2023 Map of South Branch

About this map

Huron National Forest dominates this section of the Michigan landscape, where the South Branch River and Au Sable Creek weave through a dense network of glacial lakes. The terrain is defined by the Maltby Hills to the northwest and expansive wetlands like Maltbys Swamp, reflecting the region’s glacial geology. Small lakefront communities such as Shady Shores and Long Lake cluster around water bodies like George Lake and North Dease Lake, showing the transition from forest wilderness to seasonal and residential settlement. Genealogists will find the Oak Grove Cem near South Branch and the Hill Township Cem to the south, both serving as anchors for local family history in this heavily forested area. Extensive trail systems, including the Mack-South Branch Loop Trl, highlight the area's modern identity as a hub for outdoor recreation within the national forest boundaries.