Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit
Managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources
45,161 acres121.8 mi of trail
Snowmobile Route-45West Farm Truck TrailSM-8West Bur Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Whitefish Point Lighthouse · Photo: Browermd · CC BY-SA 3.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Whitefish Township
More than half of Whitefish Township’s land is conserved: 66%
66% of Whitefish Township’s land is conserved, about 101,604 acres. The biggest trail networks: Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit (121.8 mi), Tahquemenon Falls State Park (55.8 mi), Vermilion Point Nature Preserve (1.7 mi). 72,529 acres are parks and preserves, 153,339 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
66%
101,604 acres · of 241.5 sq mi of land
Trails
458 mi
1.9 per sq mi of land
Park land
72,529 ac
153,339 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
82%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
28 mi
Lakes & rivers
28
4 beaches · 5 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 121.8 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Tahquemenon Falls State Park
Managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources
31,582 acres55.8 mi of trail
SM-45Tahquamenon Falls: Lower Falls TrailWest Tahquamenon TrailClark Lake Loop+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Tahquamenon.bay Boat LaunchWebsite ↗
Vermilion Point Nature Preserve
Managed by Little Traverse Conservancy
312 acres1.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Lake Superior Nature Sanctuary
Managed by Michigan Nature Association
508 acres0.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Pat Grogan Shelldrake Nature Sanctuary
Managed by Michigan Nature Association
85 acres0.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Seney National Wildlife Refuge - Whitefish Point Unit
Managed by United States Fish and Wildlife Service
83 acres0.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 13 parks & preserves
Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit45,161 acres · 121.8 mi of trail · Michigan Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsTahquemenon Falls State Park31,582 acres · 55.8 mi of trail · Michigan Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsVermilion Point Nature Preserve312 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Little Traverse Conservancy
DirectionsLake Superior Nature Sanctuary508 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Michigan Nature Association
Pat Grogan Shelldrake Nature Sanctuary85 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Michigan Nature Association
Seney National Wildlife Refuge - Whitefish Point Unit83 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · United States Fish and Wildlife Service
DirectionsWhitefish Point Underwater Preserve12,199 acres
DirectionsJinny Palms Wildlife Nature Preserve356 acres · Little Traverse Conservancy
Little Lake Sanctuary46 acres · Michigan Audubon Society
Margaret Shroyer Sanctuary39 acres · Michigan Audubon Society
John J. Helstrom at Shelldrake River Nature Preserve16 acres · Little Traverse Conservancy
Barb's Beach Nature Preserve12 acres
Sawmill Creek Park4 acres · Whitefish Township
Who protects it
101,604 conserved acres
66% of Whitefish Township’s land. Water is left out: Whitefish Township has 241.5 square miles of land and 52.1 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Whitefish Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources45,315 ac
State parks31,571 ac
Other state land15,678 ac
U.S. Forest Service7,854 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits1,758 ac
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service122 ac
State Conservation Area · 46,899 acState Park · 31,641 acForest Stewardship Easement · 14,483 acNational Forest · 7,854 acPrivate Conservation · 744 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 14,472 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 | 45,071 | Open |
| Tahquamenon Falls State Park State Park | State parks | 31,641 | Open |
| Hiawatha National Forest National Forest | U.S. Forest Service | 7,854 | Open |
| University of Michigan Property State Conservation Area | Other state land | 1,195 | Restricted |
| Lake Superior State Conservation Area | Land trusts & nonprofits | 386 | Open |
| Vermilion Point Nature Preserve Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 340 | Closed |
| Jinny Palms Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 338 | Closed |
| Seney National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 122 | Restricted |
| Newberry Forest Management Unit 2 State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 92 | Closed |
| Pat Grogan Shelldrake Orchid Bog State Conservation Area | Land trusts & nonprofits | 73 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
28 places to go in Whitefish Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Whitefish Township
4 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Boat launches in Whitefish Township
Andrus Lake Sfcg Boat LaunchIn Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit
DirectionsShelldrake Dam Sfcg Boat LaunchIn Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit
DirectionsTahquamenon.bay Boat LaunchIn Tahquemenon Falls State Park
DirectionsWhitefish Point Boat LaunchIn Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve
DirectionsPlus 1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Waterfalls in Whitefish Township
Tahquamenon Falls (Lower Falls)In Tahquemenon Falls State Park
DirectionsPlus 4 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Whitefish Township
8 scenic views without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Whitefish Township
Andrus Lake State Forest CampgroundIn Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit
DirectionsLower Falls CampgroundIn Tahquemenon Falls State Park
DirectionsOld StoveIn Tahquemenon Falls State Park
DirectionsShelldrake Dam State Forest CampgroundIn Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit
DirectionsTahquamenon Falls State Park Rivermouth ModernIn Tahquemenon Falls State Park
DirectionsTahquamenon Falls Visitor CenterIn Tahquemenon Falls State Park
DirectionsTrails & water
15 named trails and 28 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 42.5 mi
SM-457.6 mi
West Tahquamenon Trail3.6 mi
Tahquamenon Falls: Lower Falls Trail3.2 mi
Clark Lake Loop1.9 mi
Snowmobile Route-451.5 mi
West Farm Truck Trail1.1 mi
Hemlock Campground Loop1.0 mi
West Bur Trail0.8 mi
North Country Trail0.3 mi
West Swaim Row0.3 mi
5 more trails
O'Siver Trail
0.3 miNorth Robindale Circle
0.3 miSM-8
0.2 miNorth Country Hiking Trail
0.2 miNCT Spur
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Andrus LakelakeBear LakeBrowns LakeCabin LakelakeCamp Ten LakesDuck LakelakeHawkins LakeJohnson LakelakeLaurie LakesLittle LakeLost LakeMackinaw LakeMarsh LakesMcmullan LakesNaomikong LakePiatt LakelakePreacher LakeRoxbury PondSheephead LakeShelldrake LakereservoirTwomile LakeWater Tank LakesWeatherhogs LakeBetsy RiverEast Branch Tahquamenon RiverShelldrake RiverSouth Branch Betsy RiverTahquamenon River
Biking & sports
28 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
28 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
1Soccer
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 5 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Whitefish Point LighthouseStructure · listed 1973
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Whitefish Township: May to 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) | 8.9 | 10.2 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 15.0 | 15.8 | 15.5 | 14.2 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.3 | 8.6 |
| High (°F) | 23 | 25 | 34 | 46 | 60 | 70 | 74 | 74 | 66 | 53 | 40 | 29 |
| Rain (in) | 2.6 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 3.1 | 2.9 |
February is the driest month (1.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 74 °F). 4.3 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Whitefish Township →
Next door
Whitefish Township and its neighbors
Whitefish Township has the second most mapped trails of the 5 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
McMillan Township836 miWhitefish Township458 miChippewa Township162 miBay Mills Township94 miHulbert Township64 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitefish Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| McMillan Township | 72% | 1.4 | 98,176 | 88% | A+ |
| Chippewa Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Bay Mills Township | 74% | 1.4 | 361 | 35% | A |
| Hulbert 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 Whitefish Township
Where can I hike in Whitefish Township?
The longest trail networks: Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit, 121.8 miles; Tahquemenon Falls State Park, 55.8 miles; Vermilion Point Nature Preserve, 1.7 miles; Lake Superior Nature Sanctuary, 0.7 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Whitefish Township’s trails?
Lake Superior State Forest - Newberry Unit and Tahquemenon Falls State Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Whitefish Township?
28 miles of bike routes are on the map: 28 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Whitefish Township?
281,908 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Whitefish Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 80,351 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Whitefish 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 →