Rock River Canyon Wilderness
From west to east, remote waterways Rock River and Silver Creek flow through 150-foot-deep canyons. The two canyons are separated by a broad, flat ridge and surrounded by relatively flat uplands. Second-growth northern hardwoods can be seen, alongside stumps from logging operations that denuded the area by the end of the 1930s. In spring, Rock River leaps about 15 feet over Rock River Falls into a pool, pouring into Ginpole Lake, a secluded 13-acre body of water bordered by canyon walls. The waters offer anglers the chance to fish for rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, coho salmon, and northern pike.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Michigan |
| Size | 4,724 acres |
| Designated | 1987, by Congress |
| Center point | 46.40° N, 86.96° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 12) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 24 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| North Country NTL Scenic -West ↗ | 23.5 | |
| Rock River Falls Hike | 0.9 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- WildfireSilver Leaf
22 mi from the center point · 12 acres
- WildfireRidge
34 mi from the center point · 496 acres · 50% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 3.2 miPaulson House ↗AuTrain, MI
- 4.7 miM-94 (old)--Au Train River Bridge ↗Au Train Township, MI
- 7.2 miM-28--Sand River Bridge ↗Onota Township, MI
- 8 miMikulich General Store ↗Traunik, MI
- 9.6 miKing Road--Whitefish River Bridge ↗Limestone Township, MI
- 10.5 miBay Furnace ↗Christmas, MI
- 11.1 miGrand Island Harbor Rear Range Light ↗Christmas, MI
- 12.4 miLobb House ↗Munising, MI
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Michigan
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Explorer's Guide 50 Hikes on and Around the North Country Trail - Michigan and WisconsinThomas Funke, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Rock River Canyon Wilderness?
4,724 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Rock River Canyon Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Rock River Canyon Wilderness in?
Michigan.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Rock River Canyon Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1987.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Rock River Canyon Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Rock River Canyon Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 46.399° N, 86.960° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Rock River Canyon Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Silver Leaf at 22 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Rock River Canyon Wilderness?
The National Register has 9 listings within 15 miles, including Paulson House and M-94 (old)--Au Train River Bridge.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.