Unearthing the area's hidden gems

When asked what there is to do in Alpena and surrounding areas, many places come to mind, but there may be some that are not automatically thought of, mainly because of their somewhat remote locations.

“The thing to remember is these places were set aside and saved for the public and saved from development because they’re so unusual and people really should take the time to go and check them out,” said Deb Pardike, director of the Alpena Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Negwegon State Park is one such location and is located about halfway between Alpena and Harrisville, near Black River.

“Negwegon is not very easily accessible and consequently a lot of people don’t even know that it’s there,” Pardike said.

However, what it lacks in accessibility, it more than makes up for in beauty.

“Anyone that’s ever been to Negwegon would say that it’s worth the drive to get there and to see it,” Pardike said. “It has one of the most, if not the most, beautiful beach in the State of Michigan.”

Negwegon is named after one of the most notable Native American chiefs in the region.

The park is one of the few remaining places where people can go and find wild and relatively unexplored parks.

“One thing we hear a lot from tourists is how they love the uncluttered beaches and our natural areas,” Pardike said. “The opportunity to explore a really undeveloped gem like Negwegon is a rare one.”

There are about 10 miles of hiking trails at the park and 6.5 miles of Lake Huron shoreline to explore.
The Thompson Harbor Trail, located 15 miles south of Rogers City, just off US-23, is another natural area that may not be immediately recognized as a tourist destination.

“I would say the cool thing about Thompson’s Harbor, in my opinion, is the sand dunes,” Pardike said. “They’re immense, big sand dunes.”

Thompson’s Harbor also is famous for the presence of rare and endangered plant species including the Dwarf Lake Iris and Pitcher’s Thistle.

The Besser Natural Area, with its white pine forest, is another recommended destination off the beaten path.
In the 1800s, the property was home to about 100 people who worked in the woods and a mill. In addition to the sawmill, the Village of Bell also included a store, a school and several homes.

Today, off the drive back into the Besser Natural Area is a walking path that leads to the Bell Cemetery, which is where residents of the village buried, as well as the bodies of sailors who washed up on the shore.

The Herman Vogler Conservation Area north of Rogers City features trails that travel through cedars, hardwoods and marshes. The 270-acre area is public land commonly used for hunting, bird watching, fishing, hiking, walking, biking and, in the winter months, cross-country skiing. The Trout River crosses the property for 3,500 feet and the Huron Sunrise Trail, the Rogers City area’s non-motorized path also travels into the multi-use area.

Presque Isle County also is home to the Black Mountain Recreational Area, which offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including 80 miles of trail, hunting opportunities and fishing opportunities.

The area also features more than 40 miles of hiking, mounting biking, horseback riding and cross-country ski trails, as well as more than 80 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, 60 miles of off-road vehicle trails and 15 miles of off-road vehicle routes and a handicap trail.
Ocqueoc Falls in Presque Isle County is unique in that it is one of the few rivers in Michigan that flows south to north and has two falls with the upper and lower falls about 300 feet apart.