• West Branch Kayaking
  • Historical Tours
  • ORV Trails

Photo

A visit to Ogemaw County is one that your family will remember for many years to come. Enjoy the Ogemaw Hills, Rifle River Valley and traverse the many nature trails that will provide you with hours of entertainment. During your visit here you will become enthralled with the enchanting beauty that this region holds for you. Make your travel plans in northern Michigan and come spend some time with us here in Ogemaw County.

Ogemaw County is an ideal place to spend a day, a long weekend or an entire vacation. Everything you can imagine is here for your enjoyment. We offer many scenic adventures that will enhance your experience. Enjoy the beauty of the West Branch / Ogemaw Hills Area, trails, lakes, events and more! Contact us for all that awaits you 800-755-9091.

Enjoy the

The Great Outdoors

The beauty of this region lies in the wide variety of hills, lakes and streams. Canoeing, trout fishing and swimming are just a few of the many recreational activities that you will find in this vast four season playground. Let your mind wander back to your childhood and remember the fun you had while enjoying the beauty of nature and the feeling of renewed life that comes with being outdoors.

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Places to Stay

Places to

Stay

The Ogemaw County area offers a wide variety of hotels, motels, resorts, bed & breakfasts, campgrounds and other lodging opportunities for you to take advantage of.

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Golf

Tee Time!

Golf

Championship golf and Ogemaw County have a lot in common and we think that once you have visited us you will agree that the ultimate golf destination is found right here.

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Let's go

Shopping

If shopping is part of your vacation agenda, you've come to the right place. You will find outlet shopping, antique treasures and a wide variety of specialty shops in West Branch.

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Ogemaw County

Events

The Ogemaw County Fair and the Victorian Art Fair are just a few of the many outstanding events that take place here each year. For more information and a complete listing of events check out the calendar of events.

Calendar of Events

12 Reasons to Visit West Branch

Discover some of the many reasons to visit Ogemaw County, listed here in no particular order.

  • Downtown West Branch

    Downtown West Branch

    A unique turn-of-the-century Downtown Victorian West Branch is the the cultural focal point for Ogemaw County. The heritage of this area is evident in the architecture with the century old Victorian buildings, the towns pride is reflected in the pleasing atmosphere and the vitality that is displayed in the variety of unique shops, personal services and free convenient parking.

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  • Historical Driving Tours

    Historical Driving Tours

    Take a drive into the past with historical driving tours. They will take you back into another time and place. The Ogemaw County Genealogical and Historical Society has four different tours. The books give you directions and the historical information of the location. They are $10 per book and can be purchased at the Historical Society, the West Branch Area Chamber of Commerce office and other retailers in West Branch.

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  • Irons Park

    Irons Park

    A Municipal Park located on the West Branch of the Rifle River just S of Houghton Avenue on S Valley & Shrigley Streets. Amenities include: "Fort Austin" - a modern playscape, reservable shelters for picnics or weddings, bathroom facilities, tennis & basketball courts. The Rivertrail also runs throughout the park and connects to downtown Victorian West Branch.

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  • Ogemaw County Fairgrounds

    Ogemaw County Fairgrounds

    Ogemaw County Fair Carnival and Exhibits, working hands-on Antique Village, free entertainment, home cooked meals all in a free and flower covered park like setting.

  • Rifle River Recreation Area

    Rifle River Recreation Area

    The Rifle River Recreation Area covers over 4,000 acres in Ogemaw County. The park offers 159 campsites, has several hiking trails and several lakes in its boundaries. Also in the watershed are two state forest campgrounds. The Rifle River campground provides 40 campsites and is located on both sides of the Rifle River. Hardwood Lake State Forest Campground has 22 campsites available. Public canoe access to the Rifle River is fairly good. Access sites are located in the Rifle River Recreation Area, the state forest campground, near Skidway Lake, Moffatt Bridge, and at Omer. In addition, there is a partially developed access site near the confluence of Klacking Creek with the Rifle.

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  • Rose Valley Winery

    Rose Valley Winery

    Our wines are well balanced, fruity, priced to please, and personal as a fond embrace. We welcome visitors to our winery seven days a week to sample and to buy, to browse and to banter in our warm, welcoming and cheerful atmosphere. Rose Valley Winery is committed to making quality wines from locally-grown, cold-hardy grapes.

  • Ogemaw County ORV Trails

    Ogemaw County ORV Trails

    Ogemaw County has an extensive trail system and you will find that an ordinance has been passed to make it easier for riders to get back and forth from the trails. This ordinance allows ORV riders to ride on streets and highways in Ogemaw County. We encourage you to become familiar with the ordinance as well as familiarize yourself with the trails maps in the area.

