ATLANTA, Mich. (Michigan Back Roads) – Michigan is blessed with millions of acres of wilderness and old forests crisscrossed by rivers feeding thousands of lakes. Improved roads and a vast network of trails make most of this nature accessible to anyone. As a result, it can be difficult to find any real solitude since many of these beautiful places can be crowded. Further, real peace and quiet can be elusive because technology and the “grid” seem to be everywhere. Still, there are some hidden places that beckon those longing for quiet and solitude. One of those places is in northeast Michigan.

The town of Atlanta, Michigan is known as the Elk Capital of the World and is surrounded by about 1,000 miles of state land. It is about halfway between Gaylord and Alpena. Most people pass through on their way somewhere else or on their way to one of the nature areas just to the north. Outdoors enthusiasts travel there to enjoy fishing in the lakes and trout streams, hunting, hiking, kayaking and canoeing along with snowmobiling in the winter months. Tucked away down a gravel road is a genuine hidden treasure –  Avery Lake. The feature that sets Avery Lake apart is cherished by some and annoying at best to others. When you’re at Avery Lake you are off the grid. No cell service, no Wi-Fi, and little if any radio reception. It’s just the way “up north” used to be.

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Avery Lake is good for a day trip/picnic if you don’t mind the gravel road to get there. Rustic campers love this place. There are just 16 campsites, mostly for tents and small trailers. Ten of the sites will handle a 40-foot rig. Three of the sites are walk-in only and are restricted to tents. Amenities are limited. There are vault toilets, a hand pump well, and a boat launch that is best suited to small vessels, fishing boats, canoes, and kayaks will have no issues.

Whether camping or just visiting, the main attraction is that sparkling lake. Clear clean waters with depths of more than 70 feet just begging you to jump in. The lake also acts as a magnet to fishermen. It is said that huge walleye inhabit these waters along with perch, bass, panfish, and northern pike. There are about 300 acres of lake water to explore no matter how you like to do it. The map shows most of the interesting features of the lake.

Then there are the trails. The network of pathways winds around the lake and through the rugged terrain of this forest. Where the trail hugs the shoreline is where bird watching is best and there will be the occasional secluded spot for sunbathing. Further in is best for berry picking and mushroom hunting.