This landscape is rugged, it is a surprise to find here in Michigan, yet here it is — lucky us. Bordering the Huron Mountain range, it is part of an area west and north of Marquette known for its high rock faces, stone outcroppings, sugar maple forests, white pine, sparkling streams and blue high-country lakes. The Huron Mountains are the remains of an ancient mountain range, now eroded and scarred by glaciers and time, but still majestic and beautiful.

The island in Third Bass Lake once held a trapper’s cabin–its remains can still be seen—and at the lake’s east end you’ll find an unexpected sand beach near the outlet. Besides exclusive access to that lake, you also have access to First and Second Bass Lakes. Second Bass Lake is a northern forest lake surrounded by hardwoods, pines and other conifers along the shore. You may well find ducks of different species working its shallows. Wildlife off all sorts use the whole tract, including deer, bear, bobcat, birds too numerous to name and of course, fish. Roughly three-quarters of this lake’s shoreline is part of the tract, as well as 283 feet of frontage on First Bass Lake as well.

Tributaries of the Little Garlic River originate on or near the property (such things have their own lives and move around a bit) and flow through it to form that classic steelhead stream, once rated in the top 10 in the nation by Sports Illustrated.

The forest here is diverse, made of dramatically varying topography and soils with red and white pine, hard maple, red oak, hemlock, white birch, aspen and cedars. These trees occur in nearly solid stands in parts of the property and are intermixed or do not occur at all in others. Specimens of each can be found in uncommon size—true forest giants—but many age classes grow here, adding to the diversity and appeal.

There are broad hardwood flats and rolling land, but perhaps a third of the property is mountainous with pockets of old growth timber. The giants that grow there are virgin trees. A walk of the property a few years back revealed a red oak measuring 12 feet in circumference, maples about the same size, many white pines 6 to 10 feet around, and one giant hemlock 14 feet in circumference, all appearing to be healthy and growing. A hike through this property is a wonderous thing.

A good road leads to the cabin, which is just a few years old. Well-built and well-maintained, it was constructed of large pine logs cut on the property. It has two bedrooms with a loft bedroom above and a full bath, plus large living spaces and outdoor decks. An attached two-car garage, plus a separate storage building and generator shed provide plenty of space. The improvements provide all the creature comforts you could ask for and Marquette, just 25 minutes away, supplies the rest.

There are several hunting blinds on the property. You will see many deer tracks, plenty of bear sign, and in-season ducks on the lakes. You might well see a flock of Canada geese, or a pine martin, or wolf scat on the high rock that is the remains of a mountain peak overrun by the glaciers.

The property is located off Gold Mine Road a few miles south of Highway 550 and less than 20 miles from Marquette’s city limit. Marquette is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula and has the regional airport, regional seaport, regional hospital and Northern Michigan University. Marquette has been honored as one of ten annual “All America Cities” and as one of the 50 top small art communities in the nation. It has a wealth of shops, history, cultural activities, and restaurants.

A generator and solar supplement supplies abundant power to the property. This is a quiet, reliable, powerful generator.

If you have a plat book you will see the property, the whole Section 35, Township 50 North, Range 27 West, Powell Township. To see a copy of the USGS map on which the property borders have been outlined just click here. The property is not open to the public and is not listed in CFR under the Commercial Forest Act. A Lake Assessment Report on Third Bass was completed in 2004 and is available on request.

Several years ago a local appraisal firm concluded its report on the property this way: “In all, this section of land is almost an exact microcosm of the total region in which it lies. There is rugged terrain, difficult access to the property, lack of utilities and a mixed-and-varied forest type with both small lakes of varying quality and small streams on the description. All of these combine into a unique, beautiful interesting and varied description which is like no other individually privately owned parcel we have encountered in almost 19 years of appraising and 33 years working in the out of door in the Upper Peninsula.”

You will agree. These lakes are Huron Mountain jewels. The property is majestic and beautiful.

$2,995,000 — and this beauty is worth it.