This region, lovingly called the Heart of the North, is blessed with an abundance of natural resources. Put on your hiking boots or grab a paddle—the wilderness awaits in Gaylord and Grayling.

This article was first featured in the 2023 MyNorth Vacation Guide. Learn more about this year's guide, order a digital or print copy, or find a complimentary guide on newsstands across Northern Michigan.

Go on a Fishing Excursion | Fish Burt and Mullett lakes and Indian River (which connects them) for perch, pike, walleye, muskie, burbot, lake trout, brown trout and more.

Hit the Trails | Thirty miles of hiking and skiing trails and another 60 of ORV, mountain bike and horse trails wind over wooded Black Mountain, north of Onaway, which flanks big beautiful Black Lake as well as several smaller lakes.

Get Lost in the Pines | Wander the paved Old Growth Forest Trail at Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling and be awed by red and white pines that are centuries old. The 1.25-mile loop is wheelchair- accessible.

Treat Yourself to a Beach Day | Head to Otsego Lake State Park with its half-mile of sandy beach, boat launch and campground. The seasonal park store is the spot to hang, ice cream cone in hand, and enjoy the sunset over the lake.

Brewery hop in Gaylord and Grayling | Here’s your itinerary: Snowbelt Brewing Co.; Big Buck Brewery; Rolling Oak Brewing Co.; Paddle Hard Brewing; and Dead Bear Brewing Co.

Explore Pigeon River Country State Forest | Known as the Big Wild, this 12-by-20-mile swath of wilderness near Vanderbilt is home to one of the largest free-roaming herds of elk this side of the Mississippi River.

Gaylord and grayling map.

Photo by Gail Snable

Photo(s) by Dave Weidner