayling Country Club – 989-348-5618
- Michaywe’ – 989-939-8919
Some of the best hiking terrain in Northern Michigan is in the Grayling area. There are miles and miles of paved and unpaved trails to hike, and hundreds of acres of state land to explore! Spring and summer will offer the opportunity to watch wildlife in their natural setting, fall is a great time to take photos of the colors of autumn, and the hardy hiker will love the rugged beauty of winter. See below or visit www.grayling-mi.com for further details on our area trail systems.
- Grayling Area Paved Pathway / Grayling Bicycle Turnpike – over 11 miles long. 6 miles of the trail is an extended shoulder that runs to Hanson Hills Recreation Area. From town to Hartwick Pines State Park, the trail is a separate pathway (Grayling Bicycle Turnpike) which is a family friendly paved hiking & biking trail (7+ miles). Once at Hartwick Pines State Park, the only fee to enter the state park is a Michigan Recreation Passport (State Park Permit). People on foot or bike entering park do not pay a fee.
- Hanson Hills Recreation Area — 989-348-9266. Offers some of the best terrain in Northern Michigan for hiking & biking with over 15 miles of the state’s best single track for the mountain biker.
- Hartwick Pines Hiking Trails – 989-348-7068 – Hikers and bikers will find 5 trails from 7.8k to 20.8k. Hiking trails range from dirt to paved, through Old Growth Trail. The park is located just 7 1/2 miles northeast of Grayling off M-93 North (Exit 259 off I-75). Trails: Aspen Trail, AuSable Trail, Bright and Glory Lakes Trail, Deer Run Trail, Old Growth Forest Trail, and Weary Legs Trail.
- Mason Tract Pathway – 11 1/2 miles of trails along the beautiful AuSable River in South Branch Township.
- North Higgins Lake State Park – 989-821-6125 – Trails: Beaver Creek Trail, Bosom Pines Trail, and Upland Nature Trail.
- Rayburn Estate Trail – family friendly paved 2 mile hike & bike pathway which crosses the AuSable River with a wooden foot bridge. Parking area is located a few miles east of town off N. Down River Rd. across from M.A.T.E.S.
- Wakeley Lake Foot Travel Area – Offers 16.5 miles of hiking & biking trails. This site is one of US Forest Service’s fee demonstration areas. A parking pass is required. Pass can be obtained at the parking area on site or at the District Ranger Office at Mio.
With 70 percent of its’ property owned by the state and federal government and open to the public, Crawford County is a hunter’s dream. Various types of terrain yield trophy sized bucks, snowshoe hares, squirrels, turkey, grouse, woodcock and waterfowl hunting.
- The Devereaux Memorial Library is located next to the AuSable Primary School in Grayling
- The Frederic Community Library is located in Frederic, MI
Low in calories and high in nutrient content and flavor, the morel beckons many a visitor to our area during the month of May. A wild and wonderful delicacy, Crawford County has a large amount of state and federal property which may be hunted at will.
When you’re on a motorcycle, half the fun of the trip is getting there! There are dozens of beautiful rides within two hours of your Grayling Area Home Base. Lansing Motorcycle Club – 517-663-1597
Movie Theater
Grayling has one movie theater right downtown.
Ride a scenic, wooded trail, perfect for the novice and intermediate ORV’er. Crawford County’s ORV trail system is approximately 26 miles long and begins at the Blue Bear parking lot, four miles west of Grayling on M72. This trail is winding with a lot of curves but not many hills. It has some sugar sand and some hard pack. For ORV/ATV regulations, please visit the Department of Natural Resources website at www.michigan.gov/dnr under “Recreation & Camping”.
Crawford County ORV Ordinances
Playgrounds
Playgrounds are available at the following locations in Crawford County:
- Beaver Creek Township behind the Beaver Creek Township Hall. Picnic tables and restrooms are available.
- Frederic Township Park across from the fire department. Picnic tables are available.
- Grayling City Park on the AuSable River. Picnic tables and restrooms are available. A pavilion and picnic tables are also offered across the river from the playground.
- Grayling Township Park across from the Grayling Fish Hatchery. Picnic tables and restrooms are available.
- Hanson Hills Recreation Areas – located at the entrance to Hanson Hills. Porta Johns are available.
- Hartwick Pines State Park in the “day use” area. Picnic tables, a pavilion and restrooms are available. The pavilion is rented out to specific groups at various times. A state park sticker is required for admittance.
If you love skijoring, there are many miles of ungroomed areas near Grayling to enjoy. If you don’t know what skijoring is, or are new to the sport, read below or click on “Skijoring” above.
Skijoring, a growing winter sport, is a cross between dog sledding and cross country skiing. It originates in Scandinavia, and allows a dog and owner to exercise together while enjoying the outdoors. A dog pulls a skier, who skis or brakes as they travel across natural snow. Skijoring requires only basic cross country ski gear and a harness for your dog, a skijoring belt for your waist, and a towline that connects you to your dog.
Thousands of acres of state land and miles of groomed trails make for loads of winter fun in the Grayling area. With easy access from I-75, U.S.127 and M-72, and lodging facilities that offer direct trail access or other special amenities, Grayling has become a favorite with snowmobilers. Hundreds of miles of groomed trails in the county are among the finest in the state.
Trail conditions are available by calling the Grayling Visitors Bureau at 1-800-937-8837, or by entering their web site under Updates – snowmobiling. Trail conditions can also be found at Fay’s Motel, VisitGrayling.com and Michigan Trail Report
For an online snowmobile map from the Michigan DNR, click here
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