Our natural 4-season playground has plenty of shimmering waterways surrounded by thousands of acres of Manistee National Forest that beckon you.  Come to the Wellston area for a Northwood's experience to remember.  You will find it all in our area forests and waterways.  Fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, boating, geo-caching, mushroom hunting, bird watching, mountain biking, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, golfing, well-preserved beaches and color tours that will knock your socks off!

Winter brings an unspoiled beauty to the area with an average of 1-3" of snow and 64 miles of snowmobile trails that join with Caberfae (Cadillac), Irons & Benzie trails.  Cross country skiing is endless in the forests surrounding our area.

Not into outdoor sports?  How about shopping, antiquing, and dining.  With many small villages in and around Wellston, each with its' own unique offerings, you are sure to find that one thing you've always been looking for.  So skip the heavy traffic and long lines and make your way to our "neck of the Northwood's", WELLSTON!

 

Let our web site be your companion as you plan your next vacation, family getaway or day trip. 

 

FISHING:  Wellston is home to the Tippy Dam.  The famous "Steelhead Capital of the World" and the legendary King & Coho salmon runs.  Our area rivers, streams, lakes and tributaries provide excellent fishing opportunities year around.

Fish Tippy Dam, the Big & Little Manistee Rivers, blue ribbon trout streams the Pine River or Bear Creek, the Tippy Dam backwaters or any of our numerous lakes and streams.  You'll be sure to be hooked!

Whether you are fishing for Steelhead, King or Coho Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, walleye, Small & Large Mouth Bass, Pike Perch. Skamania, Bluegill or just good ole' pan fish you'll find it all here in our waters!

For an area fishing report visit www.schmidtoutfitters.com.  Join our FISHING FORUM at www.Ilovewellston.com to share area fishing information!

CANOE, KAYAK, RAFT or TUBE one of our area waterways.  How about the exciting and challenging Pine Rivers with it's section of class II whitewater, the majestic but slightly gentler Big Manistee or the beautiful Little Manistee River.  Want a more relaxing float?  We have several area lakes including the Tippy Dam backwaters for a pure Northwood's adventure of wilderness, water and nature.  Sightings of bald eagles, loons, trumpeter swans and deer are all common.  From beginners to advanced, there is a trip just waiting for you!

For information on canoeing, kayaking or rafting this area visit:

www.fs.fed.us/r9/hmnf/pages/Recreation/canoeing.htm or join our canoeing forum at www.Ilovewellston.com to share canoeing, kayaking & tubing information.

BOATING:  Our area lakes provide many opportunities for not just canoeing, rafting or tubing but also motorboats, paddleboats, pontoons, rowboats and jet ski's.  With all of the natural beauty of our lakes as well as the backwaters to the Tippy Dam, one will never be disappointed.  You may even be one of the lucky ones to see one of our majestic Bald Eagles.

MOREL MUSHROOM HUNT:  Spring in our area brings the coveted Morel Mushroom to the forest floor.  Peak season is generally around Mothers' Day weekend.  Join our Mushrooming Forum at www.Ilovewellston.com to share area mushroom hunting information.

BIG M CROSS COUNTRY SKI/MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL:  The cross-country ski/mountain bike trails are located just four miles to the west of Wellston off M55 on Udell Hills Road.  The trail offers a variety of terrain to challenge every biking or skiing challenge.  The hills receive an average of 130 inches of snow from December through March, providing excellent cross-county skiing conditions.  During the summer you will find lush hardwood and pine forests with many scenic routes for your enjoyment.  This is the home of the famous Lumberjack 00 race that entices hundreds of bikers every year in June to see who can complete the 100 miles the quickest.  www.skibigm.org, www.lumberjack100.com

DNR WEIR:  The DNR Weir on Old Stronach Road is an amazing site.  Here you can walk down to the Little Manistee River and see the Salmon making their annual trek up the river for spawning.  This interesting facility is an egg-take and salmon harvesting facility.  Steelhead eggs re collected in the spring and Chinook Salmon eggs are collected in the fall.  www.michigan.gov/dnr/ 

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL:  Our area has three places to access this premier hiking trail, Marilla, Udell and Freesoil. This beautiful nature trail will eventually extend closed to 4000 miles from Crown Point, New York or Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota.  Guests will experience awesome views including rivers and streams and a variety of different vegetation.  www.northcountrytril.org

BIG MANISTEE RIVER TRAIL:  This hike is becoming very popular for good reason.  The views are wonderful and you can hike or up to 2-days connecting it with the North Country Trail via a suspension bridge over the Big Manistee River.  The trail runs the top ridge of the Manistee River on the each between Red Bridge and Hodenpyl Dam in Manistee County.

