Michigan Highways: County-Designated H-16 through H-63

Intercounty Highway Routes H-16 through H-63

"H-16" | H-33 | H-37 | H-40 | H-42 | H-44 WEST | H-44 EAST | H-52 | H-57 | H-58 | H-60 | H-63 | OLD-27 | OLD-76 | Jump to Bottom

See the Intercounty Highways page for complete details and historical background on Michigan's Intercounty Highway System.

Southern Terminus:

Wisconsin state line (connection w/Wisconsin STH-17) in extreme southwestern Iron County

Northern Terminus:

M-38, 5.4 miles west of Nisula and 7.2 miles east of jct M-26

Length:

52.647 miles

Map:

Route Map of FFH-16

Notes:

"H-16" has never been an actual route and has never been signed in the field. One will not find any "H-16" route markers along route of Federal Forest Highway 16, nor do any such signs exist along the three state trunkline highways—US-2, M-28 and M-38—which intersect this route. The only reason an "H-16," which sits in the middle of the "G" region for Intercounty Highways no less, is even discussed is due to a recurring cartographic error on the Official Michigan Transportation Map.

In 1983, a new Intercounty Highway debuted on the Official Michigan Transportation Map running along Federal Forest Highway 16 (FFH-16) from US-2 west of Iron River northerly to M-28 at Kenton. This was odd for several reasons. First, FFH-16 itself runs from the Wisconsin state line well south of US-2 northerly to M-38 between Nisula and Greenland, well north of Kenton. Second, Iron and Houghton Cos do not participate in the IntercountyHighway program. This new phantom "H-16" seemed to be an erroneous attempt to indicate FFH-16 on the map. However, all traces of "H-16" were removed from the map for the 1985 issue, but this never-posted, never-designated route would not stay gone for long.

In 1992, MDOT re-added the phanton "H-16" back to its Official Michigan Transportation Map, this time coinciding with the entire length of FFH-16, thereby verifying the theory they were attempting to show the route of FFH-16 and not "H-16," which, since it is an even-numbered route, would run east-west in southern Delta, Schoolcraft and/or Mackinac Cos and east of US-41 which is the "G/H" dividing line for Intercounty Highways in the Upper Peninsula. This error has survived now for over three decades and, as such, now appears on many commercially-produced maps and road atlases which use the Official Michigan Transportation Map as a primary source, including Rand McNally, Universal Map and many of the on-line mapping services when they first debuted. However, as of the 2020s, Google Maps seems to (somewhat) more properly label this route as "NF-16" and "Federal Forest Highway 16" in Iron Co, a rather odd "Nat for Dev Rd 16 S" and "Nat for Dev Rd 16 N" in southern Houghton Co before going off the rails somewhat with "County Rd FF 16" then back to "NF-16" before terminating at M-38. All of these names for a road which could just be correctly labeled as "Federal Forest Hwy 16" or "FFH-16" for its entire length. However, also as of the early 2020s, Bing Maps takes the award for properly labelling this roadway, calling it "Federal Forest Highway 16" throughout! Over at Mapquest, however, the wheels fall off the bus: While the Houghton Co segment of FFH-16 is somewhat properly labeled as "NF-16," when it gets to Iron Co, the roadname switches to "Old US-16!" and actual US-16 route markers are added to the route. One must wonder if the folks at Maquest even care anymore...

This route is designated "Federal Forest Highway 16," abbreviated FFH-16 while most locals refer to it as "Forest Highway 16."

Counties:

Iron | Houghton | Ontonagon

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• none

Western Terminus:

US-2 just west of Gould City (cnr Manistique Lakes Rd & US-2)

Eastern Terminus:

M-28, 2.5 miles southeast of McMillan and 4.3 miles west of jct M-28 & M-117 near Newberry

Length:

18.222 miles

Map:

Route Map of H-33

Notes:

Today's H-33 follows the former route of M-135.

History:

A detailed route history is under development.

