Looking for things to do in Oscoda, Michigan? This Sunrise Coast town sits at the mouth of the Au Sable River, where it empties into Lake Huron. First settled in 1867 and named by explorer Henry Schoolcraft using a shortened form of Ojibwe-rooted words meaning “a pebbly prairie,” Oscoda built its early economy on the lumber trade before becoming a magnet for anglers, paddlers and beachgoers. Oscoda holds the distinction of being Michigan’s official home of Paul Bunyan, and today it pairs that folklore charm with 36 miles of Iosco County shoreline, championship golf and a downtown built for leisurely afternoons. Come for the river, stay for the sunrise.

Only in Oscoda: Home of Paul Bunyan

Oscoda is the only town in Michigan officially designated the home of Paul Bunyan. The state recognized the title after local writer James MacGillivray’s tall tales of the giant lumberjack first appeared in the Oscoda Press in 1906, later reprinted in The Detroit News and credited with popularizing the legend nationwide. That logging-era history is honored a few miles up the River Road at the Lumberman’s Monument, a 14-foot bronze statue dedicated in 1932 to the timber cruisers, sawyers and river rats who worked the Au Sable.

At the Lumberman's Monument Visitor Center, you can climb through a log jam, try your hand with a peavey and cut a wooden cookie with a cross-cut saw, then follow the short trail out to a dune overlook above the river valley.

Oscoda claims one more title no other town can: it’s the finish line of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon, a non-stop 120-mile race from Grayling to Oscoda billed as the “World’s Toughest Spectator Race.” Held every year, the marathon draws elite paddlers from around the world battling portages, darkness and fatigue for a share of more than $75,000 in cash and prizes, with crowds lining the riverbank all the way to the finish.

Outdoor Adventures on the Au Sable River and Lake Huron

The Au Sable River is the heart of Oscoda’s outdoor recreation. It’s one of North America’s best canoeing rivers, and Oscoda Canoe Rental and the paddlewheel-style AuSable River Queen both offer trips ranging from a couple of hours to a full week on the water. Anglers come from across the state for walleye, salmon and trout, whether casting from shore or working the river with a local guide.

Closer to town, Oscoda Beach Park fronts the sandy shores of Lake Huron with a boardwalk made for an easy stroll, while Clark’s Marsh, Eagle Run Hiking Trail and Whirlpool Angler Access offer hiking, camping, fishing and wildlife spotting for visitors who want to get further into the woods. The town also anchors the eastern terminus of the Shore-to-Shore Riding & Hiking Trail, a 220-mile network that stretches across northern Lower Michigan. Traveling as a group? Charter a bus and bring the whole fishing crew or family reunion along for the ride.

Oscoda’s outdoor season doesn’t end when summer does. The town serves as the eastern gateway to northern Michigan’s snowmobile trail system, with routes connecting all the way to Traverse City and the Mackinac Bridge. Cross-country skiers and snowshoers head for the Corsair Ski Trails, one of the largest groomed trail networks in Michigan at 28.3 miles, while ice anglers set up shanties on Van Etten Lake to chase perch, panfish and pike once the ice thickens.

Wurtsmith Air Museum: Oscoda’s Cold War History

Wurtsmith Air Force Base shaped Oscoda’s identity for seven decades. What began in 1923 as a soft-surface landing strip grew into one of Michigan’s three Strategic Air Command bases during the Cold War, home to B-52 bomber wings and later renamed for Major General Paul B. Wurtsmith.  The base closed in 1993, but its legacy lives on at the Wurtsmith Air Museum. Volunteers, many with their own service history, guide visitors through vintage aircraft, uniforms, letters and exhibits covering the Tuskegee Airmen’s training at the base and generations of aviation history in northeastern Michigan. 

Golf in Oscoda: Lakewood Shores Resort

Golfers know Oscoda for Lakewood Shores Resort, just minutes from town on Cedar Lake. The Gailes, designed to recreate the feel of a seaside Scottish course, earned Golf Digest’s “#1 Best New Resort Course in the United States” honor, and it’s joined by the Blackshire and Serradella courses along with an 18-hole pitch-and-putt for the whole family. Together, the resort’s three championship courses make Oscoda one of the Sunrise Coast’s premier golf destinations.

Downtown Oscoda Restaurants and Local Charm

Oscoda keeps its small-town feel front and center, and nowhere is that more obvious than along Dwight Street. Tait’s Bill of Fare serves relaxed fine dining with daily specials, from loaded fries and ribs to seasonal salads and steak. Next door, the Lake Theatre has entertained the town for decades, a single-screen movie house still known for maintaining affordable ticket prices even after a recent remodel. Round out the visit with a drink and a game at Edelweiss Tavern or browse the eclectic finds at To The Moon & Back, a locally owned shop carrying everything from crystals to clothing.

Come On, Let’s Go to Oscoda, Michigan!

Oscoda, “where everything comes naturally,” is a destination built around water, from the winding Au Sable River to the sandy shores of Lake Huron, layered with logging-era folklore and Cold War history that few other Michigan towns can match. Oscoda offers an easy, unhurried Sunrise Coast escape in every season, where you can enjoy paddling the river, casting a line and teeing off at Lakewood Shores during the warmer months, or snowmobiling, skiing and ice fishing once the snow hits.

Indian Trails can help get you there in two ways. First, we run regular bus routes to and from Oscoda throughout the state. Buy a ticket and enjoy stress-free travel to this wonderful destination. If you’re bringing a lot of traveling companions, you can charter a bus and create a customized sightseeing tour! Either way, start your adventure with Indian Trails.

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If You Like Oscoda… 

You might want to check out our guides to Saginaw and Pinconning, and keep an eye out for Ossineke, another Sunrise Coast gem. Michigan is one of the most beautiful states in the country, and there’s always another corner of it waiting to be explored.