2017 Map of Hessel

About this map

Hessel serves as the focal point for this survey along the northern shores of Lake Huron, where the Les Cheneaux Islands region meets the mainland. The landscape is defined by the transition from the protected waters of Hessel Bay and Mackinac Bay to the inland timberlands of the Hiawatha National Forest. Local history is deeply etched into the terrain through a high concentration of cemeteries, including Italian Hill Cem, Rockview Cem, Fenlons Cem, and the prominent Father Marquette's Cem near the waterfront. Inland, the topography rises toward Peek-A-Boo Hill, while smaller water bodies like Bay City Lake and Pollock Lake dot the forested interior. The map illustrates a coastal economy centered on the water, with Burnham Island and Avery Point marking the jagged shoreline that has long drawn seasonal visitors and maritime traffic to this part of the Upper Peninsula.