Gerrish Township, Michigan

Higgins Lake is a large recreational and fishing lake in Roscommon County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 9,900 acres (4,000 ha) lake is known for its deep, clear waters and is the 10th largest in Michigan with a shoreline of 21 miles (34 km). It is named after Sylvester Higgins, the first chief of the topographical department of the Michigan Geological Survey. It has a maximum width of 4 miles (6.4 km) and a length of 7 miles (11 km) with a maximum depth of 135 feet (41 m). The mean depth is 135 feet (41 m) and the lake contains almost 20 billion cubic feet (570×10^6 m3) of water. Its retention time is about 12.5 years. The lake's watershed covers 19,000 acres (7,700 ha). The twin-lobed lake receives half of its water from submerged springs, six percent from incoming streams, and the remainder from direct rainfall and runoff. It drains into Marl Lake by the Cut River which runs into Houghton Lake and eventually to Lake Michigan via the Muskegon River. A mile north of the lake, water flows into the Lake Huron watershed. Sportfish in the lake include yellow perch, trout, smelt and pike. Fish are taken both in open water and by ice fishing. Higgins Lake is considered a morphometrically oligotrophic lake, meaning that its large size causes it to appear and function as a nutrient-poor lake although it receives a fair amount of nutrients. The unincorporated community of Higgins Lake is located along the western shores of the lake, and the lake is situated on the boundary between Lyon Township on the west and Gerrish Township on the east. There are two state parks, located on opposite ends of the lake: South Higgins Lake State Park, which has a mile of shoreline, and North Higgins Lake State Park. Both provide public boat launches and camping, and are very popular in the summer months. The south park is older, larger, and more developed. The north park is located on what was once the world's largest seedling nursery, a part of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s and early 1940s. Centuries before European settlers came to North America, the Chippewa people called the lake Majinabeesh, which means 'sparkling water'.

South Higgins Lake State Park is a public recreation area covering 1,000 acres (400 ha) on the southern shore of Higgins Lake five miles southwest of Roscommon in Roscommon County, Michigan. The state park occupies one mile of shoreline on Higgins Lake and entirely surrounds Marl Lake and portions of the Cut River.

Marl Lake is a freshwater lake located in Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The lake is entirety located within South Higgins Lake State Park. The lake is within Markey Township to the south and Gerrish Township to the north. Covering a surface area of 237 acres (0.96 km2), Marl Lake is a significantly smaller and less-developed lake compared to the nearby Higgins Lake. The two are connected by the Cut River, and upon exiting Marl Lake, the Cut River continues to flow into Houghton Lake. The lake can be reached through a state park access point along East Higgins Lake Road (County Road 100). The lake has a small public boat launch, but the use of electric or gas motors is restricted in favor of smaller vessels, as the lake itself is no more than 4 feet (1.2 m) deep. The waters may be difficult to fish due to its grassy nature and very loose marl bottom, but common fish within the lake include smallmouth bass, rock bass, sunfish, and several other small varieties. Other activities include hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing along the 5.5 miles (8.9 km) of trails cutting along and through the forest around Marl Lake. Kayaking, bird watching, photography, shore fishing, and picnicking are also popular activities.

Markey Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,401 at the 2020 census. The township was created from Gerrish Township on April 21, 1887.

North Higgins Lake State Park is a public recreation area located nine miles (14 km) west of Roscommon in Beaver Creek Township, Crawford County, Michigan. The state park occupies 449 acres (182 ha) on the north shore of Higgins Lake at the site of what was once one of the world's largest seedling nurseries.

Beaver Creek Township is a civil township of Crawford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 1,736.The township borders the northern coast of Higgins Lake and includes North Higgins Lake State Park. Interstate 75 passes through the township, and the northern terminus of U.S. Route 127 is at Interstate 75 within the township.

Lyon Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,252 at the 2020 census.

Higgins Lake is an unincorporated community in Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is located within Lyon Township. As an unincorporated community, Higgins Lake has no legally defined boundaries or population statistics of its own. Higgins Lake has its own post office with the 48627 ZIP Code.

WGRY-FM (101.1 MHz, "Up North Sports Radio") is a radio station broadcasting a sports format. Licensed to Roscommon, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 1990. WGRY-FM is owned by Sheryl and Gerald Coyne, through licensee Blarney Stone Broadcasting, Inc., and is co-owned with WMQU and WQON, at its facilities in Grayling.

WQON (100.3 FM, "Q 100.3") is a radio station broadcasting an album-oriented rock (AOR) format. Licensed to Grayling, Michigan, the seat of government in Crawford County, it first began broadcasting in 1978. The station brands itself as Q-100.

The Cut is a small river located entirely within Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river begins at Higgins Lake and meanders to Houghton Lake at a length of approximately 10 miles (16 km). It also passes through the small Marl Lake within South Higgins Lake State Park near its source.

Roscommon County–Blodgett Memorial Airport (IATA: HTL, ICAO: KHTL, FAA LID: HTL) is a county-owned public-use airport located five miles (8 km) northeast of the central business district of Houghton Lake, an unincorporated community in Roscommon County, Michigan, United States. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a local general aviation facility.It was known as Roscommon County Airport until 2005, when it was named to honor Terry Blodgett, the airport's manager from 1987 until his death in 2004, and his father Francis Blodgett, airport manager from 1959 to 1981.The airport is home to a chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, which hosts regular events such as Easter Egg Drops and fly-in breakfasts with model planes, the opportunity to interact with personal planes, and free flights. The airport is also home to regular veteran's appreciation events, where veterans are welcome to enjoy warm drinks and refreshments.