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Ottawa National Forest
Michigan

You expect to be dazzled by the trees in a national forest, but at Ottawa National Forest it's the water that's noteworthy. Hundreds of lakes and streams pool, gurgle, tumble, and gush across 1 million acres this glaciated landscape of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Then there's Lake Superior, which defines the forest's northern boundary.

Pomeroy Lake
Pomeroy Lake

Come September, though, the trees grab the spotlight as Ottawa's yellow birches, sugar maples and their deciduous siblings strut their stuff in Technicolor oranges, reds and yellows. If you suspect the colors look more vivid than any you've seen before, you wouldn't be the first to think so.

Ottawa National Forest plays host to nearly every outdoor sport imaginable. You may not have much human company while you're at it -- even in summer most areas of the forest are surpisingly uncrowded - - but there's a fair chance you'll see one of the resident deer, fox, snowshoe hares, bald eagles, loons, or bears.


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