There are numerous campsites on the Manistee River Trail side and several of them offer great views of the river.  The North County Trail side, however is set back in the forest so that when the leaves are on the trees there are no river views.  Be sure to start our with water bottles full because for the first seven miles or so the trail on the west side of the river is high and dry.

To find the trailhead travel each fro the town of Brethren on Coates Highway to the parking area at Red Bridge.  You may begin the trail here or travel back towards Brethren about a miles to find the trail where it crosses Coates Highway and heads north.  www.fs.fed.us

BIG MANISTEE SUSPENSION BRIDGE (The little "Mac"):  The longest foot suspension bridge east of the Mississippi is over the Manistee River just downstream of Hodenpyl Dam.  It links the Manistee River Trail with a segment of the North country National Scenic Trail, forming a 20-mile hiking loop.

HODENPYL DAM OVERLOOK:  A barrier-free shoreline observation deck at Veteran's Memorial Park on M115 near Hodenpyl Hydro-Dam provides excellent wildlife viewing.  www.consumersenergy.com

SNOWMOBILING:  The Wellston area receives at average of 103" of snow a year.  We have 64 miles of snowmobile trails which connect to the Caberfae (Cadillac), Irons & Benzie county trail systems.  Many of our area businesses are snowmobile friendly and snowmobile themselves.  We have cabins; winter RV camping, restaurants & shopping all open as the snow flies that cater to the winter enthusiast.  Come ride our trails and experience a beautify in the Northwood's that you can only see on the back of a snowmobile!

For trails reports for the Wellston/Baldwin area visit:

www.twinoakscamping.com/snowmobiling.shtml (Wellston)

www.wolflakemotel.com/snow_report.htm (Baldwin)

www.Ilovewellston.com (Both)

or join our snowmobile forum at:  www.Ilovewellston.com 

STRAWBERRY POINT:  View the backwaters to the Tippy Dam at one of its' most spectacular views.  Take Moss Road (just to the east of the Cooley Bridge) to the north.  As Moss goes around the corner, take the dirt road into the Ntl. Forest.  Continue on until the end (appr. 1-mile)  Park.  Walk down the big sandy hill and take your camera!  Wilderness & water at it's most breathtaking!  You'll see trumpeter swans, loons & possibly even one of our pairs of bad eagles!  NOTE:  Extremely steep hill!

COOLEY BRIDGE:  Located 4-miles each of Wellston on Highway 55 with an overall length of 555 feet.  The Cooley Bridge spans the Pine River.  Built in 1934 the Mortimer E. Cooley Bridge is one of only two cantilevered deck truss bridges in Michigan.  Winner of the American Institute of Steel Construction Award in 1936 for the most beautiful structure in its class.  Just to the each of the bridge turn south on Low Bridge Road.  Turn into the parking lot, park and walk down the steps to the bridge.  Either side will give you views of the Pine River below.  Stairs will take you down, under and back up the other side.  The side and under view of the bridge is quite spectacular.

ANTIQUING & SHOPPING:  Discover marvelous treasurers as you browse some of our quaint shops.  Visit "The Dublin Jerky Store" for some of the best jerky & jerky products anywhere!  Located throughout the community, you're sure to find friendly merchants that will make you feel right a home!  www.thepottedgate.com, www.dublinstore,com

CAMPING:  Become re-acquainted with mother nature's beauty and serenity.  Discover the simple, yet profound answers to many of life's questions by spending time in our outdoor playground!  Roast marshmallows over an open fire, listen to the night noises of the forest in your tent or RV.  Spend some quite, close quality time with your family or friends.  From 50-amp full hook-up big rig sites to completely rustic campsites, cozy cabins, rental RV's, group campsites or completely private cozy individual campsites you will find it all in any of our area campgrounds!  www.twinoakscamping.com, www.rjresort.com, www.campmana-pine.com, www.coolwatercamp.com, www.pinecreeklodge.net

RESTAURANTS / DINING:  Food for all tastes!  Take the time to gather with your family or friends to enjoy fabulous delicacies offered at various restaurants in Wellston.  Italian, prime rib, Mexican, mouth-watering burgers, wonderful wraps, the possibilities are endless!  Our menu's are sure to satisfy any hungry belly!  www.thewellstoninn.com, www.lumberjack-lodge.com