The Rock River Canyon Wilderness is a 4,640-acre (18.8 km2) unit within the Hiawatha National Forest.[2] It is located in Alger County, Michigan. The wilderness is accessible from M-94, which runs south of the unit in a west-to-east direction. The nearest town is Chatham, Michigan, which is located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the wilderness unit's eastern end.[3]
Like the rest of the Hiawatha Forest, the Rock River Canyon Wilderness was logged starting about 1880 and ending about 1930.[3] The typical method of logging was to clear-cut all marketable timber and leave the discarded slashings on the forest floor. A severe forest fire was almost inevitable, followed by severe erosion and the creation of a second-growth forest that differed from the previous old-growth forest in many ways. The wilderness is now a template of natural succession that contrasts with most of the Hiawatha National Forest, which continues to be managed for harvestable pulpwood.
Today, the Rock River Canyon Wilderness is a roadless unit within the managed Hiawatha Forest. The wilderness centers on two small sandstone canyons, approximately 150 feet (46 m) deep, through which flow the Rock River and its tributary Silver Creek. Rock climbing is discouraged because the wilderness's sandstone cliffs are friable and crumbly. The wilderness also includes a 15-foot (4.6 m) waterfall, Rock River Falls, and a shallow 13-acre (53,000 m2) lake, Ginpole Lake. Both waterways, the waterfall, and the lake are all part of the Lake Superior drainage basin.[2][3]
The Rock River Canyon Wilderness was created by Congress in 1987.[2]
References
^U.S. Forest Service (May 1, 2011). "Motor Vehicle Use Map, Hiawatha National Forest, Munising Ranger Districts" (PDF). p. 18. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
^ abcd"Rock River Canyon Wilderness". Wilderness.net. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
rock, river, canyon, wilderness, acre, unit, within, hiawatha, national, forest, located, alger, county, michigan, wilderness, accessible, from, which, runs, south, unit, west, east, direction, nearest, town, chatham, michigan, which, located, approximately, m. The Rock River Canyon Wilderness is a 4 640 acre 18 8 km2 unit within the Hiawatha National Forest 2 It is located in Alger County Michigan The wilderness is accessible from M 94 which runs south of the unit in a west to east direction The nearest town is Chatham Michigan which is located approximately 3 miles 4 8 km south of the wilderness unit s eastern end 3 Rock River Canyon WildernessIUCN category Ib wilderness area LocationAlger County Michigan United StatesNearest cityChatham MichiganCoordinates46 24 08 N 86 56 44 W 46 40222 N 86 94556 W 46 40222 86 94556 Coordinates 46 24 08 N 86 56 44 W 46 40222 N 86 94556 W 46 40222 86 94556 1 Area4 640 acres 18 8 km2 Established1987Governing bodyU S Forest ServiceLike the rest of the Hiawatha Forest the Rock River Canyon Wilderness was logged starting about 1880 and ending about 1930 3 The typical method of logging was to clear cut all marketable timber and leave the discarded slashings on the forest floor A severe forest fire was almost inevitable followed by severe erosion and the creation of a second growth forest that differed from the previous old growth forest in many ways The wilderness is now a template of natural succession that contrasts with most of the Hiawatha National Forest which continues to be managed for harvestable pulpwood Today the Rock River Canyon Wilderness is a roadless unit within the managed Hiawatha Forest The wilderness centers on two small sandstone canyons approximately 150 feet 46 m deep through which flow the Rock River and its tributary Silver Creek Rock climbing is discouraged because the wilderness s sandstone cliffs are friable and crumbly The wilderness also includes a 15 foot 4 6 m waterfall Rock River Falls and a shallow 13 acre 53 000 m2 lake Ginpole Lake Both waterways the waterfall and the lake are all part of the Lake Superior drainage basin 2 3 Large fauna within the Rock River Canyon Wilderness includes the black bear and the whitetail deer Fish in the Rock River and Silver Creek include the northern pike coho salmon brook trout brown trout and rainbow trout 2 3 The Rock River Canyon Wilderness was created by Congress in 1987 2 References Edit U S Forest Service May 1 2011 Motor Vehicle Use Map Hiawatha National Forest Munising Ranger Districts PDF p 18 Retrieved August 23 2011 a b c d Rock River Canyon Wilderness Wilderness net Retrieved 2010 01 29 a b c d Rock River Canyon Wilderness United States Forest Service Retrieved 2010 01 29 This Alger County Michigan location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This article related to a protected area in Michigan is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rock River Canyon Wilderness amp oldid 1052943986, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
