One hundred years ago, a unique, rustic area – the “Pine Barrens Country” that a young Ernest Hemingway called “wild as the devil” and “the greatest I’ve ever been in” – became the Pigeon River Country State Forest. Now home to one of the largest free-roaming elk herds east of the Mississippi, the Pigeon offers abundant opportunities to explore the outdoors.
At 12 miles wide and 20 miles long, it is the largest block of contiguous undeveloped land in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
Located in the north-central part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, just a few miles northeast of Gaylord, it is removed from civilization, and that’s what makes the 109,000-acre “Big Wild” so special.
If you’re planning a trip to the Pigeon, keep in mind that it’s managed differently than other state forests. To retain that “wild character” that provides an opportunity for a remote, undeveloped, backcountry experience, it isn’t peppered with a lot of infrastructure and signs. This doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to explore – you just have to be ready for an adventure. Also be aware that cellphone coverage is patchy.
Check out the links below for more information about outdoor recreation in the Pigeon River Country State Forest, including maps.
E-mail the Pigeon River Forest Management Unit for more information.
The Pigeon River’s headquarters address usually will not work when entered into GPS. Coordinates for the headquarters are 45.169742°, -84.439495°. You can also use the following directions: