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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Grayling & the Au Sable River, Michigan
Pick lavender at Uncommon Ranch near the Au Sable's South Branch, in bloom by early July, then walk 49 acres of old-growth pines at Hartwick Pines.
5 places · updated October 17, 2026
Grayling is a river town. The Au Sable starts its run to Lake Huron here, and its South Branch flows north through the Mason Tract, a protected forest stretch known for wild brook and brown trout. The town grew up on logging, and that story is told at the Hartwick Pines logging museum, in the 1882 depot downtown and at a 1930s living-history farm south of town.
Uncommon Ranch, about 13 miles east of downtown Grayling on Chase Bridge Road, grows about 10,000 lavender plants in 15 cultivars and distills them in a copper still. In 2026 it was open to the public Wednesday through Saturday, 10 to 4, until August 8, with pick-your-own bundles, an art studio and a café, and its English lavenders were blooming by the week of July 7. Its four cabins rent all year, which makes it an easy base for a weekend on the river.
The lavender farms
- Uncommon RanchLavender farm · Grayling
early to mid-July (English lavenders first)
Summer open days (2026: Wednesday–Saturday 10–4 through August 8) with pick-your-own; Art in Bloom in mid-July; lodging year-round; groups and photo sessions by appointment.
Best time to visit
Aim for early to mid-July. In 2026 Uncommon Ranch's English lavenders were blooming the week of July 7 and in full bloom for its Art in Bloom weekend, July 17–18; daily public hours ended August 8 for harvest, with the café reopening on select fall days. Guided Kirtland's warbler tours leave from Hartwick Pines from May 23 through June 30. The AuSable River Festival filled Grayling July 17–26, 2026, ending with the overnight AuSable River Canoe Marathon that started July 25. The Hartwick Pines visitor center and logging museum are open daily May 1 through Labor Day, with Black Iron Days on August 22–23, 2026, and the Grayling Fish Hatchery is open Friday through Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Mason Tract Pathway at Chase Bridge🥾 Trail · Grayling · about 4 mi, 8 min drive
The South Branch of the Au Sable flows north from Chase Bridge through the Mason Tract, and a pathway follows the river downstream. The bridge has parking, a canoe launch and a pit toilet, and the reach holds wild brook and brown trout.
- Wellington Farm USA🏛️ Historic site · Grayling · about 15 mi, 22 min drive
A 60-acre living-history farm that recreates rural life in the Great Depression years, with a grist mill, a 1920s-style summer kitchen and weekend demonstrations such as sticky-bun baking.
Opened May 15 for 2026; visitor center open Friday–Sunday
- Crawford County Historical Museum🏛️ Museum · Grayling · about 13 mi, 20 min drive
Housed in the original 1882 Grayling railroad depot, with rooms set up as a one-room schoolhouse, a grocery and a turn-of-the-century bedroom, plus early railroad exhibits.
2026: Fridays and Saturdays from April 24 to Memorial Day, then Tuesday–Saturday
- Grayling Fish Hatchery🌉 Landmark · Grayling · about 15 mi, 22 min drive
One of the oldest fish hatcheries in the state, on North Down River Road west of town, where kids can feed the trout.
Memorial Day weekend–Labor Day weekend, Friday–Sunday and holiday Mondays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (2026)
Free entry; small charge for fish food
- Hanson Hills Recreation Area🏞️ Park · Grayling · about 15 mi, 22 min drive
Nonprofit recreation area with more than 20 miles of single-track mountain bike trail through oak forest, about 35 km of hiking and running trails that become ski trails in winter, and two disc golf courses.
- Hartwick Pines State Park🌳 State park · Grayling · about 20 mi, 28 min drive
A 9,335-acre park named for its 49 acres of old-growth pine. The paved, accessible 1.25-mile Old Growth Forest Trail leads a quarter mile from the visitor center to the logging museum and its replica logging camp.
Visitor center and logging museum daily May 1–Labor Day, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (2026)
Michigan Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry
- Lovells Museum of Trout Fishing History🏛️ Museum · Lovells · about 25 mi, 35 min drive
Billed as Michigan's only trout fishing museum, with exhibits on the lost Michigan grayling, the founding of Trout Unlimited, fly rods and trout flies, and a new exhibit each year.
Saturdays 10 a.m.–3 p.m., April 25 through the last Saturday in September (2026)
- Higgins Lake Nursery & CCC Museum🏛️ Museum · Roscommon · about 18 mi, 25 min drive
Inside North Higgins Lake State Park: a reconstructed Civilian Conservation Corps barracks, the old nursery building, CCC equipment and outdoor exhibits on how the corps replanted northern Michigan's forests. Plan about an hour.
Opens May 1; by appointment September 2–October 31
Free; Michigan Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Gates Au Sable LodgeInn or B&B · Grayling
Riverside lodge on the Au Sable with guest rooms and a restaurant that cooks mostly from scratch.
- Goodale's BakeryBakery · Grayling
Hometown bakery for fresh donuts and pastries, with deli sandwiches and hot lunches.
- Grayling RestaurantRestaurant · Grayling
Classic downtown diner known for its lumberjack breakfast and cinnamon roll pancakes.
- Ray's BBQ, Brews & BluesRestaurant · Grayling
Barbecue with Southern sides, outdoor seating and blues music in a riverfront lodge setting.
- Hanson House Bed & BreakfastInn or B&B · Grayling
Bed and breakfast in the 1890 home of lumber baron Rasmus Hanson, with en-suite rooms and a candlelit breakfast.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMHartwick Pines State Park
Walk the paved Old Growth Forest Trail to the logging museum, about 90 minutes.
- 11:45 AMGrayling Fish Hatchery · about 15 min drive
Feed the trout, about 30 minutes (open Friday through Sunday in summer).
- 12:30 PMGoodale's Bakery · about 8 min drive
Lunch: a deli sandwich or hot lunch, and donuts for later. About 45 minutes.
- 1:30 PMCrawford County Historical Museum · about 3 min drive
Tour the 1882 depot and its period rooms, about 45 minutes.
- 2:40 PMUncommon Ranch · about 20 min drive
Pick a lavender bundle, see the copper still and have a lavender lemonade in the café. Allow an hour and arrive well before the 4 p.m. close.
- 4:00 PMMason Tract Pathway at Chase Bridge · about 8 min drive
Walk the river path along the South Branch for 45 minutes, or watch the anglers from the bridge.
- 5:30 PMGates Au Sable Lodge · about 25 min drive
Dinner by the main branch of the Au Sable.
Tips
- Uncommon Ranch's daily public hours run only through its summer season (until August 8 in 2026); outside those weeks, visits are by private appointment, while the cabins rent year-round.
- A Recreation Passport covers vehicle entry at Hartwick Pines and at North Higgins Lake State Park, home of the CCC Museum.
- Part of the Au Sable River Trail at Hartwick Pines is closed indefinitely because of bridge conditions; the Old Growth Forest Trail is open.
- Most land upstream of Chase Bridge is private, so anglers should stay in the river there.
- Rooms in Grayling go fast for the AuSable River Festival and Canoe Marathon weekend in late July; book early or come the week before.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When does lavender bloom at Uncommon Ranch?
In 2026 the English lavenders were blooming the week of July 7 and in full bloom for the Art in Bloom weekend, July 17–18. Harvest was underway by late August.
Can you pick your own lavender at Uncommon Ranch?
Yes, during summer public hours. Bundles were $15 each in 2026.
Can you stay overnight at Uncommon Ranch?
Yes. The ranch rents four cabins year-round: The Black Barn, Lavender Loft, Haymarsh Creek Cabin and Blueberry Hill.
How long is the Old Growth Forest Trail at Hartwick Pines?
1.25 miles, paved and accessible, with the logging museum about a quarter mile from the visitor center.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
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