Welcome to Our Community


Les Cheneaux is a vibrant community with engaged citizens, an exemplary school district and an accountable government, determined to invest in preserving the quality and standards of our children's education, expanding parks, recreation and community programs, and an area that continues to build a healthy and sustainable environment.

Les Cheneaux welcomes a broad business base in sector, size and related employment, and encourages families to choose the Les Cheneaux area as a place to live, work, worship and flourish.


The Les Cheneaux Islands are a group of 36 small islands, some inhabited, along 12 miles of Lake Huron shoreline on the southeastern tip of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the United States.

The name is French for the channels, noting the many channels between the islands in the group. They are about 30 miles north and east of the Straits of Mackinac and about 35 miles south of Sault Ste. Marie. The islands are a popular resort, boating and kayaking area. The nearby communities of Hessel and Cedarville on the mainland offer marinas, camping, lodging, restaurants, and shopping.

The Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Boat Show & Festival of Arts has been held on the second Saturday of each August since 1976 in Hessel. It is the world's largest antique wooden boat show.

Cedarville began as a lumber settlement on the Lake Huron shore in 1884. A post office was established in July 1888. The ZIP code of 49719 serves most of Clark Township and a portion of eastern Marquette Township.

Hessel was founded in 1885 and a post office was established in September 1888. The ZIP code of 49745 serves an area between M-134 and the Lake Huron shore.