Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness is a 14729 acres (59.6 km²) 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. The nearest town is Sidnaw, Michigan
, which is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of the wilderness unit's southern end.
Today, the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness is a roadless unit within the managed Ottawa Forest. The wilderness centers on the Sturgeon River
, a Wild and Scenic River where it flows through and along the border of this Wilderness. Along the Wilderness's northeastern edge, the Sturgeon River flows through the Sturgeon River Gorge, a 300 feet (91.4 m) deep canyon
, and the approximately 15 feet (4.6 m) waterfall, Sturgeon Falls. After leaving the Wilderness, the Sturgeon River discharges itself into Portage Lake and, ultimately, into Lake Superior.
Large fauna withn the Rock River Canyon Wilderness includes the black bear
and the whitetail deer. Although the lake sturgeon
gave its name to the Sturgeon River, as of 2011 few if any of these large fish return annually to the river to spawn. The ecosystem is that of a second-growth boreal forest, with the hemlock and aspen
predominating. Larger hardwoods include the sugar maple, paper birch, and basswood
. A few patches of the Michigan state tree, the white pine, have regrown from the logging activities that took here prior to 1910.
The Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness was created by Congress in 1987.
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...
. It is located in Baraga County
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...
and Houghton County
Houghton County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Keweenaw National Historical Park * Ottawa National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36,016 people, 13,793 households, and 8,137 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile . There were 17,748 housing...
within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The wilderness is accessible from M-28
M-28 (Michigan highway)
M-28 is an east–west state trunkline highway that almost completely traverses the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan, from Wakefield to near Sault Ste. Marie in Bruce Township...
, which runs south of the unit in a west-to-east direction. The nearest town is Sidnaw, Michigan
Sidnaw, Michigan
Sidnaw is an unincorporated community in southern Houghton County, Michigan, United States. Sidnaw is located in Duncan Township along M-28, southwest of L'Anse. Sidnaw has a post office with ZIP code 49961.- History :...
, which is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of the wilderness unit's southern end.
Today, the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness is a roadless unit within the managed Ottawa Forest. The wilderness centers on the Sturgeon River
Sturgeon River (Houghton County, Michigan)
Sturgeon River is a river in Baraga County and Houghton County counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. of the river were added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1992.-Description:...
, a Wild and Scenic River where it flows through and along the border of this Wilderness. Along the Wilderness's northeastern edge, the Sturgeon River flows through the Sturgeon River Gorge, a 300 feet (91.4 m) deep canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
, and the approximately 15 feet (4.6 m) waterfall, Sturgeon Falls. After leaving the Wilderness, the Sturgeon River discharges itself into Portage Lake and, ultimately, into Lake Superior.
Large fauna withn the Rock River Canyon Wilderness includes the black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
and the whitetail deer. Although the lake sturgeon
Lake sturgeon
The lake sturgeon is a North American temperate freshwater fish, one of about 20 species of sturgeon. Like other sturgeons, this species is an evolutionarily ancient bottomfeeder with a partly cartilaginous skeleton and skin bearing rows of bony plates...
gave its name to the Sturgeon River, as of 2011 few if any of these large fish return annually to the river to spawn. The ecosystem is that of a second-growth boreal forest, with the hemlock and aspen
Populus tremuloides
Populus tremuloides is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America, commonly called quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, and Quakies,. The trees have tall trunks, up to 25 metres, with smooth pale bark, scarred with black. The glossy green leaves, dull beneath, become golden...
predominating. Larger hardwoods include the sugar maple, paper birch, and basswood
Tilia americana
Tilia americana is a species of Tilia native to eastern North America, from southeast Manitoba east to New Brunswick, southwest to northeast Texas, and southeast to South Carolina, and west along the Niobrara River to Cherry County, Nebraska...
. A few patches of the Michigan state tree, the white pine, have regrown from the logging activities that took here prior to 1910.
The Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness was created by Congress in 1987.