A Trip Thru the Dead Stream Swamp: Missaukee County, Michigan

Dead Stream Swamp - Michigan's longest swamp - is located within the Houghton Lake State Forest in Missaukee County, just west of Higgins Lake at the northwest end of Houghton Lake. According to the Natural Park Service, it's “a large example of a northern white cedar swamp, which is considered a climax stage in bog forest development.”
Okay...but to me, it's just a big ol' creepy swamp.

It's a full 11,680 acres, 30miles northeast of Cadillac and it is not easy to find access. Trails and roads are scarce – if there are any – and if you are really bent on visiting, you have to find your own way there. Maps don't seem to do any good as far as finding trails or any other types of access.

While boating is not the best here – far from it - fishing is excellent. Bass, pike, bluegill, and perch abound here...more than likely because it's so hard to get back in here, that the fish just continue to breed.

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The water is shallow and boats can get damaged if they make it this far - logs and other types of obstacles lie hidden under water that will smack your craft and jam a hole in it.

If you can brave mosquitoes and other pests, the camping and hunting is said to be excellent in the surrounding woods.

The gallery below takes you inside Dead Stream Swamp so you can see for yourself what the insides look like – not just some satellite views, but the real thing...and thanks to 'Rivers and Coffee' for the images!