Michigan

North Manitou Island Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Maple City, Michigan.

Located roughly 8 miles north of Bruce Crossing on Highway 45, the O Kun de Kun Trailhead is a small turnoff located on the right side of the highway. The trailhead offers limited parking, but the trail is rarely busy. At the beginning the trail, hikers can see the blue blazes of the North Countr...

At the end of the Old Mission peninsula sits Mission Point Lighthouse. The lighthouse is surrounded by 5 acres of wooded township and many acres of state land! Upon arriving you can explore the shores just below the lighthouse - there can intriguing iceberg islands forming at the edge of the wate...

Huginnin Cove is located on the west side of the island close to Windigo and is a great day hike.  Many people feel it's an even better overnight trip.   If you're going to be spending the night on the island, you must first go through the orientation with park staff and then get your permit.  T...

Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the most popular hikes in the Marquette area. The easy hike quickly takes you up to clear views of Lake Superior and is perfect for a winter afternoon. Begin your hike at the trailhead off of Big Bay Road north of Marquette. There are two routes to the top - labeled e...

Outside of Marenisco, MI, take Cty Rd 523 north of town. The trailhead is just north of the bridge over Presque Isle River, hidden away in the trees. We missed it our first pass over the bridge. Once at the trailhead, hike down roughly 0.25 to 0.5 miles to see the waterfalls to your left. There a...

Of course, you can come any time of the year, this is always a lovely small park! It is guaranteed to be crowded and cost money (unless you have the Ottawa County park pass) in the summer, though, and I've had better luck with parking and personal space at Holland State Park. I've found that the ...

Gabbro Falls is located just east of Blackjack Ski Resort in Bessemer, MI. There are two options for seeing the falls. First, you can continue through the resort parking lot, and continue up a service road. On the left, you see a small parking area. From the parking area, you can see a small hand...

You will need to take a ferry to the island to access this hike, but the fare is cheap and is worth it for a day trip. This hike starts at the very popular (and thus usually crowded) Arch Rock and takes you halfway across the island to British Landing. Even with the initial crowds, you should be...

Log Slide Overlook on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan's upper peninsula stands over 500ft above the water and provides stunning views of Lake Superior. Pictured Rocks is home to many beautiful waterfalls, hikes, cliffs and vistas, including Log Slide Overlook. This location is an o...

Park your car at the Sleeping Bear Point Trailhead in Glen Haven, Michigan, once parked find your way to the sign for point of reference with the map. You'll find that the Ghost Forest Trail is a 2.8 mile loop. You can start the loop at the trailhead which is near the bathroom, or at the sign whe...

Wetmore Landing Shoreline Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Marquette, Michigan.

The hike begins at the Union Spring trailhead, roughly two miles south of the Park Headquarters on Boundary Road. This area of the park is also the winter cross country and snowshoeing section of the park, so many of the trails are marked for winter travel. To make sure you stay on the summer rou...

Elberta Dunes South is a loop trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Elberta, Michigan.

Just outside the village of Empire is where this venture starts. This hike may be the most famous hike in the area. The Empire Bluff Trail provides incredible views of the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, South Bar Lake and Lake Michigan! The hike is slightly hilly, and stays primarily in the trees. At ...

Located along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, this lookout towers over Lake Michigan and provides sweeping vistas of the lake and the surrounding lakeshore and peninsula. After parking in the lot, head along the paved path to the overlook. Once the...