Top 10 Hiking And Trekking Spots In Michigan, USA

hiking in michigan
Tashi
Tashi 
Published
| 5 min read

The historic state of Michigan in the US great lakes area. Well known for its golden past, this state has a lot of places which will interest you. Tourism is one of the most flourishing industries in this state. Michigan is almost fifty percent forest land, this attracts a lot of nature lovers and hunters across the nation. A lot of people want to spend their vacations in the serenity of the forest. There are a lot of events based on agriculture and flora which invite a good number of people in the state. If you are a nature lover and like adrenaline-pumping activities, Michigan is a great place to go for a hike or a trek. Here we have curated the best hiking and trekking spots in Michigan, USA.

1. Big Carp River Trail

DSCN4517
Source: Photo by user Curtis Abert used under CC BY 2.0

Big Carp River Trail is located in Ontonagon, Michigan. This trail has been marked as a moderate difficulty level. It is a 9.2-mi (14.8 km) long trail, which doesn’t witness very high traffic, yet enough because of its popularity. The best time of the year to visit would be between May to September. This trail is of out and back type. You can expect a lot of wildlife here and if you are a nature lover you will love this trail. The beautiful view of the serene forest, lakes, and wildlife make this a must-go track. The river crossing this trail is a refreshing view.

Big Carp River Trail

Address: Ontonagon, Michigan

Accessible in: May - September

Difficulty: Moderate

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2. North Country National Scenic Trail

Gfp-michigan-upper-peninsula-view-from-the-top-of-arvon
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Yinan Chen used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

USA has about 11 national scenic trails as authorized by the Congress. North Country National Scenic Trail is the longest trail amongst these 11 trails. It is a long footpath that starts in Vermont and ends in North Dakota, covering about 4,600 mi (7,400 km) and passes through 8 states: Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. This trail can be rated moderate to difficult, considering its length and duration. The Michigan part of the trail is 167-mi (268 km) long and mostly consists of rolling farmlands and wilderness. The difficulty of this track is moderate.

North Country National Scenic Trail

Address: 229 E Main St, Lowell, MI 49331, United States

Website: North Country National Scenic Trail

Accesible in: All year

Difficulty: Moderate

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3. Dunes Trail

Lake Michigan Sleeping Bear Dunes
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Rachel Kramer used under CC BY 2.0

Dunes Trail as the name depicts is a sandy track. This trail comprises of a lot of sand dunes which makes it a little difficult terrain to trek on. The total out and back route is about 3.5 mi (5.6 km) long. It is a steep terrain with rugged dunes, so make sure you carry a pair of good hiking shoes with yourself. This is a pretty exposed trail hence use of sunscreen is a must, also do not forget to carry enough water with you. The vegetation is minimal with wildflowers and dune flowers along your way. This trail opens up to lake Michigan.

Dunes Trail

Address: Dunes Trail, Glen Arbor, MI 49636, United States

Website: Dunes Trail

Accessible in: All year

Difficulty: Moderate - high

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4. Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail

Posted by MI Iron Belle Trail on Thursday, 4 July 2019

Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail is a set of two trails. One trail is used for biking and the other one for hiking. These two trails connect in the upper peninsula in the ironwoods, while they start in Belle Isle Park in Detroit. Both these trails pass through numerous municipalities, covering a lot of forest areas, lakes, natural beauties, and scenic pit stops. The hiking route is a whopping 1273 mi (2048 km) long, while the biking trail is 791 mi (1272 km) long. Both the tracks are still under construction and not fully finished. It is a moderate difficulty trail accessible all year.

Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail

Address: Michigan

Website: Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail

Accessible in: All year

Difficulty: Moderate

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5. Inwood Hiking Trails

Posted by Michael Bice on Tuesday, 2 July 2019

Inwood Hiking Trails is a loop type of trail, located in Michigan. This is a 5.3-mi (8km) long trail and is easy to hike/trek. This trail is best-used between May and October. There are many activities offered here, nature camping, walking, hiking are to name a few. The great forest setting of this trail makes it a nature lover’s favorite track. You can expect some beautiful meadows and wildflowers on your way.