Counties:

Mackinac | Luce

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• none

Southern Terminus:

M-123 at Four Mile Corner, four miles north of Newberry

Northern Terminus:

Muskallonge Lake State Park entrance (at the site of the former community of Deer Park) at a connection w/H-58

Length:

22.851 miles

Map:

Route Map of H-37

Notes:

Signage at the northern terminus of H-37, at the connection with H-58, is non-existant. While there are very few "H-37" route markers along the route, no "H-58" signs of any type appear in Luce Co.

H-37 runs along Luce Co Rd 407 for its entire length, a route which was originally slated to become a state trunkline highway designated M-48. The trunkline plan was dropped in the 1950s, however.

History:

A detailed route history is under development.

County:

Luce

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• none

Western Terminus:

M-117 in Engadine (cnr of Country Ave & Hiawatha Trail)

Eastern Terminus:

H-63 in Rudyard at cnr H-63/Mackinac Trail & Main St

Length:

52.817 miles

Map:

Route Map of H-40

Notes:

H-40 is one of the original two Intercounty Highways in Michigan. It was originally given the designation of B-1 in 1971, indicating the Department of State Highways intended to number all such highways using an "A-" prefix in the Lower Peninsula and a "B-" prefix in the Upper Peninsula. The next year it had been redesignated as H-40 when the plan was reorganized and widened to utilize the letters "A" through "H."

The entire length of today's H-40 was formerly on the state trunkline system at some point. It follows portions of former routings of US-2 and M-48.

History:

A detailed route history is under development.

Counties:

Mackinac | Chippewa

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• none

Western Terminus:

M-77, 2.1 miles south of Germfask

Eastern Terminus:

H-33 in Curtis at cnr of Main St & Manistique Lakes Rd

Length:

10.224 miles

Map:

Route Map of H-42

Notes:

History:

A detailed route history is under development.

Counties:

Schoolcraft | Mackinac

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• none

Western Terminus:

US-41 at Kiva

Eastern Terminus:

M-67 just south of Limestone

Length:

8.149 miles

Map:

Route Map of H-44 (West Segment)

Notes:

The western of two H-44 routes in Michigan. The other is almost 50 miles due east in Schoolcraft and Mackinac Counties.

Evidence exists that a third routing of H-44 exists, also in Alger Co. Beginning at H-05/Rapid River Truck Tr and continuing easterly via Doe Lake Rd, ending at H-09/Buckhorn Rd south of Whitmore. This third routing is not signed in the field, as far as can be determined, and has never appeared on the Official Michigan Transportation Map.

History:

A detailed route history is under development.

County:

Alger

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• none

Western Terminus:

Germfask at M-77

Eastern Terminus:

H-33 near Helmer

Length:

11.594 miles

Map:

Route Map of H-44 (East Segment)

Notes:

The eastern of two H-44 routes in Michigan, this highway runs via a former state trunkline highway designated M-98. The other H-44 route is almost 50 miles due west in Alger County.

History:

A detailed route history is under development.

Counties:

Schoolcraft | Mackinac

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• none

NW'ern Terminus:

H-58 in Melstrand, 13.7 miles east of downtown Munising

SE'ern Terminus:

M-28, 9.2 miles east of Shingleton

Length:

12.631 miles

Map:

Route Map of H-52

Notes:

At last count, only three H-52 route markers were in existence... anywhere. Two of the signs are located along M-28 either side of this route's southeastern terminus, while the third is located on eastbound H-52 about 1/4 miles east of its terminus at H-58. This third sign is an old, beat-up county-made marker from the 1970s and had definately seen better days. There is absolutely no H-52 signage along H-58 in Melstrand. Tourists should only attempt to navigate this route with a very detailed and accurate map.

H-52 may or may not be considered to exist at present. The route no longer appears on the Official Michigan Highway Map produced by MDOT as of 2006. Future research will, hopefully, help determine if H-52 still exists.

H-52 is almost completely gravel-surfaced, with the last 3/4-mile at Melstrand consisting of a rough, pockmarked paved surface.

History:

A detailed route history is under development.

Counties:

Alger | Schoolcraft

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• none

Southern Terminus:

US-2, 11 miles northwest of Saint Ignace

Northern Terminus:

M-123 in Allenville near Moran

Length:

7.634 miles

Map:

Route Map of H-57

Notes:

Although unsigned in the field, Federal Forest Highway 57 (FFH-57) is designated concurrently with H-57 over its entire length.

