Grayling Recreation

Northern Michigan is your getaway for every season. 9 Oaks Inn is centrally located 6 miles south of Grayling, 7 miles northwest of Roscommon, 4.5 miles north of Higgins Lake (the 6th most beautiful lake in the world according to National Geographic) and 12 miles south of Hartwick Pines State Park. We are within walking distance to the Grayling Moose Lodge and close to golf, canoeing, hiking, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling trails, and hunting, to name a few.

Golfing – Grayling Recreation

1. Forest Dunes Golf Club 6376 Forest Dunes Drive Roscommon, MI 48653
   (989) 275-0700
2. Fox Run Country Club 5825 W 4 Mile Rd Grayling, MI 49738
   (989) 348-4343
3. Grayling Country Club 2122 S I 75 Business Loop Grayling, MI 49738
   (989) 348-5618‎
4. Ye Olde Country Club 904 W Sunset Dr, Roscommon, MI 48653
   (989) 275-5582‎

Canoeing – Grayling Recreation

Roscommon Canoeing on the South Branch of the Ausable River

1. Watters Edge Canoe Livery 10799 Dana Dr Roscommon, MI 48653
   
   Get Directions(989) 275-5568
2. Hiawatha Canoe Livery‎ 1113 Lake St Roscommon, MI 48653
   
   Get Directions(989) 275-5213
3. Campbell’s Canoe Livery 1112 Lake St Roscommon, MI 48653
   
   Get Directions(989) 275-5810

Grayling Canoeing on the Main Branch of the Ausable River or the Manistee River

1. Ray’s Ausable & Manistee Canoeing‎ 200 Ingham St Grayling, MI 49738
   
   Get Directions(989) 348-5844
2. Borcher’s Ausable Canoeing 101 Maple St Grayling, MI 49738
   
   Get Directions(989) 348-4921
3. Carlisle Au Sable Canoe Rental‎‎ 110 State St Grayling, MI 49738
   
   Get Directions(989) 348-2301
4. Shel-Haven Manistee River Canoe Rental‎ 11852 W M 72 Hwy Grayling, MI 49738
   
   Get Directions(989) 348-2158
5. Longs Manistee River Canoe Livery‎ 2779 N Manistee River Rd Grayling, MI 49738
   
   Get Directions(989) 348-7224
6. Penrod’s Canoe Rental‎ 100 Maple St Grayling, MI 49738
   
   Get Directions(989) 348-2910
7. Jim’s Au Sable Canoe Livery‎ 1706 S Wakeley Bridge Rd Grayling, MI 49738
   
   Get Directions(989) 348-3203

Water Recreation/Swimming – Grayling Recreation

1. Lake Margrethe –  Swimming accessibility through Camp Grayling.
2. Kneff Lake – A beautiful swimming destination. Directions: From Grayling, MI, take State Rt. 72 east for 8 miles to Stephan Bridge Rd. Turn right on Stephen Bridge Rd. and go 1.2 miles to sign. Turn left at sign and go 0.7 miles to another sign. Go straight through to Kneff Lake.
3. Higgins Lake – According to National Geographic, Higgins Lake is the 6th most beautiful lake in the world. This rating was in part because of the unusual depths of the middle of the lake (nearly 200 feet (61 m) deep) combined with the source of water being an underground spring resulting in exceptionally clean and clear waters. There are two state parks, South Higgins Lake State Park, with a mile of shoreline, and North Higgins Lake State Park, located, as might be expected from the names, on opposite ends of the lake. Both provide public boat launches and swimming.
4. Houghton Lake – Houghton Lake is the largest inland lake in the state of Michigan, and one of the largest natural inland lakes in the United States. The lake is considered a warm water, shallow lake, with the average depth being 7 1/2 feet and perfect for swimming.

Beaver Creek Township Park with Recreation and Pavilion

Beaver Creek Township Park – 9 Oaks Inn is 1 mile away from the Beaver Creek Township Hall, where this park is located. Park amenities include Tennis Courts, Playground, Volleyball, Basketball, and a Pavilion for family reunions and group outings. Open to the public.

Attractions – Grayling Recreation

1. Grayling Fish Hatchery – The Grayling Fish Hatchery is open every day from 12 Noon until 6 p.m. 7 days a week,  through Labor Day.  The Hatchery is currently operated as a service to the community by the Grayling Recreation Authority.
2. Wellington Farm Park – Wellington Farm, USA is a 60-acre open-air interpretive museum designed to provide an educational opportunity for visitors to experience life as it was in rural mid-America during The Great Depression.  Through a series of displays, a wide variety of exhibits, and beautiful natural settings, the park provides a variety of educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities for visitors to Northern Michigan.
3. Crawford County Historical Museum – Take an imaginary trip back in time by touring the Crawford County Historical Museum complex. Visitors will take a nostalgic trip to the turn of the century in the restored Passenger Freight Depot which was built in 1882.

