Grand Island National Recreation Area
Encyclopedia
The Grand Island National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area
within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service. It is part of the Hiawatha National Forest
. Located on Grand Island
, Michigan
offshore from Munising, Michigan
, the Grand Island National Recreation Area covers approximately 13500 acres (54.6 km²) of Lake Superior
woodland. Grand Island's glacier-cut lake shoreline measures approximately 35 miles (56.3 km) in length. The island's maximum dimension is 8 miles (12.9 km) from north to south. Grand Island was elevated to the status of a National Recreation Area
by the U.S. Congress in 1990.
Lake Superior dominates the Grand Island biotic environment. Even in high summer, the lake's temperature rarely rises above 48 °F (8.9 °C).
Grand Island's geology is an extension of the sandstone
strata of the adjacent Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
. Island sandstone
cliffs as tall as 300 feet (91.4 m) in height plunge down into the lake. A 23 miles (37 km) perimeter trail skirs much of the island's shoreline.
Native Americans
quickly found the fisheries around Grand Island to be a resource for seasonal and year-round living. Artifacts from as early as 3300 years before the present (1300 BCE) have been found.
Grand Island National Recreation Area is served during summer months by a tourist ferry
and island tour bus. The ferry ride, which is less than 1 miles (1.6 km) long, shuttles between a dock on M-28
, northwest of Munising, and Grand Island's Williams Landing. Ticket fees and an admission fee to the island are charged.
A small portion of Grand Island, the Thumb, remained privately owned as of 2006. The Thumb contains a historic lighthouse
, the 1868 Grand Island Harbor Light or 'East Channel Light', on the eastern ship channel from Lake Superior into the port of Munising.
, fishing
, hiking
, hunting
, mountain biking
, and trapping
on Grand Island, subject to state license laws. There are 17 campsites within the Grand Island NRA. The largest animal with a breeding presence on the island is the black bear
, from which campers must protect themselves.
Mountain biking is banned in most of the Thumb. Rockclimbing is strongly discouraged because the island's dramatic sandstone cliffs are friable and crumbly.
The Grand Island Trail Marathon has been held every July since 2005. The event also features a 10K race.
National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area is a designation for a protected area in the United States, often centered on large reservoirs and emphasizing water-based recreation for a large number of people. The first National Recreation Area was the Boulder Dam Recreation Area...
within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service. It is part of the Hiawatha National Forest
Hiawatha National Forest
Hiawatha National Forest is a National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan in the United States. Commercial logging is conducted in some areas. The United States Forest Service administers this National Forest; it is physically divided into two subunits, commonly called the...
. Located on Grand Island
Grand Island Township, Michigan
Grand Island Township is a civil township of Alger County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The township consists entirely of the Grand Island in Lake Superior just north of Munising. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 45...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
offshore from Munising, Michigan
Munising, Michigan
Munising is a city on the southern shore of Lake Superior on the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,539. It is the county seat of Alger County...
, the Grand Island National Recreation Area covers approximately 13500 acres (54.6 km²) of Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
woodland. Grand Island's glacier-cut lake shoreline measures approximately 35 miles (56.3 km) in length. The island's maximum dimension is 8 miles (12.9 km) from north to south. Grand Island was elevated to the status of a National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area is a designation for a protected area in the United States, often centered on large reservoirs and emphasizing water-based recreation for a large number of people. The first National Recreation Area was the Boulder Dam Recreation Area...
by the U.S. Congress in 1990.
Lake Superior dominates the Grand Island biotic environment. Even in high summer, the lake's temperature rarely rises above 48 °F (8.9 °C).
Grand Island's geology is an extension of the sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
strata of the adjacent Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a U.S. National Lakeshore on the shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States. It extends for 42 miles along the shore and covers...
. Island sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
cliffs as tall as 300 feet (91.4 m) in height plunge down into the lake. A 23 miles (37 km) perimeter trail skirs much of the island's shoreline.
Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
quickly found the fisheries around Grand Island to be a resource for seasonal and year-round living. Artifacts from as early as 3300 years before the present (1300 BCE) have been found.
Grand Island National Recreation Area is served during summer months by a tourist ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
and island tour bus. The ferry ride, which is less than 1 miles (1.6 km) long, shuttles between a dock on M-28
M-28 (Michigan highway)
M-28 is an east–west state trunkline highway that almost completely traverses the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan, from Wakefield to near Sault Ste. Marie in Bruce Township...
, northwest of Munising, and Grand Island's Williams Landing. Ticket fees and an admission fee to the island are charged.
A small portion of Grand Island, the Thumb, remained privately owned as of 2006. The Thumb contains a historic lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
, the 1868 Grand Island Harbor Light or 'East Channel Light', on the eastern ship channel from Lake Superior into the port of Munising.
Recreational opportunities
The U.S. Forest Services recommends that visitors enjoy campingCamping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, and trapping
Trapping (Animal)
Animal trapping, or simply trapping, is the use of a device to remotely catch an animal. Animals may be trapped for a variety of purposes, including food, wildlife management, hunting, and pest control...
on Grand Island, subject to state license laws. There are 17 campsites within the Grand Island NRA. The largest animal with a breeding presence on the island is the black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, from which campers must protect themselves.
Mountain biking is banned in most of the Thumb. Rockclimbing is strongly discouraged because the island's dramatic sandstone cliffs are friable and crumbly.
The Grand Island Trail Marathon has been held every July since 2005. The event also features a 10K race.