Other than the two pairs of H-57 route markers along US-2 and M-123 and two markers posted by Mackinac Co at either end of this route, there are no other H-57 signs in existence.

History:

A detailed route history is under development.

County:

Mackinac

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• none

Western Terminus:

M-28 on the east end of downtown Munising at the cnr of Munising Ave & Cedar St

Eastern Terminus:

Muskallonge Lake State Park (at "Deer Park") at connection w/H-37

Length:

67.495 miles

Map:

Route Map of H-58

Notes:

H-58 runs through, and is the main access road for, the Pictured Rocks National Lakshore. Signage is existant, but has historically been sparse. In Alger Co, the Co Road Commission erected non-standard "H-58" signs during the 1990s and early 2000s, consisting of a green square with "H-58," and possibly a directional arrow, in white. While not the standard gold-on-blue pentagon route markers, at least it was some kind of signage... On the other hand, all of the signage for H-58 in Luce Co, including the connection with H-37, is nonexistant. During 2004-05, the Alger Co Road Commission, however, went on a signing "rampage," erecting dozens of the standard gold-on-blue pentagon markers along much of the route of H-58 in their county, greatly assisting motorists attempting to follow the route.

In a bill passed by the U.S. Congress in 1998, the National Park Service is now able to contribute federal funds for the upkeep and maintenance of roads travelling through national parks, of which the Pictured Rocks National Lakshore is one. H-58 northeast of Melstrand had been deteriorating for many years, and in the late-1990s the Alger Co Road Commission had removed the paved surface on several miles of the route leaving only an intermittent gravel surface. In 1998 and 1999, the route of H-58 underwent improvement from Melstrand northeasterly to Buck Hill, with the part that had been previously paved prior to the mid-1990s completely rebuilt and hard-surfaced again.

Alger Co Road Commission officials developed a five-phase reconstruction project for the remaining unpaved segments of H-58 between Melstrand and Grand Marais in the early 2000s. The first four-mile stretch, referred to as Phase I, was completed in 2004 from Grand Sable Lake westerly to the Log Slide Overlook turnoff. Phase II, a 3.8 mile long stretch from the Log Slide Overlook westerly to just east of the Upper Hurricane River Campground was completely reconstructed in 2006 and carried a price tag of $2.1 million. According to a July 13, 2006 story in the Marquette Mining Journal, "The horizontal alignment of the road will be changed in most places and some of the extremely tight curves will be straightened out. The road will be designed for travel speeds of 40 mph. to maintain the nature of the road and the park setting."

Funding to complete the reconstruction and paving on the remaining portions—Phases III, IV and V—was announced by Gov. Granholm in mid-2006. The roadway from Buck Hill to Kingston Corner, then on toward Twelvemile Beach and the Hurricane River is expected to be completed by 2010. The Mining Journal also noted: "The final phase would provide the greatest challenge for road builders and park officials because the road in that section passes close to the cliffs above Lake Superior. Planners are currently working on a range of options for building in that environmentally sensitive area."

Much of H-58 through the national park as well as its entire length in Luce Co is gravel or dirt surfaced.

History:

A detailed route history is under development.

Counties:

Alger | Luce

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• Pictured Rocks National Lakshore – official park website.

• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: H-58 Road Construction – archived page on the 2008 status of H-58 through the national park, including the 2008–2009 Paving Closure and Detour Map (PDF).

• Beaver Basin Rim Road – an archived anti-Parkway page from the Green Scissors Report from the (former) Michigan Land Use Institute.

• Will the beauty of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore be marred by an increase of visitors? – an archived editorial by activist Sherry Hayden in the June 6, 1999 edition of The Detroit Free Press.

• Record of Decision, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; Final Environmental Impact Statement: Beaver Basin Rim Road – from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, July 31, 1996.

