Marie District and Peninsula Point on the Rapid River District are accessible by vehicle and are open to visitors. Visitors have a great deal of freedom to explore the Hiawatha on their own. Over 670 miles of the rivers and streams provide trout and salmon fishing. Warm water fish are also found in several of these streams. Five of the Forest rivers are included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system.
Winter brings the opportunity to ice fish on the lakes.
The Forest is also open to hunting and trapping. Many hunted species of large and small game animals, birds and migratory waterfowl inhabit or pass through the Hiawatha. Wildlife management is a cooperative effort. The Forest Service has responsibility for managing the habitat, while the wildlife itself is managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The North Country National Scenic Trail is currently under construction across the Hiawatha National Forest.