McCormick Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The McCormick Wilderness is a United States Wilderness Area
located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
. It covers an area of about 17000 acres (68.8 km²) and is located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the Baraga
-Marquette
county line. It is one of three such areas in the Ottawa National Forest
, the others being the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness
and the Sylvania Wilderness
.
The McCormick Wilderness contains sections of the headwaters of the Huron
, Dead
, Peshekee
, and Yellow Dog
Rivers.
Although the area was logged until the early twentieth century, conifers and northern hardwood
s have now been developed. Moose
have been reintroduced into the area.
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
. It covers an area of about 17000 acres (68.8 km²) and is located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the Baraga
Baraga County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Keweenaw National Historical Park * Ottawa National Forest -Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 8,746 people, 3,353 households, and 2,223 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 4,631 housing units...
-Marquette
Marquette County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Hiawatha National Forest * Huron National Wildlife Refuge* Ottawa National Forest -University:Northern Michigan University is a four-year university, established in 1899, located in Marquette, Michigan, on Michigan's Upper Peninsula...
county line. It is one of three such areas in the Ottawa National Forest
Ottawa National Forest
The Ottawa National Forest is a 1.0 million acre national forest in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It includes much of Gogebic and Ontonagon counties, as well as slices of Iron, Houghton, Baraga, and Marquette counties. The forest is under the jurisdiction of the U.S...
, the others being the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness
Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness
The Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness is a unit within the Ottawa National Forest. It is located in Baraga County and Houghton County within the U.S. state of Michigan. The wilderness is accessible from M-28, which runs south of the unit in a west-to-east direction...
and the Sylvania Wilderness
Sylvania Wilderness
Sylvania Wilderness is an protected area located a few miles west of Watersmeet, Michigan. Sylvania is located entirely within the bounds of the Ottawa National Forest, and is currently being managed as a wilderness area as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System by the U.S. Forest...
.
The McCormick Wilderness contains sections of the headwaters of the Huron
Huron River (northern Michigan)
The Huron River is a small river system located in the northern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Locally, it is commonly called the Big Huron River to distinguish it from the nearby Little Huron River....
, Dead
Dead River
-Florida:*Dead River *Dead River, tributary of the Choctawhatchee River*Dead River, tributary of the Hillsborough River *Dead River, tributary of the Kissimmee River*Dead River, tributary of the Ochlockonee River-Maine:...
, Peshekee
Peshekee River
-References:*...
, and Yellow Dog
Yellow Dog River
The Yellow Dog River flows through Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is approximately 51 miles in length, with about 85 miles of tributaries. The main branch begins at the outflow from Bulldog Lake in the Ottawa National Forest on the boundary between...
Rivers.
Although the area was logged until the early twentieth century, conifers and northern hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
s have now been developed. Moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
have been reintroduced into the area.