Western Terminus:

H-58 at Kingston Corner in the "Kingston Plains" area of central Alger Co, 26.1 miles east of Munising

Eastern Terminus:

M-77, 9.5 miles south of Grand Marais

Length:

11.993 miles

Map:

Route Map of Unsigned H-60

Notes:

H-60 has never been indicated on the Official Michigan Transportation Map and only appears on few other maps. Route markers pointing to this route have never been posted by MDOT along M-77 south of Grand Marais and it seems Alger Co has never actually posted route markers along H-60. Thus, very little is known about this route.

Motorists wishing to explore H-60 will likely have a difficult time finding maps showing the route, however actually finding and following the route is rather easy. It begins at H-58 where that route turns northerly toward the lakeshore in the "Kingston Plains" about 26 miles northeast of Munising and continues easterly via Adams Trail for 9½-miles to M-77 where it terminates.

History:

A detailed route history is under development.

County:

Alger

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• none

Southern Terminus:

Cnr of BL I-75 & Mackinac Trail in Evergreen Shores (north of Saint Ignace), immediately east of I-75 at Exit 348

Northern Terminus:

BS I-75 on the south city limit of Sault Ste Marie (cnr Mackinac Trail & 3 Mile Rd)

Length:

45.374 miles

Map:

Route Map of H-63

Notes:

H-63, also known as Mackinac Trail for its entire length, follows the former route of US-2 between St Ignace and Sault Ste Marie.

History:

A detailed route history is under development.

Counties:

Mackinac | Chippewa

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• none

Related Routes

Southern Terminus:

Clare/Roscommon Co line along Old US-27 south of Houghton Lake

Northern Terminus:

Otsego/Cheboygan Co line along Old US-27 north of Vanderbilt

Length (Total):

64.735 miles

Segment Lengths:

1. 31.872 miles – Clare Co line to Four Mile Rd south of Grayling
2. 21.321 miles – Jct BL I-75 & M-93 north of Grayling to I-75 at Exit 379 south of Gaylord
3. 11.542 miles – Gaylord north city limit to Cheboygan Co line

Map:

Route Map of OLD-27

Notes:

While it is not technically an official part of the Michigan Intercounty Highway system, especially since it doesn't adhere to the letter-number/number (x-nn) route designation convention, OLD-27 and its companion route OLD-76 in Crawford, Roscommon—and, to an extent Ogemaw—Counties can be grouped into the system for several reasons. First, OLD-27, as signed by Roscommon, Crawford and Otsego Counties, uses the same yellow-on-blue county route markers that the Intercounty Highway system uses and is signed in a very similar manner to those routes. Second, one may argue the reason OLD-27 and OLD-76, which are both definitely deserving of inclusion within the Intercounty Highway system, haven't been assigned Intercounty route numbers of their own are their unique circumstances: OLD-27 being the dividing line between Intercounty Zones "C" and "F" and OLD-76 being a meandering route which would defy easy numbering under the Intercounty Highway numbering scheme.

OLD-27, in its "Intercounty-esqe" incarnation—other portions of the former route of Old US-27 are named "Old US-27" or "Old 27" but not signed with the route designation "OLD-27"—exists in three distinct segments:

The portion of Old US-27 in Roscommon and southern Crawford Cos from the Clare Co line northerly past Houghton and Higgins Lake to Four Mile Rd, approximately 4½ miles south of downtown Grayling at I-75 Exit 251. Between this point and the second segment, the original route of US-27 was obliterated under the present-day route of I-75 between Exits 251 and 254 and from Exit 254 through the Grayling area, it is part of present-day BL I-75 and M-93.
From the intersection of Old US-27, Airport Rd & Hartwick Pines Rd (jct BL I-75 & M-93) approximately 2.9 miles north of downtown Grayling northerly along a segment of Old US-27 through the communities of Frederic, Waters and Otsego Lake to I-75 at Exit 279 south of Gaylord. From here into downtown Gaylord, the former route of US-27 is now part of BL I-75.
From the north limit of Grayling northerly through Vanderbilt to the Otsego/Cheboygan Co line, Old US-27 is again designated as part of OLD-27.

