Lot & Land Clearing in Hale, Lupton & the Tawases
Take what has to go, keep the trees that made you buy the place, and leave usable ground.
Up north lots get bought wooded and enjoyed cleared, at least partly. A building envelope for the cabin, a lane in from the road, a sight line to the lake, or the popple and brush that swallowed the back of a forty. Clearing is equal parts equipment and judgment: take what has to go and keep the big oaks and pines that make the place worth owning.
Reinhardt Tree Service clears lots by hand and machine. Trees come down with saws and the bucket truck, brush goes through the chipper, the compact tractor with the loader pushes and piles, and the dump truck and dump trailer haul what you do not want left. Stumps get ground after the clear so the ground is mowable or buildable. For a big commercial clear we will tell you honestly whether it is more than our equipment should take on.
Frozen ground in winter is the cleanest time to clear a soft or low site, and it is when our schedule is most open. The real deadline is your build, so call early.
What is included
- Building site and driveway clearing for cabins, pole barns and garages
- Selective clearing that keeps the trees you flag
- Lake and river view clearing with the bank and the shoreline rules in mind
- Brush, popple and undergrowth removal
- Stump grinding after the clear
- Debris chipped on site, hauled, or piled for burning where your township allows it
- Usable logs bucked and left for firewood if you want them
Keep the trees that make the place
Most lots up here do not need to be stripped, and the ones that get stripped are the ones people regret. We flag the keeps with you before a saw starts: the big white pines, the oaks that shade the deck, the screen between you and the neighbor. Then we take the rest.
How it goes
Call or send photos
Call (989) 305-9731 or send photos and a rough sketch of what you want cleared and what you want kept.
Walk it, flag it, price it in writing
Larry walks the lot with you, flags keeps and takes, and gives you a written price for the actual work on your ground.
Clearing days
Trees down, brush chipped, piles pushed with the tractor, loads hauled out. Bigger lots take more than a day and we tell you how many.
Stumps, cleanup and walk-through
Stumps ground as agreed, the ground raked and the piles gone, and a walk around the lot with you.
Lot and land clearing
Priced per acre, by how heavy the timber is and what has to leave the property.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Light brush and small trees | $1,500 to $3,500 per acre |
| Mixed woods with mature trees | $3,000 to $6,000 per acre |
| Building pad or driveway lane onlyUsually cheaper than clearing the whole parcel. | Priced per job |
| Stumps ground after clearingSee the stump grinding table. | Added per stump |
Northern Michigan lots run rocky and rolling, and remote parcels cost more to reach. Merchantable timber can offset part of the cost on bigger jobs.
These are the ranges most jobs in our area land in, not a price list. Every job is priced on site or from your photos, in writing, before anything is cut.
All typical price ranges
Lot & Land Clearing questions
What does lot clearing cost?
Most lot clearing in our area lands between $1,500 and $6,000 per acre. Light brush and small popple is at the low end; heavy mature hardwood with stumps ground and everything hauled is at the top, and rocky or wet ground pushes it up. A single building envelope is usually a fraction of that. Priced after a walk on the lot, in writing.
Do I need a permit to clear my lot?
On private rural land in Iosco and Ogemaw Counties, usually not for the trees themselves, but there are exceptions. Within 500 feet of a lake or stream, disturbing soil can need a county soil erosion permit. The Au Sable, Rifle and Pine have Natural Rivers rules. Some townships have vegetation preservation language in their zoning. We check with your township before we start.
What happens to all the wood and brush?
Your choice. Brush gets chipped on site and can be left as mulch or hauled. Logs can be bucked into rounds for your wood pile or hauled out. Piles for burning are an option where the township allows it and it is not the dry season.
Can you clear just enough for the view without stripping the lot?
Yes, and that is usually the right call. Lake-view clearing is mostly selective: take a few trees, limb up the pines, open a window rather than a wall. You keep the shade and the privacy and the bank stays put.
Lot & Land Clearing in your town
Plus everywhere in between across Iosco, Ogemaw, Alcona and Arenac Counties. See the whole service area.
Ready to talk about lot & land clearing?
Call Larry or send a few photos. Estimates are free, and you hear back within 24 hours, same day for emergencies.