Summary
The area offers a variety of activities, including camping, hiking, fishing, and boating. The park is situated on the Tittabawassee River and features several miles of trails for hiking and biking.
One of the main attractions at the Gladwin County Recreation Area is the Cedar River Trail, a 17-mile trail that winds through the park and offers scenic views of the river and surrounding areas. Visitors can also explore the park's four lakes, which are stocked with fish and offer opportunities for boating and swimming.
Interesting facts about the area include that it was originally used as a logging camp in the late 1800s and was later developed into a recreational area in the 1960s. The park features a mix of hardwood and pine forests and is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and birds.
The best time to visit the Gladwin County Recreation Area is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and the park is bustling with activity. Visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing on the lakes, as well as hiking and biking on the park's many trails. In the fall, the park is also popular for leaf-peeping, as the trees in the area turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Gladwin City Park
|
||
Trout Lake State Forest Campground
|
||
House Lake State Forest Campground
|
||
Calhoun City Campground
|