10 of Michigan's most scenic hikes to take during the summer
If you like to hike, Michigan has more than 4,000 miles of state-designated trails that wind through old-growth forests and lead to waterfalls, mountain tops, sparkling lakes, white sand dunes and even past skyscraping urban office towers.
The state has compiled a list of 10 of them.
North Country Trail
Sometimes referred to as the North County National Scenic Trail, it is about 4,800 miles long. It stretches across eight states, from Vermont to North Dakota, with one of the longest segments running through the Lower and Upper Peninsulas. A popular segment goes through the Manistee National Forest. Difficulty: level varies.
Iron Belle Trail
When completed, it is set to become one of the longest state trails in America. It starts — or ends depending on which way you go — at Detroit’s Belle Isle Park, runs through Detroit, goes over the the Mackinac Bridge until it reaches the Upper Peninsula town of Ironwood. Difficulty: level varies.
Greenstone Ridge Trail
It winds through Isle Royale National Park, one of the least-visited national parks because it is on a remote island. Once you are on the 43-mile trail, you'll have to filter your own water. It offers vistas of Lake Superior, white pine forests and granite outcroppings. You also might run into some moose. Difficulty: hard.
Pictured Rocks' Lakeshore Trail
It will take you by Au Sable Light Station, alongside Chapel Rock and Spray and Bridalveil Falls. It also shares what Pure Michigan calls a "picture-perfect route" with a stretch of the North Country Trail. It heads near Grand Marais or Munising. Difficulty: moderate.
Pyramid Point Trail
It is the most beautiful of the Sleeping Bears Dunes trails. The 3-mile trek passes through wildflower-strewn meadows, paper birch forests and over rolling sand dunes. A short spur leads out to a Lake Michigan overlook. Difficulty: moderate.
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Big Carp River Trail
It offers an overview of the Porcupine Mountains, traveling from the Lake Superior shore through a scenic valley toward the Lake of the Clouds. The Escarpment Trail follows a ridge overlooking the Lake of the Clouds and the North Mirror Lake Trail leads to Mirror Lake, which is 1,532 feet above sea level. Difficulty: hard.
Port Crescent Trail
The trail — or network of trails, actually — overlooks Saginaw Bay and offers views of the Pinnebog River and Channel, Lake Huron sand dunes and a chimney monument that is a reminder of the state's former lumber days. Difficulty: easy.
Potawatomi, Algonquin and Chippewa Trails
Three looped trails named after Native American tribes link together. The trek offers hikers with an unspoiled shoreline, hidden bays and sugar sand beaches. The trails also tend to be lightly traveled so that means you might have those beautiful views all to yourself. Difficulty: easy.
Great Warren Dune Trail
A relatively short circuit, about 4 miles, wends through hardwood forests in southwest Michigan, up and over dunes and opens up into "a jaw-dropping expanse of golden Lake Michigan beach," according to Pure Michigan. It also is popular in the fall. Difficulty: moderate.
Penosha Trail
The 5-mile, scenic loop is surrounded by rolling hills and inland lakes, and is covered by a canopy of maple and oak trees, which can help keep you cool in the summer and blot out the noise of the city. In the fall, the trail lights up with vibrant colors of hardwood tree leaves. Difficulty: moderate.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 10 of Michigan's most scenic hikes during the summer
