Manistee National Forest is located between Manistee and Muskegon. It contains nearly a half million acres of beaches and woods, as well as the Pine and Pere Marquette Rivers.

The Manistee River Trail is a ten-mile route along the east bank of the Manistee River. The trail swoons and slopes, through creeks and forest and only allows foot traffic. Both the Pine and Pere Marquette National Scenic Rivers are great for rafting, fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

Trout and salmon populate the waters and the navigable part of the river stretches on for over forty miles. Manistee River is the third river running through the forest, and is considered the "family river" for its slow moving, calm current and its nice width.

The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area encompasses nearly 3,500 acres of dunes and dune forest. It includes a few miles of beach on Lake Michigan, as well as hiking trails and back country camping.

Manistee National Forest is located in Michigan's west central region, and is bordered to the east by Cadillac, and to the west by Manistee and Ludington.