2023 Recreational Opportunities At Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Michigan, Seney – With all of the recent construction at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge many visitors may wonder what will be available this summer.

The bridge and water control structure repairs that closed the Marshland Wildlife Drive and Fishing Loop in 2022 are complete and awaiting the final inspection. Once the inspection is complete, we will be able to make final preparations to open the drive. As long as we do not suffer any delays, we are hoping to open the drives on May 15. Watch the website and Facebook for updates.

Although the drives will re-open this summer, portions of the Pine Ridge Nature Trail, the after-hour restrooms, picnic shelter and parking lot near the entrance to the drive will be closed during the construction. The only thing visitors will have access to from the entrance road are the Marshland Drive and Fishing Loop. We are asking our visitors to keep this in mind during their visit. Visitors who normally park and bike or drop trailers in preparation to take the drive will need to do some advanced planning. The drives have narrow winding roads and are not appropriate for all vehicles. Oversized vehicles should review our guidelines below before taking the drive. 

To accommodate our visitors, we invite you to visit us at our temporary visitor center (opens May 16) and office located on River Road. There you will be able to find additional information and use restrooms.

What is available this year 

Auto Tours

• Drive the 7-mile Marshland Wildlife Drive or 8.5-mile Fishing Loop.
• Fish, check the fishing brochure for specific dates, regulations and the pools that are open.

Driggs River Road access area: 

• Watch for wildlife. The habitat at this location includes early successional forest, open field, ditch and pool system
• Hike or bicycle the roads
• Fish C-3 Pool

Northern Hardwoods access area: 

• Watch for wildlife. The habitat at this location includes early hardwood forest, open field, pool system
• Hike or bicycle the roads
• Hike the trails

Paddle Manistique River: 

• Watch for wildlife. The habitat at this location includes mixed forest types, pine and hardwood, and the river
• Canoe or kayak the 4-hour float through the refuge
• Go fishing

Whitefish Point Unit: 

• Watch for wildlife. The habitat at this location includes Lake Superior beach and forested dunes
• Hike the boardwalk

 

Parking Lots Available for Trailer Drops or Biking Access

The parking lot at the old visitor center (at the start of the Marshland Wildlife Drive) will not be available during the construction of the new visitor center and office. People who normally park here to bike or use this location to drop off trailers before taking the drive will need to use an alternate parking lot. You may park or drop your trailer at one of our other parking lots. Please do not block the gates.

•  Northern Hardwoods access area (take Robinson Street, in Germfask across from Big Cedar Campground, for 1 mile to the parking lot by the refuge gate.)
• Driggs River Road access area (seven miles west of the town of Seney on M-28, Driggs River Road is on the south side of the road at the west end of the passing lane. Take Driggs River Road 2 miles south to the parking area.)
• Temporary Visitor Center on River Road (you may park here during Visitor Center hours, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday)

Marshland Wildlife Drive and Fishing Loop Vehicle Restrictions

The Marshland Wildlife Drive (7 miles) and Fishing Loop (8.5 miles) are one-way, narrow, winding roads. These roads are not appropriate for all vehicles. Size restrictions are:

• Vehicles over 28 feet are not allowed on the drive.
• If your wheelbase is over 234 inches you will not be able to make the turns.
• Turning radius needs to be 45 degrees.
• Vehicle width cannot exceed 9 feet.
• Vehicle clearance is 11 feet.

Pine Ridge Nature Trail Access

Portions of the Pine Ridge Nature Trail will be closed until the visitor center project is complete. The best way to access the open portion of the trail will be from the Show Pool Shelter site. The trail will be an out and back trail, not a loop. It is approximately 1 mile from the Show Pool Shelter to I Pool. Note: There will be times when the whole trail is closed for rehab work; check in for updates.

Temporary Visitor Center/Office

Come visit us at the out temporary visitor center.

Location

1986 Manistique River Road/County Road 436. About 6 miles south of the Refuge Entrance Road

Open Hours

Oct. 21 to May 14 – By Appointment – Staff may be in the office or in the field.

May 15 to Oct. 20 – Tuesday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Mondays, May 15 to Oct. 20 – By Appointment – Staff may be in the office or in the field.

Stay up to date on our progress and current closures

Closed areas are subject to change. We will re-open areas as quickly as we can. As projects progress over the season, and the next few years, other adaptations will have to be made:

• the Show Pool Shelter – alongside M-77- will be closed for work on the picnic structure sometime during the 2023 summer season.
• the Pine Ridge Nature Trail is partially closed.
• the parking lots, restrooms, and picnic area on the Refuge Entrance Road are closed for the season.

Keep an eye on the website for project details and closures www.fws.gov/refuge/seney

Questions?

Come see us at the temporary visitor center or call 906-586-9851 during office/visitor center hours.

You can also contact Sara Siekierski – Refuge Manager at Sara_Siekierski@fws.gov or send an email to the general email box at seney@fws.gov.