THE PROPERTY
The property offers a variety of natural amenities. The Whitefish River is a great place to swim and fish, and the forest around the river is filled with hiking trails. The property is also one of the best places in Michigan to fossil hunt! Learn about all of the features and rules of this property below to stay safe and make the most of your vacation!
OUTDOOR AMENITIES
NATURAL
MANMADE
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Firepit
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Horseshoe Pits
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The Railroad Bridge
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The Weir
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The Whitefish River
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Fossil Cut
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Idawade Brook
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The Hay Field
HIKING TRAILS
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Grade Trail
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Hay Field Trail
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Weir Trail
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Stone Road Trail
This stunning autumn view of the Whitefish River is right off the lawn! Just walk down to the river and look left!
The decommissioned railroad bridge on the property makes a great pedestrian bridge for crossing the Whitefish River.
Bearing North Lodge sits right on the Whitefish. Enjoy the view from your window or explore our many hiking trails along the river!
This stunning autumn view of the Whitefish River is right off the lawn! Just walk down to the river and look left!
THE WHITEFISH RIVER
The West Branch of the Whitefish River runs through the length of the property, providing a great place to fish and swim! The river contains many species, including rainbow trout and crayfish. The banks are lined with fossil-filled rocks and a lush forest.
To fish on the river, you must have an up-to-date fishing license. It is illegal to fish within 100 feet of the weir.
THE WEIR
The Weir is a low dam in the Whitefish River that was established to prevent Sea Lamprey from spawning upstream. Native trout, much like salmon, can jump the weir when they run upriver to spawn every year, Sea Lamprey can not.
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It is illegal to fish within 100 feet of the Weir.
Do not swim or boat near the weir as it contains highly dangerous, turbulent water.
The Weir sits about half a mile downriver from Bearing North Lodge.
You can view the Weir at the end of the hiking trail that starts by the horseshoe pits!
The Weir sits about half a mile downriver from Bearing North Lodge.
Seashells, snails, and corals galore!
The little "nuts and bolts" type formations are actually the stalks of a palm-tree-like sea creature called a crinoid.
These fossils are over 400 million years old! They are a remnant of a time when Michigan was just an ocean floor and dinosaurs had not yet walked the earth!
Seashells, snails, and corals galore!
FOSSIL CUT
The entire property is bursting with Ordovician Period fossils that are over 400 million years old! Hunt for fossilized snails, crinoids, trilobites, corals, and more!
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Fossil Hunting Rules:
1. No fossil hunting in the immediate vicinity of the Lodge and surrounding grounds. Fossils along the river in front of the lodge are for viewing only and should remain undisturbed for everyone's enjoyment.
2. No excessive digging or mining for fossils. Please do not dig anywhere but Fossil Cut.
3. Only take what you can carry for your own personal use. Please no more than a bucket full. Please do not hunt fossils on our property for resale.
4. If you find any great specimens or particularly interesting fossils, please send us pictures so we can share your discovery!
THE RAILROAD BRIDGE
The old Soo Line railroad bridge is a great way to get from one side of the river to the other without going out to the road. The bridge is still structurally sound enough for foot traffic (if you dare), but mind the gaps! This bridge connects to the Grade Trail, which leads to the Fossil Cut where you can hunt for cool fossils to take home! Or just use the road bridge and enter at the gate.
Fun fact: the Fossil Cut is a biproduct of the creation of the railroad. When they cleared away terrain to lay level tracks, they exposed a large amount of fossil-riddled limestone.
You can walk across the old rail road bridge to get to the other side of the river. Just mind the gaps!
The railway was decommissioned in the 1970s, but evidence of its existence still remain throughout the property.
You can walk across the old rail road bridge to get to the other side of the river. Just mind the gaps!
Guests are free to roam the Hay Field.
The Hay Field can be accessed by a brief, uphill walk known as Hay Field Trail.
Guests are free to roam the Hay Field.
THE HAY FIELD
There is a large hay field on the east side of the property that is just a short walk away from the Lodge. Guests are welcome to explore this area by taking the Hay Field Trail.