Michigan

This guide assumes that hikers have already made their journey by either float plane or charter ship to the Windigo Port on the West end of the island of Isle Royale National Park.As mentioned above, this section hike of the Greenstone Ridge Trail partitions off one of the NUMEROUS options one ca...

This is a challenging 7 mile loop that rewards hikers with some of the best sights in Lower Michigan. The trailhead begins at the Silver Lake State Park Pedestrian Dune Access. Your difficult hike starts with a steep flight of steps from the parking lot. After the steps, keep climbing until you r...

A seven mile drive that offers views that are unbelievable. There are twelve stops along the way that correspond with an interpretive guide that is found at the beginning of the drive. The drive takes you through multiple landscapes.  The points of interest are as follows:1. Covered Bridge2. Glen...

Having lived in Michigan and the greater Detroit area for only one year, I'm still constantly looking for the next place to take my mind off the day-to-day work grind. Michigan, the Great Lake State, is certainly not a bad place to be to do so. Roughly one hour outside of Detroit rests Bird Hills...

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 yo...

Windmill Island features an authentic and operational Dutch windmill called "De Zwaan" (The Swan) as well as gardens planted with over 100,000 tulips. The windmill was built in 1761 and moved to Holland in 1964. Notably, this windmill is not only the oldest authentic, working Dutch windmill in th...

Take the Kneutson Trail next to the lodge for 700 feet and you will come upon the America Dock. This century old dock provides a great view of the bay area and other smaller islands at sunset.

The trailhead for the snowshoe trail is located across the street from the Boyne Cross Country Ski center parking lot.  The trail starts out by winding through the woods sandwiched between the Boyne Mountain Resort maintenance facility and a road, so you’ll hear traffic and equipment noise for th...

Lumberman’s Monument is truly a hidden gem. Most people don’t realize there are towering sand dunes in the Oscoda area. While the majority of visitors stay at the overlook, there is a breathtaking trail for the more adventurous. The main parking for this trail is at the Lumberman’s Monument parki...

Gabbro Falls is on the Black River and is as impressive waterfall.  This wild waterfall does not have any fences or barriers, so view with caution from above. Getting there, take Black Jack Road north. This road will take a sharp left turn and will go by the ski hill. Before you get to the ski hi...

Outside of Agate, MI, this spot is a couple of miles west of the town on MI-28. With parking on the side of the road, follow the main path under the bridge to reach the wooden walkway to the overlook. If you'd like to see the falls from above, before the walkway, there is a path up the hill that ...

Your paddle begins at Veteran's Waterfront Park in Port Austin. This is a beautiful sandy beach with plenty of parking. From here, paddle west. I like to stick close to shore to check out everything up close and to minimize the waves. Not far into your paddle, you will come across your first big...

Start at the Hamlin Beach House and make your way down the dirt path until you hit marker #12. Take a right and the trail will become a boardwalk for roughly 3/4 of a mile until you hit marker #10. Continue on from there for another 3/4 of a mile until you hit the trail shelter where you can rela...

The trailhead begins at the Gilette Visitor Center inside PJ Hoffmaster Park. Behind the visitor center, you will see the gigantic sand dune which you will be climbing. Unfortunately, the park rangers do not want you climbing this dune's backside from the parking lot. Instead, get on the foreste...

The Sleeping Bear Point Trail is a 2.8 mile loop through the sand dunes with amazing views of Lake Michigan and South Manitou Island. There is a 0.5 mile spur hike from the trailhead to the Lake Michigan beach. It is less strenuous than the hike from the Dune Climb to Lake Michigan.   

Located just south of Charlevoix is Fisherman's Island State Park. The park offers miles of biking/hiking trails, and campsites directly on the beach of Lake Michigan.  Although located just outside of town, there is no service in this area, leaving you completely cut off from the outside world. ...