Grayling, Michigan: Where the AuSable Turns Every Season Into an Adventure

In the heart of Northern Michigan, Grayling is a place where clear rivers, pine forests and winding trails create an outdoor playground in every season. From quiet mornings fly-fishing the AuSable to the roar of canoes racing through town at the annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon, Grayling offers a distinctly Michigan kind of adventure.

The 2027 AuSable River Canoe Marathon in Grayling, Michigan, starts at 9:00 PM on Saturday, July 24, 2027

There are places that seem designed around the outdoors, and then there is Grayling, Michigan. Set in the heart of Northern Michigan, Grayling sits among forests, lakes and rivers that have shaped the community's identity for generations.

The town is best known for the AuSable River, a waterway that winds through the region and draws anglers, paddlers, hikers and adventurers throughout the year.

Here, the outdoors is not something found on the edge of town. It is woven into the town itself.

The AuSable is the centerpiece. Its clear, cool water makes it a destination for canoeing, kayaking and fishing, while the surrounding woods provide miles of trails and public land to explore.

The river is particularly celebrated for trout fishing, including a roughly nine-mile stretch known among anglers as the "Holy Waters," where fly-fishing and catch-and-release regulations help protect the fishery.

For paddlers, the river offers a different kind of experience. Much of the water around Grayling moves at a manageable pace, allowing visitors to spend an afternoon drifting beneath a canopy of trees rather than battling whitewater.

Local outfitters offer canoe and kayak rentals, making it possible for visitors to build anything from a short afternoon float to a multiday river adventure.

Penrod's Au Sable Canoe and Kayak is one local option for paddlers looking to get on the river, while Au Sable Canoe Rental provides another way to experience the AuSable from downtown Grayling.

But there is one week each summer when the river takes on an entirely different personality.

When Grayling Comes Alive

Every July, thousands of people descend on Grayling for the AuSable River Festival and the AuSable River Canoe Marathon. The festival brings live entertainment, food, arts and crafts, canoe racing and other community events to town in the days leading up to the marathon.

Then comes race night.

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon is a 120-mile, nonstop canoe race that begins in Grayling and ends in Oscoda on the shores of Lake Huron. Held annually on the last full weekend of July, the race has been challenging paddlers since 1947.

The start alone is worth the trip. At 9 p.m., two-person canoe teams take part in a Le Mans-style running start. Racers sprint with their canoes through the streets of Grayling before reaching the river and beginning an overnight battle against distance, darkness and fatigue.

It is an unusual sight: carbon-fiber racing canoes, paddlers running through town and thousands of spectators lining the course. The race continues through the night, with teams navigating the narrow river, portages and multiple dams before the leaders reach Oscoda the following day.

The race has earned its reputation as the "World's Toughest Spectator Race," and watching it is almost an adventure of its own. Fans can follow the race at various points along the river, although organizers warn spectators to prepare for changing weather, insects, darkness, traffic and large crowds.

For Grayling, the marathon is more than a sporting event. It is a celebration of the river that defines the community.

Beyond the River

Grayling's outdoor appeal extends well beyond the AuSable. Hartwick Pines State Park provides a glimpse into the forests that helped shape Michigan's history.

The park is home to a rare 49-acre stand of old-growth white pines, along with hiking trails and the Hartwick Pines Logging Museum, where visitors can learn about the state's logging era. The park also connects with the Grayling Bicycle Turnpike, a paved, nonmotorized route that extends toward other recreational areas.

Hikers have plenty of choices throughout the region. The Grayling area contains miles of paved and unpaved trails and hundreds of acres of state land. The scenery changes dramatically with the seasons, from green summer forests to the brilliant colors of autumn and the quiet, snow-covered landscape of winter.

For those looking for a more active trail day, Hanson Hills Recreation Area offers hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor recreation during the warmer months, while also serving as a winter recreation destination.

Another option is the Mason Tract, a stretch of land along the South Branch of the AuSable known for its forested scenery, river access and hiking opportunities. Mason Tract Pathway Trailhead provides access for visitors looking to combine a hike with time along the river.

An Outdoor Town in Every Season

Grayling's appeal is that it does not depend on a single season. Summer brings paddling, fishing, hiking, biking and the excitement of the AuSable River Festival. Fall transforms the surrounding forests into a colorful backdrop for hiking and scenic drives.

Winter brings snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and other cold-weather pursuits. Grayling's visitor bureau promotes the area as a year-round destination for fishing, hiking, canoeing, snowmobiling, skiing and hunting.

Even the quieter moments can feel like an adventure. A morning beside the AuSable can mean watching trout rise beneath the surface. A hike through the pines can turn into an afternoon of wildlife watching.

A canoe trip can stretch from a few hours into a full weekend, with campsites and river access providing opportunities to slow down and stay awhile.

That combination is what makes Grayling stand out. It is not simply a town with outdoor recreation nearby. The river, forests and trails are part of its character.

The same AuSable that provides a peaceful afternoon float becomes the stage for one of the country's most demanding canoe races. The same forests that invite a quiet hike have witnessed generations of logging, hunting, fishing and exploration.

In Grayling, adventure does not always have to be extreme. Sometimes it is a paddle beneath towering trees. Sometimes it is a fly rod resting on the riverbank. Sometimes it is a trail disappearing into the woods.

And once each summer, it is hundreds of paddlers sprinting into the darkness, chasing 120 miles of river toward Lake Huron.

That is Grayling: a Northern Michigan town where the outdoors is not merely something to visit. It is a way of life.

For more, visit https://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/