Nearly 46 percent of the Hiawatha is wetland, the most distinctive of which is associated with sand dune areas created by a prehistoric glacial lake. Over four hundred inland lakes lie within the Forest boundary. Varying landforms, combined with the influence of the Great Lakes, create many different weather zones. Summer temperatures are typically in the 70-degree range near the Great Lakes shorelines, while inland from Lakes' moderating influence, they reach 10 to 15 degrees higher. Average snowfall varies from 54 inches on the Michigan and Huron Lakeshores, to 240 inches on the Lake Superior shore.
Weather is as varied in the spring and fall as the colors of blooming flowers and autumn leaves.
There are two separate portions of the Hiawatha National Forest. The eastern portion stretches north from the town of St. Ignace, which lies along Lakes Michigan and Huron, to the shore of Lake Superior west of the city of Sault Ste. The western portion of the Hiawatha extends from the towns of Rapid River and Manistique, along Lake Michigan, to the town of Munising on the Lake Superior shore. The majority of the land within the boundaries of the Hiawatha National Forest is Federally owned. Small parcels of privately owned lands do occur throughout the Forest.