Manistee National Forest
The Manistee National Forest is a national forest located in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. This is one of the sights of Pleasant Plains Township. Around it, Shrine of the Pines (3.6 mi) comes first on our list.
A national forest inside Pleasant Plains Township
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 15°, with about 75" of snow a year. When to go ↓
You can stay in Pleasant Plains Township
Manistee National Forest is inside Pleasant Plains Township, which has 10 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 69–82°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Picking a season
Here is how the weather at Manistee National Forest changes month by month.
Manistee National Forest
The Manistee National Forest is a national forest located in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It has a total area of 540,187 acres (2,190 km2). It was established in 1938, and combined with the Huron National Forest in 1945 for administrative purposes, creating the Huron-Manistee National Forests. However, they are two separate forest units, as they are not connected. The area is popular for hiking, fishing, camping, boating, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and hunting. The North Country Trail passes through it, and connects with the 11-mile Manistee River Trail to form a 23-mile loop. The highest point in the lower peninsula, Briar Hill (1,706 ft), is located here. The Manistee National Forest is not one continuous mass, but is a "mosaic" broken by private property and towns. The headquarters for the forest is in Cadillac, Michigan.
- Type
- National forest
- Wikipedia readers
- 11K a year
A base for Manistee National Forest
The closest lodging is in Pleasant Plains Township (10) and Lake Township (7).
Sweetwater Township
279 people · 69% vacation homes
5 mi northwest of Manistee National Forest
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Manistee National Forest | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Plains Township 48% vacation homes | in town | — | 10 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 3 lodges & cabins · 4 campgrounds | 1,737 | $104K |
| Lake Township 76% vacation homes | 3 mi southwest | 5 min | 7 1 hotel · 2 lodges & cabins · 3 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 887 | $170K |
| Lilley Township 56% vacation homes | 8 mi south | 10 min | 6 1 inn or B&B · 3 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 867 | $134K |
| Sweetwater Township 69% vacation homes | 5 mi northwest | 10 min | 4 1 motel · 3 campgrounds | 279 | $165K |
| Branch Township 37% vacation homes | 11 mi northwest | 15 min | 7 4 hotels · 3 lodges & cabins | 1,413 | $160K |
| Peacock Township 70% vacation homes | 11 mi north | 15 min | 6 1 hotel · 2 motels · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 437 | $144K |
| Colfax Township 55% vacation homes | 12 mi southwest | 20 min | 6 5 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 461 | $157K |
| Webber Township 38% vacation homes | 6 mi northeast | 10 min | 3 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 2,583 | $109K |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Next door to Manistee National Forest
A wider trip can take in these, within 65 miles.
Big draw43 mi LakeLake Michigan
125 mi MuseumJim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia41 mi Theme parkMichigan's Adventure
64 mi MuseumGerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
64 mi MuseumFrederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park24 mi MuseumShrine of the Pines
48 mi MuseumUSS LST-39364 mi TheatreAcrisure AmphitheaterPhoto credits
Lake Michigan: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, ISS Expedition, Public domain · Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia: Jim Crow Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum: Staff of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Public domain · Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: User Jeffness on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5 · USS LST-393: USN, Public domain
Planning a visit to Manistee National Forest
Is Manistee National Forest in Pleasant Plains Township?
Yes. It’s inside Pleasant Plains Township, MI.
When is the best time to visit Manistee National Forest?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 69–82°.
What is the closest airport to Manistee National Forest?
Muskegon County (MKG), about 51 miles away. The nearest big hub is Gerald R. Ford (GRR), about 72 miles.
Where should I stay near Manistee National Forest?
Pleasant Plains Township (in town, 10 places to stay), Lake Township (3 mi, 7 places to stay) and Lilley Township (8 mi, 6 places to stay).
Tips from Pleasant Plains Township
Tips will appear here once someone posts in Pleasant Plains Township’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.