SYLVANIA - Planning Your Trip

Rules and Regulations

Planning your trip to Sylvania Wilderness is part of the adventure, it builds excitement and expectations. by being prepared and knowing the regulations, you are helping to make an investment in the future by being ready to leave minimal impacts on the wilderness resources and you will likely have a more enjoyable experience.

Is Wilderness for you? One of the first decisions you will have made is whether Sylvania Wilderness is really for you. There are few amenities in the wilderness and trip preplanning is a must. Choose Sylvania only if you are prepared to challenge yourself to primitive conditions and the elements you may encounter.

Day Use - Daytime visitors to Sylvania Wilderness need to obtain a Day Use Permit from the main entrance station or from the other trailheads. Between May 15 and September 30, there is a facility fee. All vehicles entering Sylvania must have a facility pass. Passes are $5 daily of $20 annually. From October 1 to May 14, users can self-register for permits and there are no fees.

Camping - Visitors must have an Overnight Camping Permit between May 15 and September 30. Permits are obtained in person at the main entrance station between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT, seven days a week. There is a $10 per site per night camping fee between May 15 and September 30, in addition all vehicles are required to have a facility pass. There is no charge for camping during the other times of the year.

Wilderness users should self-register at the main entrance station or other trailheads during the off-season. Campsites have a wilderness latrine and a cast iron fire ring. Wilderness latrines are for human waste only. Other garbage may attract animals, fills the latrine and decomposes slowly or not at all.

To help reduce impacts on solitude and the resources near the campsites, a maximum of 5 people per campsite is allowed for any purpose at any time. If you are coming to Sylvania with a group larger than 5, be prepared to camp separately. Each group should have their own stove, cookgear, food rations and other equipment.

At the campsites you will find bare areas for your tent. Be sure to check for dead branches and trees when choosing your tent location. Trenching or digging at your campsites or anywhere is not necessary and is unlawful.

If you plan to bring your family pet, please remember that dogs or other domestic pets must be attended, under control and on a 6 foot leash at all times.

Campfires - Campfires are nice to have but not always necessary. Many wilderness users enjoy the dark quiet night and use a lightweight stove for cooking. Stoves are an efficient an fast way for preparing meals, and they are easy on the wilderness since they eliminate the need to tromp through the forest to gather wood. Another advantage of stoves is they don't blacken your pots like a fire does.

If you choose to have a campfire, keep it small - that's the wilderness way. Fires are allowed only within cast iron fire grates at campsites and you should check with the Forest Service for the fire danger rating.

When gathering wood, take time to walk well away from camp to help reduce the impact of intensive gathering. Gather only dead and down wood. Axes and saws are best left at home since wood that is 2 to 3 inches in diameter can easily be gathered and makes the best firewood. Hammers and nails are also best left at home since you should not place nails in trees. Damaging live vegetation in any way is unlawful.

Do not leave fires unattended. They should be drowned with water and cold to the touch before you leave your site or go to bed. Leave your fire pit clean. Pick out all unburned garbage. Contrary to popular belief, thinly lined foil packages that contain cocoa, instant soups or other food do not burn. Pack out all trash.

Meal Planning - Meal planning, packing and preparation may be one of the most critical and fun things you do when preparing for your trip. Important factors to consider are: the length of your stay, the number of people in your group, packaging considerations, nutritional needs and meal preparation time.

Much litter found in the back country originates from food items. For this reason, users of Sylvania must reduce litter at the source by repackaging food in plastic bags or hard plastic containers. Containers such as tin and aluminum cans, glass bottles and styrofoam are not allowed. This includes pop or beer cans, and canned foods.

It is not difficult to find food that can be packed into the wilderness with relative ease. There are items found in the grocery store that can be inexpensive, easily repackaged (or need no repackaging) and require little to no preparation time. Bulk food bins at grocery and health food stores are also a good source. A back country bookbook will give you a variety of ideas for fun and easy meals and include more elaborate recipes for the culinary inclined.

There are also prepackaged dehydrated and freeze dried meals designed for back country trips that are easy to prepare and usually can be purchased at outiftting or sports stores. By planning meals ahead and repackaging your food, you'd be surprised at how little waste is generated and you will also reduce the weight of your pack.

When drinking or preparing food with water from Sylvania lakes, be sure it is treated. Even wilderness water can contain harmful bacteria and organisms such as Giardia that may cause you to get sick. Water should be boiled for at least 5 minutes, filtered with a filter that traps particles as small as .5 microns, or chemically treated. Be sure to drink enough water on your trip to avoid dehydration.