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  • Camp Timbers Eagles Flight Zipline

    Camp Timbers

    The Eagles Flight Zipline takes riders on an exhilarating ride- nearly 1,200 feet long, over the backwaters of Piper Lake. Experience the thrill of the 60 ft drop on one of the longest ziplines in the region. Only at YMCA Camp Timbers in West Branch, Michigan.

  • Ogemaw Hills Pathway

    Ogemaw Hills Pathway

    In terms of forest cover types the area varies from large expanses of jack pine on the sandy plains, to low conifer swamps. The tree species are primarily associations of jack pine, red pine, and black oak, in the sandy areas. Finally on the ridges along the higher elevations bigtooth aspen and red oak are found on the better quality soils. Much of the state forest land originated after the large forest fires during the early 1900's, and many areas were replanted by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

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  • Ogemaw County Golf

    Ogemaw County Golf

    Championship golf and West Branch/Ogemaw County have a lot in common and we think that once you have visited us you will agree that the ultimate golf destination is found right here. The West Branch Collection of Great Golf Courses - The Dream, Green Briar, Apply Valley, The Nightmare, and West Branch Country Club (all 18 hole golf courses) offer challenging, exciting and affordable golf for every level of golfer. From rolling hills, wooded fairways, bunkers and water, you will find the picturesque vistas provided at each of these golf courses making them a pleasure to play.

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  • Snowmobiles In Ogemaw County

    OGEMAW COUNTY SNOWMOBILING

    Whatever your preference for outdoor activities in the wintertime, come to Ogemaw County and enjoy the best that nature has to offer. Snowmobilers will find 95 miles of some of the finest groomed trails in Michigan. Easy access to snowmobile trails is one of the many pluses you will find in Ogemaw County. Check with your hotel for the easiest route to any of the trails in the system. Current snow and ski conditions reports are available 24 hours a day at (800) 755-9091 during the winter season.

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  • Outlets at West Branch

    OUTLETS AT WEST BRANCH

    Outlets at West Branch feature more than 2,200 outlet stores which are owned and operated by the most popular, brand name manufacturers. Buying direct from the manufacturer means you'll always save more. What could be more fun than spending the day with family and friends bargain hunting at The Outlets?

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Newsletter from the President

November Newsletter 2018

All Trails Lead to West Branch
Fall Colors

November in West Branch. The days become shorter as the sunrises later with that certain brilliance as it pears over the tree tops with different hues of color accenting the alternate tree colors and the light fog that lifts above the lakes. You get that serene feeling as the leaves are falling, the last of the camp fires extinguish and the smell of wood burning in the fire place that overcomes the satisfaction of a perfect day. This is West Branch. Families start talking about the holidays, making traveling plans and the kids start to anticipate the trip up north

A beautiful time of year to watch the wildlife prepare for winter. Black bears are now in the process of completing their final forages before a long winters nap. The geese and birds begin their annual migration south as our local Kirtland Warbler makes one of the longest journey’s finding itself in the Bahamas as its seasonal resting spot. Here are some interesting facts:

Kirtland's Warbler

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kirtlands Warbler

Kirtland's warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii ), also known as the jack pine warbler, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family (Parulidae), named after Jared P. Kirtland, an Ohio doctor and amateur naturalist. Nearly extinct just 50 years ago, it is well on its way to recovery. It requires large areas, greater than 160 acres (65 hectares), of dense young jack pine for its breeding habitat. This habitat was historically created by wildfire, but today is primarily created through the harvest of mature jack pine, and planting of jack pine seedlings.

Since the mid-19th century at least it has become a restricted-range endemic species. Almost the entire population spends the spring and summer in Southern Ontario or the northeastern Lower Peninsula of Michigan in their breeding range and winters in The Bahamas. A small population breeds in Wisconsin.

Everywhere you look, you can find the wonders of nature waiting to be discovered, a hike down the Ogemaw Hills Pathway is a great destination to get out and enjoy some of the best the West Branch has to offer.

Until next time....... Emil Rousseau, Visitors Bureau President

Introduction to West Branch from Great Getaways' Heart of Michigan Circle Tour

A unique turn-of-the-century Downtown Victorian West Branch is the the cultural focal point for Ogemaw County. The heritage of this area is evident in the architecture with the century old Victorian buildings, the towns pride is reflected in the pleasing atmosphere and the vitality that is displayed in the variety of unique shops, personal services and free convenient parking.

Great Getaways:

Heart of Michigan Circle Tour

With its abundant lakes, scenic hills and trails Ogemaw County is considered the Gateway to the North. Ogemaw County sits right in the heart of Michigan and is filled with history, beauty and great events. The online travel planner for this episode of Great Getaways collects information and web links related to the area, combined with photos and video clips from the show in what they hope will be a helpful guide as you plan your trip.

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Heart of Michigan Circle Tour