Oscoda and the Au Sable River

At the north end of Iosco County, the Au Sable River — one of Michigan’s great rivers — empties into Lake Huron at Oscoda. Its long run starts at its headwaters up near Grayling and passes Mio Pond on the way down. It’s the heart of life up here. The lower river is a chain of calm reservoirs held back by a series of old hydroelectric dams. That water is good for boating, paddling, and fishing for bass, walleye, pike, and panfish. And the famous AuSable River Canoe Marathon ends right in Oscoda every July, after a 120-mile overnight race from Grayling.

West of town, the River Road National Scenic Byway runs along the river through the Huron National Forest. It passes sand dunes, scenic overlooks, and the Lumberman’s Monument. That’s a big bronze statue honoring the loggers who floated white pine down this river in the 1800s. Miles of trails, campgrounds, and river access points run all through the forest. Oscoda also leans into its history as the officially designated home of Paul Bunyan.

For buyers in Oscoda and Au Sable townships, that’s the appeal. You get a legendary river, Lake Huron beaches, and a national forest in your backyard. Along the shore, it all comes with a small resort-town feel.