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Roscommon Red Pines

Recognition:

  • Legally Dedicated Natural Area
  • National Natural Landmark

Size: 160 acres

Location: 8 miles east of Roscommon, off Sunset Drive.

Management: Au Sable State Forest

Activities: Hiking, outdoor education, bird watching, photography, nature study

Importance: Contains a 34-acre grove of virgin red pine, one of the best stands in the Central Lowland portion of the United States. This grove is typical of the former virgin pine forest that once covered a considerable portion of the upper middle part of the Lower Peninsula. The stand provides evidence of fires in 1798, 1888 and 1928 and contains a former National Champion red pine.