Johnson Crossing Grade and Tubbs Creek

The headwaters to Tubbs Creek is a small coniferous swamp located at the most southern end of the Pigeon River Country State Forest off of Sawdust Pile Road. It is active with beaver, bald eagles, and many species of water fowl.

A bald eagle soars above the trees.

Before visiting Tubbs Creek, I drove down Johnson Crossing Grade. A portion of the road was once the Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena R.R., that was decommissioned in 1935. As the road begins to wind and weave to the south, the rail route continues to be seen from above as unusual straight lines running past swamp land and dense forest (pictured below). I was able to explore more of this swampy landscape now that I own a good pair of rain boots.

Here you can see the separation of trees where the rail line once stood.

It doesn’t look like much here, but this is the elevated land where the rail line once lay. This land is slightly elevated and comparatively more open than the adjacent forest which is swampy and filled with downed trees.