Pere Marquette State Trail: Clare to Evart

The Mason Tract is a massive protected wilderness area encompassing 4,493 acres. The crystal clear AuSable River runs right through the heart of this forest. On this trip, you will encounter enormous old trees with beautiful remote scenery around each riverbend. Bald eagles and black bears are plentiful in this region. This portion of river also represents one of the country’s best trout stream...

Park at the High Rollway Observation Deck in Kingsley. There's actually two parking lots that you will come to on a dirt road. I suggest parking at the eastern most lot (drive straight instead of making a final right turn). There are two primary wooden platform lookouts near the parking lots. Be sure to stop at both. Continue hiking west and you will come to even more expansive views on the tra...

Manistee River Trail South is a point-to-point trail that takes you by a river located near Harrietta, Michigan.

This adventure starts as any kayaking trip does: the great car-kayak shuffle.  I’ll leave that planning to your group size, but I recommend a 2 car minimum, one left at the take out spot (Fallasburg Park or downtown Lowell behind the KDL Library) and the other parked at Whites Bridge Road.  If you’re paddling with a larger group, I highly recommend shuttling as many people in one vehicle to the...

Day 1:  Arrive at Seaton Creek Campground and pay for parking for the number of nights you plan on hiking the loop. For this particular trip, I hiked the loop in 2.5 days and 2 nights.  Hike 1.4 miles from Seaton Creak Campground to a suspension footbridge on the banks of the Manistee River. At this point, take the Manistee River Trail and follow the Manistee River downstream. This stretch of...

Starting at the Red Bridge River Access Area just off North Coates Hwy (about 8 miles east of Brethren, Michigan) there is a small parking lot opposite of the trailhead where you can leave your car. The trail is part of the North Country Trail (NCT) so it is well marked with signs leading the way. The hike begins through trees and some rolling hills and you are soon rewarded with incredible vie...