Briar Hill (Michigan)

For the former settlement of Briar Hill, see Ash Township, Michigan.
Briar Hill (Michigan)
Briar Hill (1,706 ft) is the second-highest point in the lower peninsula of Michigan
Highest point
Elevation1,706 ft (520 m)
Prominence1,041 ft (317 m)
Coordinates44°21′58″N 85°40′46″W / 44.36619°N 85.67937°W / 44.36619; -85.67937
Geography
Map
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountiesWexford

Briar Hill, at 1,706 ft, is the second-highest point[1][failed verification] in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, behind nearby Grove Hill at 1,709 feet.[2][unreliable source?] It is entirely within the Manistee National Forest. The area was carved out during the last ice age, and retreating glaciers left large deposits of sand, which created Briar Hill and the nearby Caberfae Hills.

The region is subject to heavy lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan.[3] No official weather records are maintained on the hill. Fauna in the area includes black bears, coyotes, fisher, marten, mink, white-tailed deer, gray and red foxes, porcupines, river otters and beavers. Access to the area requires bushwhacking as there are no marked trails.[4]


Briar Hill in October 2018
Briar Hill (1,706 ft)
View of the Briar Hill moraine from N 15 Rd, facing south

References

  1. ^ "Briar Hill, Michigan". Peakbagger. USGS. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  2. ^ Michigan County High Points Packbagger.com Retrieved March 28, 2023
  3. ^ "Lake Effect Snow in the Great Lakes Region". U of M. GLISA. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  4. ^ Dalman, Matt. "Briar Hill, Wexford County HP". summitpost. Retrieved 29 November 2017.


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