Come explore northern Michigan's beautiful Au Sable River.

Swaying reeds glitter like emeralds along secluded stretches of northern Michigan's Au Sable River near the old lumber town of Grayling (50 miles southeast of Traverse City). Amid forests blazing with color, the 120-mile river lazily flows east and empties into Lake Huron.

As canoers and kayakers explore the peaceful river, summer homes, quiet at this time of year, await around almost every bend. Bicyclers pedal on soft carpets of pine needles along nearby trails that weave through hardwoods. You might spot deer along the riverbank in grass still wet with dew.

The low autumn sun glints off the water, warming paddlers drifting downstream near riverside cabins at Penrod's Au Sable River Resort and Canoe Trips in Grayling. Most canoers and kayakers put in here at launch sites, then rendezvous with outfitters about 25 miles farther along at points such as Wakeley Bridge or near Rainbow Bend campground.

You can navigate the shallows during jaunts of a half-day or less. Stop at picnic spots or shady bends, where stones stairstep up the bank for views of fall foliage reflected in the river. On trips of up to 7 days, you portage near five dams and canoe to the town of Oscoda along Lake Huron.

Area bicycle trails range from easy to challenging. Three trails climb ridges on a 15-mile ride just north of Grayling at Hartwick Pines State Park, home to the last vestiges of virgin pines in the Midwest.

Hardy mountain bikers tackle a 4-mile loop at Hanson Hills Recreation Area just west of town. Atop one crest, you can gaze down at the Au Sable snaking east through the fall finery of Huron National Forest.

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Reviewed April 2004.

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