Route signage for OLD-27 in Roscommon Co is actually rather good, an exception to the norm for Intercounty Highways in Michigan. In Crawford Co, signage is mediocre at best and in Otsego Co, most OLD-27 signage is likely the original from the 1970s and very faded and extremely difficult to read in most instances. In a few cases, the OLD-27 route markers in Otsego Co are essentially illegible at this point. As always, a high level of patience and a very good map are required for following some of these routes.

For decades, OLD-27 in Roscommon Co was signed as part of its "regular" numbered county route system, albeit as "OLD-27" instead of fitting into the countywide route numbering scheme of CR-100, CR-101, CR-102 and so on through CR-603. Roscommon Co Rd OLD-27 used the same small black-on-white county route markers as the rest of the county route system instead of the yellow-on-blue Intercounty Route markers. An example of the former style of Roscommon County OLD-27 route marker is included at right. In 2015, however, the Roscommon Co Road Commission conducted a major, systemwide effort to replace their entire inventory of square, black-on-white county route markers with the "NACO-standard" yellow-on-blue pentagon-shaped route markers, like those used on the Intercounty Highway system. Since 2015, OLD-27 in Roscommon Co is signed similarly to the portions in Crawford and Otsego Cos.

History:

1971 – The Intercounty Highways in Otsego Co appear for the first time on the 1971 Michigan Official Highway Map, meaning they were likely first signed in 1970 or early 1971. It could be that OLD-27 was first signed in Otsego Co during this timeframe, although since OLD-27 has never been indicated on the official maps as such, it is difficult to pinpoint precisely when it debuted as a signed route.

1970s – For a few decades, OLD-27 in Roscommon Co was signed with standard black-on-white standard county route markers and not "Intercounty-esque" signage, making it appear as more a part of the Roscommon County county route system and not the Michigan Intercounty Route system.

1983 – The Intercounty Highways in Crawford Co appear for the first time on the 1983 Michigan Official Highway Map, meaning they were likely first signed in 1982 or early 1983. It could be that OLD-27 was first signed in Crawford Co during this timeframe, although since OLD-27 has never been indicated on the official maps as such, it is difficult to pinpoint precisely when it debuted as a signed route.

1986 (Apr 10) – Likely at the request of local civic leaders, a new BL I-75 routing is commissioned at Gaylord. Beginning at I-75 at Exit 279 south of the city, the new loop routing continues northerly via Old 27 South into Gaylord, where it continues via Otsego Ave to M-32/Main St downtown. There, BL I-75 then turns westerly via M-32/Main St, terminating at I-75 at Exit 282 on the western edge of the city. If Old US-27 from downtown Gaylord south to I-75 Exit 279 had been signed as part of OLD-27, those markers are removed as it is now a state trunkline highway route.

2015 – The Roscommon Co Road Commission conducts a major, systemwide effort replacing their entire inventory of square, black-on-white county route markers with the "NACO-standard" yellow-on-blue pentagon-shaped route markers, like those used on the Intercounty Highway system. (See note above)

Counties:

Roscommon | Crawford | Otsego

Photographs:

• OLD-27 Photos – set of three photos showing OLD-27 route signage in Roscommon County
• OLD-27 Route Marker in Waters – from James D. Teresco's website, taken July 9, 2003

Weblinks:

• none

Southern Terminus:

OLD M-55/West Branch Rd at cnr Saint Helen Rd, four miles south of "downtown" Saint Helen (and approx ½ mile south of I-75/M-55 Exit 222)

Northern Terminus:

OLD-27, 2¼ miles south of Four Mile Rd south of Grayling

Length (Total):

23.410 miles

Segment Lengths:

1. 17.504 miles – OLD M-55/West Branch Rd south of Saint Helen to Jct BL I-75 & M-18 in downtown Roscommon
2. 5.906 miles – I-75 at Exit 244 west of Roscommon to OLD-27 2¼ miles south of Four Mile Rd south of Grayling

Map:

Route Map of OLD-76

Notes:

OLD-76, in its "Intercounty-esqe" incarnation—other portions of the former route of Old M-76 are named "Old M-76" or "Old 76" but not signed with the route designation "OLD-76"—exists in two distinct segments:

