OT: Best places for hiking in Michigan?

Submitted by Monkey House on

I've gotten into hiking/back packing the last few years and have been traveling some to find some cool trails. I don't know if anyone on here does much back packing but I thought I'd ask if anyone can recommend some places in Michigan? Myself and a friend would like to do a 2-3 hike somewhere so we are looking for anything like that. Thanks for any info!

rob f

June 23rd, 2015 at 9:30 PM ^

most of that same set of trails (you can mix-and-match trails there according to how many days you have time to hike); did a 3-day on the loop, ending above Lake of the Clouds.  Thank you for mentioning Mirror Lake---I forgot to in my earlier post.  We set up our pup tents right on the shore of it, woke up at the break of dawn the next day and just sat there stunned by the unspoiled beauty of it all as I waited for my coffee pot to do it's job. 

CarrIsMyHomeboy

June 23rd, 2015 at 9:16 PM ^

General survey of awesome outdoorsy destinations in Michigan:

Tahquamenon Falls
Isle Royale
Grand Island
Fox River
Big Sable pointe
Manistique
Copper Harbor
Rogers City (crystal-clear waters!)
Charlevoix
Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore
Wilderness State Park
Escanaba (Hiawatha Nat'l Forest)
Thunder Bay/Alpena
Sunrise Coast/Au Sable/Largo Springs
Blue Water Area
Cheboygan
Keweena Peninsula


Sleeping Bear Dunes
Green Point Dunes
Nordhouse Dunes
Silver Lake Dunes
Warren Dunes

Grand Haven State Park Beach
(^and Rosy Mound Natural Area)
Empire Beach/Elberta
Orchard Beach/Manistee
Tiscornia Beach
Harbor Beach
(^& Thorne Swift Nature Preserve)

Petoskey

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore sea caves (UP/WI juncture)



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Yostbound and Down

June 23rd, 2015 at 9:24 PM ^

I am not a big backpacker but did North Manitou one time with friends for a three day hike. The beach on the west side of the island is probably my favorite on Lake Michigan. Good hike but bring lots of bug spray.



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wolverinebutt

June 23rd, 2015 at 9:45 PM ^

Congrats for taking up hiking with overnighters.  I'm just a day tripper, not an overnighter.

So,  I have not done the pictured rocks hike myself, but I've done a piece of it and I've seen the trail from the tour boat(Everyone should do the tour boat at least once).  It looks like an amazing hike.  Hint - make sure its not black fly season in the UP.  I've done some day tripping in the Porkies also.  Nice, but the hills will get ya if you are over 55 like me with a bad knee.   

I do plenty day hiking in Waterloo rec like someone mentioned. Its very nice and under rated.  

I've done some light hiking and canoeing in the Seney National Refuge in Seney, Mi(UP).  Also very nice.  Lots of wildlife.  There is a short car tour for wet lands, nice canoeing at the Northland outfitters,  and long hiking I hear.

Go Luck!!  

             

  

HateSparty

June 23rd, 2015 at 11:10 PM ^

Great trail that is flat but unique is Grand Island off of Munising. It is a pontoon ride to the island in Lake Superior. Beautiful views of the lake, Pictured Rocks and beach cove campsites. Best is find a site and day trip. Lots of black bear so be responsible.

Another cool non big deal (aka Isle Royale, Porcupines) is Manistee River trail. Access via Red Bridge between the dams. A beautiful fall hike too.

Enjoy. I have been to every state of the Rockies and a few Appalachian Trail sections. Michigan is often as beautiful for different reasons. The Tetons are my favorite, however.



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ottomatic

June 24th, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^

Isle Royale is an incredible hike. On a USGS toporgraphic map it looks simple because those maps don't reigister elevation changes under 15 ft. But between the roots and the rocks there's rarely an even step.