| Continuing towards
Ocqueoc along County Road 646, the Huron Trails system crosses the Ocqueoc
River and diverges along two-tracks and convenes back to County Road 646,
see maps 5,6,7 and 8. The trail continues on 646 connecting to US-23
just north of Hoeft State Park to Rogers City. The coastal route, starting
just east of Cheboygan follows US-23 along the edge of the lakeshore. Numerous
overlooks, and picnic stops are found along this Lake Huron stretch. The
interior and coastline trail converge near Hoeft State Park and follows
US-23 to the Rogers City’s trail system.
From Rogers City, the Huron Trails system
reconvenes on Petersville Road crossing US-23 south to County Road 638.
The route continues east on County Road 638 to US-23. The trail follows
US-23 to Old State Road north of Grand Lake east to Presque Isle Harbor.
From there follow Grand Lake Road south to the Besser State Natural Area
or continue south to US-23. There is a bike path along a segment
of Grand Lake Road between Presque Isle and Presque Isle Harbor.
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A number of historic and recreational
sites are accessible from the Huron Greenway route in Presque Isle County,
north of Rogers City. The Black Mountain Recreation Area, within
the Mackinaw State Forest, has become on of the State’s premier cross-country
ski areas, with groomed trails for both Nordic and skate skis. Marked
trails are also available for snowmobiles, ORVs, horseback and hiking use.
Near Black Mountain, the Ocqueoc Outdoor Center occupies the site and buildings
of an intact Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp.
Another historic site lies on Lake Huron at Hammond Bay. The Hammond
Bay Biological Lab is currently operated as a fisheries research station
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Hammond Bay Lab has been instrumental
in the battle against Sea Lamprey. Public Tours of the Lab are available
in summer months, by prior arrangement. The Biological Station occupies
the historic site of the Hammond Bay Lifesaving Station. Further
south along U.S. 23, the Forty Mile Point Lighthouse, a National Register
property, is located in a public park operated by Presque Isle County.
The Forty Mile Point building complex includes the original light, keeper’s
quarters, barn, fog signal building, outhouses and oil storage buildings.
Picnic facilities are available in the park. Hoeft State park, two
miles south on U.S. 23, offers overnight camping, as well as picnic, swimming
and trail facilities. An architecturally significant picnic structure
built during the Depression by the CCC is located at Hoeft.
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Old Presque Isle Light
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40-Mile Point Light
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New Presque Isle Light
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The City of Rogers City is another key connection
point for the Huron Greenways. Rogers City is blessed by numerous
waterfront parks. Seagull Point is the largest and is noted for an
extensive trail system through stands of native forest vegetation and dunes.
Lakeside Park, at the center of town, includes a small boat harbor, beach,
picnic area, soccer and basketball fields, bandshell (with seasonal musical
performances), pavilion and seasonal food service. Downtown businesses
and
restaurants are in easy walking distance from the harbor. In the
summer of 2000, the City will be constructing a “park linkage” pathway,
which will connect all the City’s waterfront parks into a pedestrian and
bicycle-oriented trail system. The City’s trail will connect at the
north end to the Herman Vogler Conservation Area, a 320-acre park with
hiking, biking and ski trails, and on the south to Calcite, the deep-water
industrial harbor where Great Lakes freighters are loaded with limestone.
Just south of Rogers City, Quarry View provides an overlook to view the
largest limestone quarry in the world, still in operation and still the
County’s largest employer. The City’s history as a shipping and mining
town can be explored at the Presque Isle County Historical Museum, located
in a National Register historic home on Huron Street in Rogers City.
The community of Presque Isle lies approximately
fifteen miles south of Rogers City, and is another key feature of the Huron
Greenways. Originally a wood fuel stop for lake going passenger and
freight steam ships, Presque Isle and the nearby Grand Lake community
is today a center for recreation and tourism. Maritime historical
site in the area include the Old Presque Isle Light (1840), the New Presque
Isle Light (1870) and the Presque Isle Range Light. Each of these
lights is surrounded by a public park and picnic area. Both lighthouses
feature museums and public access to the towers. Public docking,
launching, swimming and picnic facilities are available at the MDNR small
boat harbor at Presque Isle, with a seasonal restaurant and convenience
store nearby. In 1998, Presque Isle Township completed the first
phase of a safety trail system along Grand Lake Road, which connects the
community of Presque Isle on Grand Lake to the Presque Isle small boat
harbor and lighthouse area. Future plans include safety trail links
into nearby Thompson’s Harbor State Park.
Several other significant greenway sites
lie at the southern end of Presque Isle Township. The Besser Natural
Area includes a nature trail, and ruins of the historic Village of Bell,
a lumbering era settlement. Existing foot trails lead from this site
into the adjacent Rockport property, now in public ownership. In
the Presque Isle Township section, Rockport features a number of sinkholes
and significant dune/swale environments, which are described more fully
in other portions of this report.
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PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY (WEST) - SITES OF
INTEREST
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PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY (EAST) - SITES OF
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