The portion of Old M-76 in Roscommon Co from OLD M-55/West Branch Rd approx ½ mile south of I-75/M-55 Exit 222 northerly through Saint Helen, then northwesterly via Old M-76 to jct BL I-75 & M-18 in downtown Roscommon (at cnr 5th St & Lake St)
From the northern terminus of BL I-75 west of Roscommon at I-75 Exit 244 westerly along Federal Rd to S Grayling Hwy, then northerly via S Grayling Hwy to OLD-27, 2¼ miles south of Four Mile Rd south of Grayling

There are actually two additional segments of "Old M-76," of which bears "OLD M-76" route markers, but they are not included here. First, the portion of Alger Rd in Ogemaw Co from the Alcona Co line northwesterly to BL I-75 southeast of West Branch, while bearing a few "OLD M-76" route markers (see example at right), is not included in this "Intercounty-esque" route listing since it does not use the "NACO-standard" yellow-on-blue pentagon-shaped route markers and it is separated from Segment No.1 by nearly 11 miles. Since Ogemaw Co does have four other Intercounty Highway routes, if it signed "OLD-76" with the yellow-on-blue pentagon-shaped route markers, it would be easier to include it as part of this route listing. Second, the segment of the former M-55/M-76 route from West Branch westerly to the cnr of West Branch Rd & Saint Helen Rd four miles south of "downtown" Saint Helen is also a former part of the route of M-76 (and, thus, known as "Old M-76" along with "Old M-55"), but it was never turned back to county control after the completion of the parallel route of I-75 (and the subsequent transfer of M-55 to the new freeway as well). Thus, Old M-55/M-76 is still a state trunkline highway route, albeit an unsigned one, so Ogemaw and Roscommon Cos would not be posting county route markers along that segment of roadway.

For decades, OLD-76 in Roscommon Co was signed as part of its "regular" numbered county route system, albeit as "OLD-76" instead of fitting into the countywide route numbering scheme of CR-100, CR-101, CR-102 and so on through CR-603. Roscommon Co Rd OLD-76 used the same small black-on-white county route markers as the rest of the county route system instead of the yellow-on-blue Intercounty Route markers. An example of the former style of Roscommon County OLD-76 route marker is included at right. In 2015, however, the Roscommon Co Road Commission conducted a major, systemwide effort to replace their entire inventory of square, black-on-white county route markers with the "NACO-standard" yellow-on-blue pentagon-shaped route markers, like those used on the Intercounty Highway system. Since 2015, OLD-76 in Roscommon Co is signed similarly to the portions in Crawford and Otsego Cos.

History:

1983 – The Intercounty Highways in Crawford Co appear for the first time on the 1983 Michigan Official Highway Map, meaning they were likely first signed in 1982 or early 1983. It could be that OLD-76 was first signed in Crawford Co during this timeframe, although since OLD-76 has never been indicated on the official maps as such, it is difficult to pinpoint precisely when it debuted as a signed route.

1986 (Oct 31)

– The 17.471-mile long segment of OLD M-76 from OLD M-55/West Branch Rd south of St Helen northerly to St Helen then northwesterly into downtown Roscommon is cancelled as an (unsigned) state trunkline route and turned back to local control. The 0.719-mile segment from jct BL I-75 & M-18 downtown Roscommon southeasterly via Fifth St to the eastern village limit is turned back to village control, while the remaining 16.752-mile segment between Roscommon and OLD M-55/West Branch Rd south of St Helen becomes a county road. Outside the village, the entire route remains designated as Roscommon CR OLD-76 and bears the anme "Old 76." Roscommon Co "OLD-76" route markers go up on this stretch at this time.

Counties:

Roscommon | Crawford

Photographs:

West Branch, MI Old M-76 Sign – likely from Ogemaw County by Eric L on October 3, 2010 via flickr
Roscommon County "OLD 76" Route Marker – likely taken between Roscommon and Saint Helen in 2009 by Jim Lindsay courtesy of AA Roads.

Weblinks:

• none

"H-16" | H-33 | H-37 | H-40 | H-42 | H-44 WEST | H-44 EAST | H-52 | H-57 | H-58 | H-60 | H-63 | OLD-27 | OLD-76 | Up to Top

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