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The Jack Pine Wildlife Viewing Tour is a
58-mile auto tour loop featuring the federally endangered Kirtland's
warbler and other wildlife found in the unique jack pine ecosystem. The
tour follows well-maintained county and state roadways and is marked with
special road signs designating the tour route. Tour brochures are available
at the U.S. Forest Service office in Mio. Restrooms and picnic facilities
are available at various interpretive stops along the route.
Wildlife
Viewing
Large stands of young jack pine trees with scattered
openings creates ideal habitat for Kirtlands warblers.
Photo: MI DNR
The auto tour goes through a variety of
habitats and offers a scenic drive through country where many species of
wildlife can be observed. It was designed specifically as a wildlife
viewing trail. It provides opportunities to see bald eagles, loons, river
otters, beavers, bluebirds, herons, grouse, wild turkeys, and many
others. The tour has twelve stops identified with a special logo sign.
These sites each have an informative interpretive panel, and include
scenic overlooks of the world famous Au Sable River, several of its
tributary streams, a picture-postcard lake, and hiking trails. The tour
route passes through HuronNational Forest
lands that are managed for the Kirtland's warbler. Several interpretive
stops highlight the successful forest management techniques that are
bringing this beautiful songbird back from the brink of extinction. There
are many other songbirds that live in these public forest lands, and can
be seen or heard at the Kirtland's warbler interpretive sites. Guided tours
to see Kirtland's warblers and other wildlife of the jack pine ecosystem
are available from mid-May through early July. These tours are popular,
so reservations are recommended. The tours are led by the U.S. Forest
Service in Mio and the U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service in Grayling (see phone numbers below).
Kirtland's warbler nesting areas are closed
to public entry during nesting season (may 1 to september
10) to protect these ground-nesting birds. Closed areas are posted with signs. Please do
not enter posted areas on foot or drive off public roads.
Directions
You can start at any point along the tour
route, but it is recommended to start in Mio and head south on M-33 about 4
miles to Oscoda County Road 604 (Curtisville Road). From
there, turn left (east) on Road 604 and follow the special logo signs. It
is best, of course, to make sure you have the interpretive brochure with
you which has a map of the tour route. Brochures
can be obtained from the U.S. Forest Service, Mio Ranger District office, (989) 826-3252. The office is located on the east side
of M-33 just north of downtown Mio.
Ownership: U.S.
Forest Service, Huron National Forest, Mio Ranger District,
(989) 826-3252, Huron Shores Ranger District, Oscoda, (989) 739-0728;
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (517) 351-2555
Restrooms
barrier free vault toilets at the Au Sable Valley Scenic Vista, Hoist
Lakes Hiking Trail, and the O'Brien Lake interpretive stops. Trails at the
Ruffed Grouse Walk interpretive site, 3/4 mile loop, and at Hoist Lakes Hiking Trails interpretive site, several
loops that total over 20 miles, easy to moderate difficulty. Picnic at several
scenic overlooks sites above the Au Sable River, and at O'Brien Lake
interpretive site. Camping walk-in
camping at Hoist Lakes Foot Travel Area, several private campgrounds in
Mio, and near Curtisville. Cross-country Skiing
Hoist Lakes Hiking Trails, several loops, over 20 miles, easy to moderate
difficulty; Loud Creek Ski Trail south of Mio; both ungroomed. Restaurant in
Mio, Fairview,
and Glennie. Lodging in Mio, Fairview, Glennie, and McKinley. Fishing Au Sable
River and tributaries, O'Brien Lake, Alcona Dam Pond. Hunting state and
federal forest lands are open to hunting. Barrier Free
fishing pier at O'Brien Lake interpretive site.
Wildlife
Viewing 