This is Bear Country - Seeing a black bear is an exciting experience. the very things that make them fun to watch - curiosity, acrobatic antics, and appetities - may also ruin your wilderness experience. by taking the following precautions, you can minimize the chances for a visit from a bear.

Keep a Clean Camp! - Bears have an excellent sense of smell and are attracted to food odors. clean up after each meal. Pick food scraps out of dishes before washing and pack them out with the rest of your trash. then, scatter wash water well away from camp. Remember, any washing or bathing must be done on land at least 150 feet from any shoreline or wetland to help protect the water resources.

Food should not be stored in your tent, including toothpaste, candy and gum because the odors can be sensed by bears and other animals. Be prepared to hang your food high in the trees when leaving your site or at night. Most campers have separate food packs and bring 50 feet of rope. Food should be hung at least 10 feet off the ground, 4 feet away from tree trunks, and about 4 feet down from a branch.

If you encounter a bear, do not feed it. They may not understand when you run out of food, and it teaches them to associate food with people. Bears can be scared away by making loud noises such as shouting or banging pans.

Wilderness Travel - Travel in Sylvania is mainly by canoe or hiking. An essential basis for any mode of travel is a compass and a map and knowing how to use them - there are few signs in Sylvania. there are over 25 miles of portag3s and trails and abaout 4,000 acres of water. Portages range from one tenth of a mile to nearly 3/4 of a mile in length. It is illegal to use or possess portage wheels in Sylvania. It is a good idea to leave a trip itinerary at home so someone knows when to expect your return.

Motorized or mechanized equipment cannot be possessed or used in Sylvania with the exception of Crooked Lake. They are limited to an equivalent of 48 lbs. of thrust or 4 hp. You may also encounter an occasional electric motor on Devil's Head or Big Bateau Lakes where access for them is only through private land ownership.

Sailboats or other sailcraft are not allowed on Clark Lake or any other lake surface within the wilderness. They are considered a mechanical device and are not permitted by the 1964 Wilderness Act as are bicycles. The use of pack and saddle stock is not permitted for travel or use in Sylvania.

To help minimize visual impacats and impacts on solitude, group travel size for any purpose is limited to 10 people, with the exceptions of campsites, where the limit is 5. It is not okay for groups larger than 5 to gather at any campsite for any reason, so plan accordingly.

To help protect nesting loons and increase their chance of successful reproduction, landing on islands is prohibited from "ice-off" to July 15 annually. It is also advisable to remain at least 150 feet away from island shorelines since any disturbance could harm reproductive success.

Fishing - Many people enjoy fishing Sylvania lakes. Special fishing regulations apply to most lakes and they can be obtained from the wilderness entrance station or the Watersmeet Ranger Station. A valid Michigan fishing license is required for anyone age 17 or older. To help protect the fishery resource all bass must be returned to the water immediately after catching. Due to ignorance of special regulations or lack of respect by a few, a decline tin the resource has been noted. check the special regulations for a complete list of rules.

If you are arranging for a guide for any purpose, it is important to know that guiding for commercial gain is illegal in Sylvania. However, outiftting is allowed and outfitters are required to have a Forest Service Special Use Permit.

Equipment and Clothing - Wilderness living and travel require careful planning and selection of equipment and clothing. Modern technology has made camping more comfortable and easier on the natural setting. Gear is becoming lighter in weight and more efficient. You will find specialized equipment for most any sport including canoeing and backpacking.

When planning your trip, make a list of the equipment and clothing you may need. Some items such as axes and portable radios are not necessary and best left at home. Your list should contain items that are permissible in sylvania and are wilderness friendly.

If canoeing, each person is required to have a Coast Guard approved life vest. It is also advisable to have a good first aid kit since help may be far away in both distance and time. There are resource books available on first aid in the back country.

Select clothing according to the time of year of your visit and expected weather chantes. Choose clothing that can be layered and has the ability to insulate even when wet. Wool, synthetic fabrics and breathable waterproof fabrics are a good choice for layering. Although cotton is one of the most comfortable fabrics, it has no insulating value when wet and may even increase heat loss when wet.

Other Remote Camping Opportunities - The Ottawa National Forest manages over 60,000 acres of land for semi-primitive non-motorized uses. These areas provide for recreation opportunities in remote areas outside of wilderness. Ueses such as camping, hiking, mountain biking, and skiing are permitted.

These areas are closed to off road vehicles, and snowmobiles as in wilderness, but provide for more flexibility than in sylvania. There are few amenities and no developed sites, you are allowed to camp almost anywehre and group size is not limited. Use your good judgement and Leave No Trace practices when visiting these areas.

For more information on these areas contact the Watersmeet Visitor Center (906)358-4724 (voice and TTY) or any other Ottawa National Forest Office.