"Up North" Are you there yet?

Ask a 100 people that travel to Northern Michigan where "north" starts and you'll get a 100 different answers. But around here, there's no question about it. North starts when you arrive at the Au Sable River!

Up north starts here. The South Branch Au Sable River flows north from the town of Roscommon

It's small, it's big, it's beautiful, it's Up North!

The Au Sable River is a major tributary to Lake Huron. It drains a north-south basin that includes 1,932 square miles in north-central lower Michigan. The basin is approximately 90 miles long and 10 to 30 miles wide. The river basin is partially within the Huron National Forest and includes parts of Otsego, Montmorency, Crawford, Osco, Alcona, Roscommon, Ogemaw, and Iosco counties. It runs approximately 138 miles through the northern Lower Peninsula, through the towns of Grayling and Mio, and enters Lake Huron at Oscoda. 

The South Branch begins in Roscommon flowing north through a natural wilderness area known as the Mason Tract. The North Branch flows south, it's headwaters just south of Gaylord gain volume as it flows through Lovells and then picks up the additional waters of Big Creek further south. And then there is the other Big Creek over in Luzerne flowing from the south adding volume to the main branch. Just east of the town of Grayling, the smaller East Branch enters near the old fish hatchery after following a course through the famous Hartwick Pines State Park lands. Eventually, the tributaries converge to bigger water and form the Mio Pond before they spill over the river's most upstream dam at Mio. Here, the river is big and wild. Truly a wilderness setting befitting the thirst of an adventurer. 

In it's entirety, the watershed is made up of vast state and federal lands interspersed with private lands and several municipalities. Over a hundred years ago the region was heavily lumbered, leaving the river baron of the precious canopy that shaded and cooled the spring fed waters. The native Grayling Fish that once thrived these waters became extinct decades ago. Today, the forested lands have rejuvenated and the river is home to the best trout fishing east of the Rockies. Sports come from far away places to fish this famous river. The bigger story is the life source that the river brings to all of nature's components that make up a natural wildlife environment. In order to protect and enjoy the splendor of the Au Sable region for future generations, numerous public and non-profit organizations have been established to provide management of the resource. Providing good management techniques ensures balance and guidance to enjoying public and private lands.

Interested in Au Sable River Property? Contact Mark Bear

Reprinted from: d'bear out there!
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