Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit
Managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources
42,138 acres63.1 mi of trail
Camp One TrailSilver Creek ORV TrailClark TrailBarker Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in Columbus Township
More than half of Columbus Township’s land is conserved: 74%
74% of Columbus Township’s land is conserved, about 66,482 acres. The biggest trail networks: Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit (63.1 mi), Two-Hearted River Forest Reserve (3.4 mi). 39,213 acres are parks and preserves, 162,038 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
74%
66,482 acres · of 140.3 sq mi of land
Trails
153 mi
1.1 per sq mi of land
Park land
39,213 ac
162,038 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
78%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
50
6 boat launches
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit, with 63.1 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Two-Hearted River Forest Reserve
Managed by The Nature Conservancy
679 acres3.4 mi of trail
Antler Trail
Dogs usually not allowed
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Who protects it
66,482 conserved acres
74% of Columbus Township’s land. Who manages Columbus Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources41,590 ac
Other state land23,713 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits716 ac
State fish & wildlife564 ac
State Conservation Area · 42,154 acForest Stewardship Easement · 23,713 acPrivate Conservation · 716 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 23,700 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newberry State Forest Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 41,590 | Open |
| Two Hearted River Forest Reserve Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 716 | Open |
| Dollarville Flooding State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 564 | Open |
Things to do
7 places to go in Columbus Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Boat launches in Columbus Township
Bass Lake Sfcg Boat Launch
DirectionsBrockies Trout Pond Boat LaunchIn Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit
DirectionsBuckys Trout Pond Boat LaunchIn Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit
DirectionsSilver Creek Trout Pond Boat LaunchIn Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit
DirectionsSpring Creek Trout Pond Boat LaunchIn Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit
DirectionsPlus 1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Campgrounds in Columbus Township
Bass Lake State Forest Campground (Luce)Fee · In Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit
DirectionsTrails & water
8 named trails and 50 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 18.7 mi
Camp One Trail2.8 mi
Tahquamenon Tk Trail2.7 mi
Silver Creek ORV Trail2.5 mi
Clark Trail2.4 mi
Belle Lake Trail2.0 mi
Barker Trail1.2 mi
Antler Trail0.7 mi
Danaher Plains ORV Trail0.3 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Bass LakelakeBecks LakeBelle LakesBennet SpringsBenny LakeBrockies PondBuckeye LakelakeBuckies PondCamp Seven LakelakeDeadmans LakelakeDishpan LakeDude LakeFrank LakeFur Farm LakelakeGoose LakeGrass LakelakeGrass SloughHanes LakelakeKelly LakelakeLittle Buckeye LakelakeLong LakelakeLost LakelakeMarsh LakeslakeMinard LakelakeMoose LakeslakeMud LakelakeMurray LakelakeMusgrave LakesPeanut LakePerch LakelakePeter LakeQuinlan LakeRoss LakelakeSilver Creek PondSmith LakeSpincich LakeSpring Creek Trout PondpondSyphon LakelakeTahquamenon LakeslakeTek LakeTurnbull LakelakeWanamaker LakeWhitney LakeWhorl PondWolf LakeWolverine LakeYoung LakeEast Branch Fox RiverSouth Branch Two Hearted RiverTahquamenon River
When to get out
The best walking months in Columbus Township: May, June and August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.0 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 15.0 | 15.8 | 15.5 | 14.2 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.3 | 8.6 |
| High (°F) | 23 | 26 | 36 | 48 | 62 | 73 | 77 | 75 | 67 | 53 | 39 | 29 |
| Rain (in) | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 3.0 | 2.6 |
February is the driest month (1.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 77 °F). 4.1 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Columbus Township →
Next door
Columbus Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| McMillan Township | 72% | 1.4 | 98,176 | 88% | A+ |
| Lakefield Township | 21% | 0.8 | 7,370 | 40% | A |
| Seney Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Columbus Township
Where can I hike in Columbus Township?
The longest trail networks: Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit, 63.1 miles; Two-Hearted River Forest Reserve, 3.4 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Columbus Township’s trails?
Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit and Two-Hearted River Forest Reserve don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Columbus Township?
257,404 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Columbus Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 39,213 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Columbus Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →