Take A Self-Guided Wildflower Walk Along the Au Sable River

Spring in Oscoda doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Summers at the beach often steal the spotlight (and for good reason), but if you ask a local, they’ll probably tell you that spring is one of the most underrated and beautiful times of the year. Why? Because in April, wildflowers begin to dot the forest floor and riverbanks, changing week by week through the summer.

Here are three options, from a quick one-mile loop to a half-day out with river views and a spring-fed creek at the end.

The Rea Road Loop (About 1 Mile)

This short, easy loop sits just west of Oscoda near the Foote Dam area. Park at the DNR’s Au Sable River Foote Below Dam Boat Launch (44.436645, -83.434091) lot on Rea Road, cross the road, and enter the Snowmobile Trail at the gate. Follow it through the trees as it climbs toward the natural gas pipeline, then take the two-track trail that loops back to Rea Road. Walk left along the road back to the parking lot.

In April, look for bloodroot in the forest understory. It’s a small white bloom with a yellow center and a red-orange stem. Marsh marigold follows in the lower, wetter sections, with bright yellow clusters near the water's edge.

By May, white trillium starts appearing under the tree canopy, with three white petals over mottled leaves where the light comes through in patches. They tend to come up in groups, and they're easy to spot once you know what you're looking for.

In early autumn, the same loop turns up giant puffball mushrooms along the trail. They can get to the size of a basketball, making for a fun and unique find.

Eagle Run Trail, Loop B (Huron National Forest)

Inside the Huron National Forest, Loop B of the Eagle Run Trail is another great option for spring wildflowers. The path runs through sections of forest where white trillium lines both sides of the trail in May, the kind of display that stops most people in their tracks the first time they see it. As the season moves on, meadow anemone and sulphur cinquefoil start to show up in the sunnier stretches.

The trail also runs near the banks of the Au Sable River, and there are benches along the water where you can sit among the trillium and take it all in. If you want to make a real day of it, add our Picnic Package to your reservation, and we’ll pack up a satisfying lunch for you to bring on your adventure, complete with champagne and fluted glasses. Just make sure to bring the basket back afterwards!

Highbanks Trail to Iargo Springs

The longest of the three options and the most dramatic. The Highbanks Trail runs along the bluffs above the Au Sable River inside the Huron-Manistee National Forest. The overlooks give you a wide view over the river valley below, and in spring, the whole corridor is just coming back to life. Early wildflowers show along the bluff edges before the canopy fills in.

The trail connects to Iargo Springs at the end, which is a good reason to keep going. The springs stay cold year-round, and a set of 300 boardwalk stairs takes you down to the water. It’s a bit of a climb on the way back up, but it's so worth it if you’ve never been before. The area around them stays green and lush throughout the whole season. It's a quiet spot and a nice way to close out the morning.

What to Know Before You Go

Trails can be soft and muddy in April and early May after snowmelt, so sturdy waterproof shoes are a good idea. Mornings along the river stay cool, so dress in layers even if it's supposed to warm up later.

Rough timing for what blooms when: bloodroot and marsh marigold show up first in April. White trillium and meadow anemone follow through May. Oxeye daisies and sulphur cinquefoil fill in from late May into June. Blue vervain appears along the river banks in July and August. If you're visiting in early autumn, the Rea Road loop turns up giant puffball mushrooms that can get to the size of a basketball. Worth knowing about.

While you're staying near Lake Huron, keep an eye out for Michigan's state wildflower, the Dwarf Lake Iris, in wet, sandy areas along the shoreline. It's a small blue-purple flower that blooms from May through June and grows almost nowhere else in the world outside of Great Lakes shorelines. It's federally threatened, and a sighting isn't guaranteed, but it's worth watching for.

Return in the Summer for Even More Wildflower Beauty

The river corridor doesn't go quiet after June. By early summer, oxeye daisies start to bloom. In July and August, you’ll see blue vervain, tall purple spikes that are easy to spot, appear along the Au Sable Riverbanks near the water. It's a different walk than the spring version, more open, warmer, and the river is at its best for spending the whole day outside.

Plan Your Spring Stay

Spring is one of the quieter times at Huron House. The beach is still yours in the morning, the property is calm, and a walk like any of these fits easily into a slow day. The wildflower window is shorter than you'd expect, but that's part of what makes it worth timing right.

Plan your spring stay, add a Picnic Package to your reservation, and discover the beauty of springtime along the Au Sable River.