Hartwick Pines State Park stands as a living monument to Michigan’s logging era, sheltering the largest remaining stand of old-growth white pines in the Lower Peninsula. Towering 100 feet overhead, these ancient trees — some over 300 years old — offer a humbling glimpse of what Michigan’s forests looked like before the lumber barons arrived.

Spanning 9,338 acres in Crawford County, the park’s crown jewel is the Old Growth Forest Trail, a paved 1.25-mile loop winding through the virgin pines. The Michigan Logging Museum on-site brings the state’s timber history to life with restored buildings, artifacts, and interactive exhibits. Beyond the old growth, miles of trails thread through second-growth hardwoods and conifers — ideal for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing when snow blankets the forest floor.

The park’s modern campground offers nearly 100 sites with electric hookups, flush restrooms, and shower facilities, making it a comfortable base for exploring the surrounding Au Sable River valley. Fishing, wildlife watching, and geocaching round out the activity list.

Visit in late September through mid-October when the hardwood canopy erupts in color against the evergreen pines — it’s one of northern Michigan’s most striking autumn displays. Summer weekends draw steady crowds, so midweek visits reward you with quieter trails. Winter transforms the park into a cross-country skiing destination with groomed trails.

Hartwick Pines isn’t just a state park — it’s a walk through the forest Michigan almost lost.

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