President Obama signs the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009
White House photo
On March 30, 2009, President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 into law. Among other actions, this Act created the Beaver Basin Wilderness within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The 11,740-acre Beaver Basin Wilderness was proposed as part of the 2004 General Management Plan, and provides permanent legal protection for this part of the lakeshore.
The Beaver Basin Wilderness includes 13 miles of stunning Lake Superior shoreline from Spray Falls on the west to Sevenmile Creek on the east. The wilderness is some 3.5 miles deep.
The Beaver Basin Wilderness offers opportunities for quiet, solitude, wilderness recreation, and spiritual renewal. The wilderness zone includes 8.4 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail and 8.5 miles of connector trails, as well as backcountry campgrounds with individual and group sites.
View from the Beaver Basin Overlook in the fall. Four-wheel drive is recommended to get to this spot.
NPS photo
ACCESS
Trail access into the Beaver Basin Wilderness is mainly from the day-use parking area near the end of 3-mile Little Beaver Lake Road. This is a narrow, unpaved road restricted to single vehicle units less than 36 feet in length and vehicle/trailer combinations less than 42 feet. Little Beaver Lake Road is approximately 18 miles east of Munising along Alger County Road H-58.
There is also a 3-mile, rough backcountry road that leads to the Beaver Basin Overlook picnic area / trailhead. This road is located off H-58 approximately 1 mile east of Little Beaver Lake Road. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for this unpaved road.
Visitors can also hike into the wilderness zone along the North County Scenic Trail adjacent to Lake Superior - check the park map for details.
Visitor ponders a beaver dam
NPS photo
Traditional recreation uses are allowed within the wilderness zone including hunting, fishing, day hiking, overnight backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and more. Check at a visitor center for information on activities. Pets are not allowed on trails, beaches, or lakes within the wilderness zone.
Electric motors only are permitted on Little Beaver and Beaver Lakes, as those lakes are within the wilderness boundary. Motor boats on Lake Superior are free to beach along the Lake Superior shoreline adjacent to the wilderness area.
Vehicle access and car camping is allowed at Little Beaver Lake Campground because it is outside the wilderness boundary.
Pond within the Beaver Basin Wilderness
NPS photo
More about the Beaver Basin Wilderness
Three beautifully clear lakes: Beaver Lake - 762 acres, Trappers Lake - 45 acres, Legion Lake - 35 acres.
Five cold water streams: Lowney Creek, Arsenault Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Little Beaver Creek, and Beaver Creek.
Overlooking the Beaver Basin Wilderness
NPS photo
Extensive wetlands and clear streams providing habitat for native coaster brook trout and other fish. Old growth cedar swamp exhibiting healthy regeneration, an important browse species for white-tailed deer.
Popular fish species including brook trout, largemouth, smallmouth and rock bass, northern pike, and white sucker.
Beaver Creek bridge in winter
NPS photo
Extensive beech-maple upland hardwood forest habitat for numerous mammals, birds, and flowering plants including black bear, timber wolf, American marten and fisher, migrating songbirds, raptors (such as bald eagle, barred owl, peregrine falcon, waterfowl and upland game birds), and spring wildflowers.
An interesting pattern of glacial geology including post-glacial meltwater channels, escarpments, and Lake Nipissing beach ridges.
