Places to hike in Michigan?

“Hey all, I am looking for some people to go hiking with as well as some information on hiking in michigan. any resposes would be greatly appreicated.


Thanks!
~mike”

“Where ya from m1woods?

I have hiked the following.

Nordhouse Dunes
Hoist Lakes
Manistee National Forest

Some of the Michigan Mountaineerswill probably jump on to this here thread to point you in the right direction, unless your a troll!”

“Hi Mike!

There are lots of Michigan hikers on this board. And there are lots of trips that get planned.

I've got a question: Where in Michigan are you located?

Mike”

“Hi Mike!

If you live in Michigan, you are really never that farr away from some real good hiking, no matter where you located in the state.

We have a good bunch of folks around these parts that would love to help you out.”

“hello mike.

as they've said, there are lots of us MI folks here. There's a handful of us in SE Mich. And, we have western MI, mid-MI, and Yoopers aboard, too.

What sort of information are ya looking for? Have you done any hiking in MI? Where have ya been?”

“I hear Cass Park is nice this time of year.”

“i go to school in south west MI and i haven;t found much that i can drive to in a day, i live near Benton Harbor, South Bend IN, any ideas”

“The North Country Trail, Manistee River Trail, Jordan River Trail, Hoist Lakes, High Country Pathway... all just in the lower P.”

“Photoguy, the Water Loo/Pinkney Trail should be real close to you. I think it's pretty close to Ann Arbore. The Potawadame(SP?) trail is in the same area too but I haven't done it personally.”

“Allegan State Game Area

Fort Custer State Recreation Area

Yankee Springs State Recreation Area

Each of these places has 20+ mile trail systems within an hour. They have great dayhiking and marginal, but possible, backpacking.

There are more possibilities in the Manistee National Forest and Nordhouse Dunes a bit farther north.

Also, you can take the fast ferry to Milwaukee and be in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Park within 4 hours or so with a beneficial Friday night time change.”

“Southern Kettle Moraine has some nice hiking. Just a few shelters that are reserved well in advance.

SOME trails are shared with bikes and horses, but if you check with the rangers, you can have a good hike.

Some GREAT day hikes, too.

PS used to live in the area and some weeks put on 28 miles in day hikes during a week.”

“Hey, here's another SW Michigan link:

http://www.harborcountry.com/activities/parks.html

This site is not really for backpacks. However, one of the really great things about Michigan is the great number of small parks and game areas in the 500 to 4000 acre range. These will often have extensive dayhike systems and are largely unknown except to locals.

On the list above is T.K. Lawless County Park. It is 640 acres and has 20 or 30 miles of trail.

The Sarett Nature Center and surrounding preserves also create a large preserved hiking area.

Also, on the border of Illinois and Indiana there is a Nature Conservancy project to recreate a large prairie.

I want to check out Kankakee River SP and the I&M Canal towpath in Illinois.”

“All of the above plus Nordhouse Dunes and North Manitou Island, South Manitou for a day hike.

Beautiful”

“A really wonderful resource is "Trail Atlas of Michigan" by Dennis Hansen. It has most, almost all, of the backpacking trails, dayhike and cross country skiing trails in the state along with numbers for ranger stations and maps that sometimes are great but always are good enough to give you an idea of where you're going, plus directions to the trailhead. It's a huge book, worth the $30 or so price. Matt might have it in his store, MUCC sells it along with most bookstores and outfitters. I think it's on the third edition now. (It's updated every few years)”

“Wow, thanks for all the replies. I go to school at WMU in kalamazoo but am originally from highland. I have done quite a bit of mountain biking but never really any hiking, I would like to get in to backpacking and take some trips this summer. thanks for all your replies in such a quick manner.


any body from SW michigan want to go out for a hike on sunday?”

“Hey, m1woods!

Be aware that most state game areas are open for dispersed camping with free permit during the fall winter and spring.”

“Anyone ever hike in the Al Sabo Land Preserve in Kalamazoo?”

“I have never even heard of the Al Sabo Preserve. what part of kalamazoo?”

“I'm not a K-zoo person, so I don't know where this is, but...

According to the MI Trail Atlas, it is on Texas Drive 3 miles west of Portage.

Anyway, it's 750 acres and has - get this - 25 miles of trail. It's part of the area water system apparently.

But, geez, if I had 25 miles of trail in my back yard, I think I'd hike it.

:)”

“wow. 25 miles of trails and its like 20 minutes from my apartment. i'm down, anyone wanna hike part of it on sunday?”

“m1woods - if you're looking for dayhikes the North Country Trail has nice sections in Yankee Springs SRA (between Kzoo and Grand Rapids), Lowell (east of Grand Rapids), and the Rogue River section just north of Grand Rapids.

photoguy190 - I live in Mishawaka (next to South Bend) so I know many places in our area. Let me know what you're looking for and I'll get you some info.”

“Family stuff on Sunday.”

“Hey Gforce!

Can you answer a question for me?

I've zoomed past the Pigeon River State Fish and Wildlife Area near Mongo, IN a bunch of times. When I look at the stats on the place, it looks great. It's 11,500 acres. Nice river.

But, geez, every time I try to bumble around the place, I can't find any cool hiking.

So, anyone know this place? Any good hiking?”

“Hey m1woods... if you had listed an email addy, i'd have sent you some info i stored from a past trip i took with a few friends. it's too long and too hard to put it all here... so if you want it, let me know. K?”

“m1woods!

Hey, did you ever get out to any local trails? I'd like some reports if you do. I'm close enough to Kzoo that I'd zoom out there a few times. Reports, please.

Thanks!
rl”