With an area of 9,672 acres, Hartwick Pines is the largest State Park in the Lower Peninsula. The park's rolling hills are built of ancient glacial deposit and overlook the valley of the East Branch of the AuSable River. It also has four small lakes and unique timberlands. The principal feature of this park is the 49-acre forest of Old Growth Pines, which gives the park its name. There is also a logging museum ¼ mile away from the Visitor Center which brings the logging industry into new light from one of Michigan’s largest remaining stands of virgin white pine.