Inwood Hiking Trails

Address: Inwood Trails Dr., Washington, MI 48095, United States

Accessible in: May - October

Difficulty: Easy

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6. Greenstone Ridge Trail

2016-10-24 10 04 55 Sign for the Greenstone Trail at the Greenstone Overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Augusta County, Virginia
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Famartin used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Greenstone Ridge Trail is a hiking trail in Mohawk, Michigan. It is a point-to-point trail which starts in Windigo and ends in Tobin harbor. This trail features a lake on the way. The level of difficulty here is high and it is best used from June to August. You can encounter a lot of flora and fauna on your way. The view primarily consists of blueberry trees and hardy grasses. There can be a few animals also on the way, mostly goose and wolves.

Greenstone Ridge Trail

Address: Mohawk, Michigan

Accessible in: June - August

Difficulty: High

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7. Port Crescent Trails

What a great weekend to open the campground! The park hosted a few people who were excited to start the camping...

Posted by Port Crescent State Park on Sunday, 14 April 2019

Port Crescent Trails is situated in Port Crescent State Park in Michigan. This is a small and easy track, suitable for children, family, and leashed dogs. The trail is good to be visited throughout the whole year. You can witness some great flora and fauna on the trail, much of the trail has sand dunes. There is a great view of Lake Huron. The great oak, pine, and popular trees, scenic view of Lake Huron and the on and off cute animals make this a perfect place to unwind.

Port Crescent Trails

Address: 775 Port Austin Rd, Port Austin

Website: Port Crescent Trails

Accessible in: All year

Difficulty: Easy

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8. Lakeshore-North Country Trail

Lakeshore-North Country Trail
Source: Unsplash

Lakeshore-North Country Trail is a point-to-point trail in Michigan located near Grand Marais. It is about 40.5 mi (65 km) long whose difficulty is rated as moderate. This trail can be visited from May until October. The terrain is a mix of sand dunes, uphill and downhill stretches, rivers, muddy stretches, etc. There is also a lake on this trail. Plan your trip in advance, and book the campsites online, and carry a print along with you on the trail. This would save you from any unpredictable situations.

Lakeshore-North Country Trail

Address: Grand Marais, Michigan

Accessible in: May - October

Difficulty: Moderate

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9. Penosha Trail

Posted by Aaron Marquis on Sunday, 3 November 2019

Penosha Trail is a 5-mi (8 km) long trail situated in Brighton, Michigan. This is a heavily trafficked trail. This can be accessed all year-round. The difficulty level has been marked as moderate. Your fur buddies can accompany you on this hike, provided they are kept on leash. You can see some breathtaking views of the wild forests. This place offers many activities, hiking and nature camping are the most prominent ones among them.

Penosha Trail

Address: Brighton, Michigan

Accessible in: All year

Difficulty: Moderate

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10. Pyramid Point Trail

Pyramid Point blues

Posted by Northern Way of Life Photography on Saturday, 27 January 2018

Pyramid Point Trail is another heavily trafficked trail, which is 2.8 mi (4.5 km) long. This moderately difficult track is located near Maple City, Michigan. It has a lake in the trail loop. There are a lot of activities offered in this place. You can explore hiking, trail running, or take a walk along the trail. There are nature lovers who also like to camp here. The trail is best used from May until September. The enchanting view of the meadows will surely sweep you off your feet.

Pyramid Point Trail

Address: Maple City, Michigan

Accessible in: May - September

Difficulty: Moderate

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A walk into the greens

Now that you know the best hiking and trekking spots in Michigan, USA, there is no reason to wait. Pack your bags and pick out the first trail which you wanna hike. Don’t forget to carry a lot of water, a good pair of shoes and a camera to make your trip the best and the most memorable one. A walk in nature is always satisfying and alluring, it is even better when you can explore so many different types of terrains and places to get an entirely new experience. Happy hiking!

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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A passionate writer who loves to travel. Ardent food lover. Dog lover and a book addict.

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