Discover Arenac County
Accommodation in Arenac County
Arenac County combines the expanse of Lake Huron with sandy beaches, river landscapes, wetlands, and small cultural destinations. At Point Au Gres Park, Lake Huron meets Saginaw Bay; there, you will find more than 900 feet of sandy beach. The park is also considered the primary launch point for the Arenac County Blue Water Trail. Those who want to combine nature observation, water activities, and regional history on a trip will find various options for planning each day here.
Water, Coast, and Protected Nature
The Arenac County Blue Water Trail is primarily a wilderness experience with limited access and few facilities along the coast. The trail was established in 2013 to provide kayakers and canoeists with opportunities to observe waterfowl and wildlife along the northern shore of Saginaw Bay. This focus makes a difference when planning a trip: For an outing centered on nature observation, you should take the limited infrastructure into account, while Point Au Gres Park provides a clearly designated starting point.
Among the notable natural areas is the Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area, with 3,137 acres of coastal marshland in Arenac County. Au Gres Delta Nature Preserve is located on the Au Gres River and borders the western shore of Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. 97.5 percent of its area is designated as wetlands in the National Wetlands Inventory. Birdwatching opportunities are available there. The Saganing Trailhead also provides access from the parking lot to a dense forest area and the Saganing River delta wetlands; snowshoeing is among the activities listed there.
Trails and Landscapes for Active Days
Eickholt-Pressprich Nature Preserve provides habitat for frogs, turtles, deer, waterfowl, and wildflowers. It also includes a section of shoreline on Lake Huron and a secured recreational access point for visitors to the preserve. Hiking there can be combined with views of different habitats. Oasis Lake is a 22-acre spring-fed lake with clear water, completely surrounded by a sandy shore. A walking path runs along the lake and through the woods in Oasis Lake Park.
For a stay with a stronger connection to the town and waterfront, Au Gres offers several specific points of interest. Au Gres Riverside Park is operated by the city and is free and open to the public. It has a splash pad and a dock for transit boats. A lit waterfront path runs along the Au Gres River in Au Gres City Park. In addition, Au Gres has a four-mile bike path from downtown to the mouth of the Au Gres River. Old Airport Disc Golf Course adds an 18-hole course that is free and open to the public. Youngman-Fiddler Park is a roadside park with a pavilion.
Local History and Seasonal Impressions
Beyond the landscape, Arenac County also offers themes for a varied day of travel. The Arenac County Historical Society Museum features an exhibit on commercial fishing with a stationary 1910 IHC engine, nets, and fishing equipment. The North East Michigan (NEM) Baseball League Museum is located in Ye Olde Courthouse. The museum room at Standish Historic Depot focuses on railroad artifacts, depot memorabilia, and photographs and documents relating to local history.
The Au Gres Farmer’s Market takes place at Riverside Park Pavilion on Fridays and Saturdays from June through August. Ye Olde Courthouse also lists the sale of baked goods during Sucker Festival Weekend as an event. You can take such scheduled events into account when planning your itinerary without making your stay exclusively seasonal. For families with different interests, water activities, short visits to local towns, nature observation, and cultural topics can be combined into different daily plans.
Choose the Right Base
When looking for a vacation rental in Arenac County, it is worth deciding first what type of trip you want. Those primarily seeking sandy beaches, wetlands, and birdwatching should make the nature destinations and their respective access information the focus of their plans. For cycling, waterfront paths, the splash pad, market dates, or disc golf, the described attractions in and around Au Gres offer a separate group of experiences. Those who prefer historical insights can include the museums and depot memorabilia in their plans. For further location options, you also have Alger and Au Gres available.
Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is closed to the public to protect sensitive colonial waterbird nesting colonies and a federally endangered plant species. This notice is part of a realistic orientation to Arenac County: Not every area of scenic interest is an accessible destination for an outing.
For the broader travel overview: Michigan.
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