26 miles of hiking and portage trails wind through old growth forests and along lake shores. Wilderness trails are unmarked so be sure to take along a map and compass. The developed recreation area is located just north of the Wilderness. Here you will find auto access camping, a day use building with hot showers, picnic areas and natural sandy beaches. Winter Visits Sylvania Wilderness in the winter can be the definition of true solitude.
Abundant opportunities await winter campers, snowshoers and skiers.
Trails are not marked and ungroomed so be sure to take along a map and compass. In the early 1900's a group of 6 prominent mining and steel industrialists purchased large tracts of land just west of Watersmeet and formed the Sylvania Club. These men, who had made their fortunes exploiting the environment, treasured and preserved Sylvania's forests, lakes and wildlife for the intangible wealth of its pristine qualities. Sylvania was unique and rare in that it had escaped the era of logging and the wave of fires that impacted most of the area around it. Club membership changed over the years and the Forest Service purchased the tract of land in 1967 from P.C. Christainson, the last surviving owner, and from the estate of Lawrence Fisher.