GRAYLING – Each week the “Camp Grayling Range Report” is available at UpNorthVoice.com.
The Canadian Army has arrived for its largest training of the year. “Let’s WELCOME them to Northern Michigan, eh!” officials said. All roads and trails near the 30 and 40 complexes will be closed this week for training. Night exercises will occasionally take place, and Lake Margrethe residents may hear sporadic small-arms fire. Gates at the 30 Complex will reopen Aug. 22; the 40 Complex gates will reopen Aug. 23.
Aerial gunnery and bombing exercises are scheduled Monday through Friday. Residents near the Air-to-Ground Range in Waters should expect significant aircraft activity and noise. For details on gate closures, call headquarters at 989-344-6100.
Officials also addressed questions about the A-10 viewing deck, noting it is not open to the public on a regular basis due to ongoing missions and training schedules.
“The safety and security of our personnel and operations are our top priority,” the camp noted in a release. “We love sharing the experience with the community whenever we can,” officials added. Escorted tours are occasionally organized for groups, but high demand prevents weekly public access. Residents are encouraged to follow the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center Facebook page for photos and videos of training and views from the deck.
Camp Grayling’s four major training complexes are as follows:
- South Camp, which includes small-arms ranges west of Lake Margrethe and east of the pipeline on Howe, Murphy and Daniels roads
- 13 Complex and Light Demo Ranges 20-21, located at the south end of Beaver Road in Crawford County and west of Engineer Valley in Kalkaska County;
- 30 Complex, a fenced range bounded by North Down River Road, Stephan Bridge Road, Bucks E-W Truck Trail and Tank Trail parallel to Jones Lake Road, with road closures determined by weapon size
- 40 Complex, an artillery and air-to-ground range southeast of Marlette Road, southwest of Sand Lake Trail, west of Lonesome Lake Road and KP Truck Trail, and about two kilometers north of County Highway 612.
Gates and barricades outside the fence vary depending on weapon systems, and the area includes artillery firing points located around the range.
