• Culture & History
• Dining & Entertainment
• Outdoor Activities & Fishing

• Beaches, Parks & Nature
• City of Manistee
• Villages & Small Towns

• Manistee National Forest
• Manistee River
• Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
• North Country Trail
• Orchard Beach State Park

Manistee National Forest – Manistee River

With thousands of acres of public recreation lands, the Manistee National Forest encompasses the Manistee River's winding course through Manistee County's outdoor Mecca. Visit or contact the US Forest Service Ranger Station to find the information and the maps that you need to take advantage of all the activities available throughout the National Forest. With details on horse trails, fishing spots, camping, hunting, canoeing, kayaking and cross country skiing areas, as well as hiking, bike and snowmobile trails, the nature lover will find lots of stuff to do in every season. (Website)

Manistee Area Beaches

Fifth Avenue Beach (Manistee)
Fifth Avenue Beach offers a walk to the lighthouse & catwalk, a playground, beach house, Coast Guard Station, volleyball and tennis courts, and a picnic area. You can fish off the pier and watch the boat traffic traveling through the channel.

First Street Beach and Douglas Park (Manistee)
This area offers the outdoor sports lover a municipal boat launch, fish cleaning station, picnic area, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, baseball field, beach house and three playground areas including the Lighthouse Park.

Lake Michigan Recreation Area
Beautiful scenes of Lake Michigan make it the perfect setting for a family picnic on the beach. (See below.)

Orchard Beach State Park (Manistee)
Lake Michigan beach adjacent to 201 acre State Park facility available to campers and day users alike. (See below.)

Orchard Beach State Park

Situated on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, this 201-acre park offers a variety of outdoor recreations centered on water sports and in particular fishing. The park includes 176 campsites with picnic tables, fire rings and electrical hook ups. An excellent swimming beach is adjacent to an open picnic shelter, picnic tables, grills, and children's playground. Plenty of shade is available. (Website)

Other Public Beaches

Arcadia Beach (Arcadia)
Miles of natural beach centered around the quaint Village of Arcadia.

Bear Lake

Onekema

Portage Lake

Lake Bluff Audubun Center

Bird trails and four nature trails, fantastic Lake Michigan views, historic manor and gift shop. Two champion Michigan trees grow here in the Center's arboretum: a giant Sequoia and a sycamore maple. (Website)

North Country National Scenic Trail

This national hiking trail now stretches over 4,000 miles linking seven northern States from New York to North Dakota. One of the finest segments of the 575 miles through Michigan follow the Manistee River valley as it winds through the steep banks in eastern Manistee County. Three access points in the County are at Marilla, Udell, and Freesoil. Administered locally by the (Website).

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area

12 Miles SW of Manistee, this National Forest area is the only federally designated wilderness in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It is adjacent to the Lake Michigan Recreation Area and covers 3,450 acres. Activities include rustic camping, observation areas, swimming beach and hiking trails. (Website.)

Magoon Creek Natural Area

The 97-acre Magoon Creek Natural Area is located on Red Apple Road about four miles south of Manistee. You'll find a mile of nature trails, a spectacular Lake Michigan Beach, bluff views, woods, wildlife, wildflowers and more. (Website)

Little Manistee DNR Weir

This interesting site is an egg-take and salmon harvest facility. The weir, operated by the MDNR's Fisheries Division, is used to block the upstream travel of fish on the Little Manistee River. Steelhead eggs are collected in the spring and Chinook salmon eggs in the fall for use in hatcheries. Call the Ranger Station at (231) 723-2211 for mor information.

Lake Michigan Recreation Area

Beautiful scenes of Lake Michigan make it the perfect setting for a family picnic on the beach 12 miles south of Manistee. Camping, hiking, biking, swimming and a handicap accessible observation deck are some of the amenities. Administered by the (Website).