Hiking/Biking/Sight Seeing – Grayling Recreation

1. Morel Mushroom Hunting – Black morel mushrooms in northern Michigan, usually starts slowly during the last week of April.  The best black morel hunting is the the first 2 weeks in May and Mothers Day is usually a big weekend. The blacks start slowing down to almost nothing by the third week of May.  The white or yellow morels start coming on around the second week of May and last into early June.
2. Wild Berry Picking – Wild berry picking is a treat for many outdoor enthusiasts and the countryside around Grayling offers prime territory. Blueberries (huckleberries) red raspberries, juneberries, strawberries, and blackberries are all available during the summer months. Look for blueberries under low Jackpines in sandy soil. Blackberries and raspberries can often be found along forest trail roads.
3. Red Pine Natural Area – A particularly beautiful stand of old growth red pines, 1.5 miles, level terrain, interpretive foot trail, no camping. 8 miles N. of St. Helen on F-97 to Sunset Rd., then E. 3/4 miles to trail.
4. Kirtland Warbler Annual Festival – A family and bird watcher’s festival focusing on the endangered Kirtland Warbler who only lives in Northern Michigan and winters in the Bahamas. Next year’s festival will be on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
5. Mason Tract Pathway – Glide into the dense cedar, pine, and hardwood forest trail starting at the edge of Chase Bridge Road and you’ve entered some of the wildest country in Lower Michigan. But don’t worry, it’s friendly wild. Donated to the state years ago by the widow of auto magnate George Mason, the tract officially takes in 16 miles of the trout-rich Au Sable River’s South branch. Open all year for biking, cross country skiing and hiking.
6. Wakeley Lake Foot Travel Area – The Wakeley Lake non-motorized area consists of 3 loops, 4 1/2, 5 and 7 miles in length. The terrain is well suited for the novice/intermediate bikers with 0% steep, 25% hilly, 55% moderate and 20% flat. Wakeley Lake is a gem and home of the Loon.
7. Hartwick Pines State Park – Hartwick Pines State Park is the largest state park in Michigan’s northern lower peninsula consisting of 9,672 acres. Fittingly, it also contains the largest stand of old growth white pines remaining in the lower peninsula. Visitors can relax in the Michigan Forest Visitor Center and learn more about Michigan’s forests in an exhibit hall that focuses on the history of logging, forestry, and the numerous ways we utilize trees in our daily lives. Open all year for biking, cross country skiing and hiking.
8. North Higgins Lake State Park – Located on what was once the world’s largest seedling nursery, provides the variety of tree, plant, bird and animal species that make the park attractive for outdoor activities. Open all year for biking, cross country skiing and hiking.
9. Hanson Hills Recreation Area – Open all year for biking, cross country skiing and hiking.

Cross Country Skiing – Grayling Recreation

1. West Higgins Cross-Country Ski Trail – 4.9k, new trail flat to gently rolling terrain, maintained by local ski club. Parking lot off Old-27.
2. Marl Lake Trail – 5.5 miles flat terrain with scenic view of Marl Lake. County Rd. 100 across the street from S. Higgins Lake State Park
3. Hanson Hills Recreation Area – 35k groomed cross-country trails, rolling terrain through Hanson Game Refuge, x-country ski lodge. 3 miles west of Grayling on M-93.
4. Loud Creek Nordic Ski Club – 10k groomed and wide enough for a skating lane, rugged terrain with long sloping grades and 1/2 mile downhill runs, trail head donations requested. M-33 from Mio south to 14th St, south to Cauchy Rd, then west on Cauchy Rd.
5. Wakeley Lake Trail – Offers 16.5 miles of hiking trails; the yellow trail is 7 miles, the blue trail 5 miles, the orange trail 4.5 miles. Birdwatchers would be interested in the nesting Loons, Eagles & Great Blue Heron. M72 east of Grayling 1/4 mile past Wakeley Bridge Road

Snowmobile Rental/Service – Grayling Recreation

1. Rich’s Cycle Service 989-348-9276 Service
2. Sledheads 989-344-7669 Accessories, Rentals
3. Fun N Sun Rentals 989-348-2188 Sales, Service, Rentals
4. Woodland Snowmobile Rentals 800-966-3818 Rentals

Trails – Grayling Recreation

9 Oaks Inn is located very close to snowmobile and motorcycle trails with easy access, ride right from your room.

Horse Riding Trails – Grayling Recreation

Michigan Trail Riders Association maintains horseback riding trails in Michigan. The Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail which winds from Empire on Lake Michigan to Oscoda on Lake Huron. A Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail spur goes south from Grand Traverse County to Cadillac; a second spur goes north from the Frederic/Grayling area into the Pigeon River State Forest near Indian River and Mullet Lake.

Hunting & Fishing – Grayling Recreation

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.

1. Lake Margrethe – Rock bass, yellow perch, blue gills, small mouth bass, large mouth bass, tiger muskie, northern pike, walleye and are taken both in open water and by ice fishing.
2. Higgins Lake – Sportsfish in the lake include yellow perch, trout, smelt and pike and are taken both in open water and by ice fishing.
3. Houghton Lake – The lake offers almost every species of game and panfish found in Michigan with the exception of the trout/salmon families, the sturgeon, and white bass. Common catches include northern pike, bluegill, walleye, crappie, yellow perch and largemouth bass. Houghton Lake is the site of Tip-Up-Town USA, a large ice fishing and winter sports festival with several events on the frozen waters of the lake itself.

For specific details and regulations see the DNR website.