West Branch
Around West Branch
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Countryside and towns · Michigan · 36k people
West Branch
Locals say Sunrise Side · “Deer Hunting Capital of Michigan”
Where the pines meet the bay, and the deer roam.
Hunter OrangeForest Green
Welcome to the Sunrise Side, where the woods meet the bay. Whether you're here for the hunt, the fish, or just the quiet, you'll find friendly folks and wide-open spaces. Get ready for some good old-fashioned small-town living.
Clubs for West Branch
No clubs for West Branch yet.
The room
One room for everyone around West Branch. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around West Branch. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Rifle River State Recreation Area Canoeing, camping, and fishing on the Rifle River.
- Huron National Forest Miles of trails for hiking, hunting, and snowmobiling.
- Saginaw Bay Fishing, boating, and sunset views on Lake Huron.
- Au Gres River Popular for kayaking and steelhead fishing.
- Au Sable State Forest Extensive public land for hunting and off-road trails.
- West Branch Historic Downtown Small-town shops and eateries along the main street.
- Outdoors Deer hunting
- Outdoors Ice fishing
- With kids Visiting the county fair
- With kids Fishing off the pier in Au Gres
- Evenings Small-town bars
- Evenings Friday night fish fries
- Locals love Hunting lodges
- Locals love Ice fishing shanties
Through the year
- Ogemaw County Fair August Livestock, rides, and 4-H exhibits.
- Arenac County Fair August Tractor pulls and demolition derby.
- Au Gres Waterfront Festival July Fishing contests and live music.
- Standish Days June Parade and street fair.
- West Branch Summer Festival July Community celebration with food and music.
Humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm summers. Best time to be out is late spring and early fall. Best: Late spring and early fall are ideal for mild temps and fewer bugs.
Talk like a local
- “The Sunrise Side”
- The Lake Huron coast of Michigan, including this area.
- “Bob house”
- An ice fishing shanty.
Getaways
- Sunrise Side Lake Huron beaches and Tawas Point.
- Grayling Au Sable River canoeing and trout fishing.
- Midland Downtown shops and Dow Gardens.
- Bay City Riverwalk and historic districts.
Local flavour
Rooting for Detroit Lions (NFL), Detroit Tigers (MLB), Detroit Red Wings (NHL), Detroit Pistons (NBA), Michigan State Spartans (NCAA), Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Venison A staple from the hunting culture, often served as steaks, jerky, or in stews.
- Morel mushrooms Foraged in the spring woods, a prized local delicacy.
- Fresh whitefish Caught in Saginaw Bay, often fried or smoked at local fish shacks.
- Michigan pasty A meat-and-potato hand pie with roots in Cornish miners, common across the state's north.
Where people go
- Hunting lodges Rustic cabins and lodges that host deer camps and snowmobilers.
- Ice fishing shanties Small heated huts on frozen lakes and the bay, a winter pastime.
- Snowmobile trails Groomed trails that weave through state forests and connect small towns.
- Small-town diners Places serving breakfast all day, with locals chatting over coffee.
- Bait shops Stores that sell live bait, tackle, and hunting licenses, doubling as community hubs.
- State forests Vast public lands for hiking, hunting, and camping, like the Au Sable State Forest.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaSunrise SideMichiganWhere every morning starts with a sunrise worth waking for.GraylingMichiganWhere the pines meet the waterMidlandMichiganSmall-town heart, big ideas, and a river that runs through it.Bay CityMichiganA waterfront town with a big heart.ClareMichiganWhere the pines meet the lakesSaginawMichiganWhere the rivers meetMount PleasantMichiganA friendly college town on the Chippewa River.AlmaMichiganLocal rooms for Alma.
Ogemaw and Arenac counties, MI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.