With miles of trails through scenic and pristine natural areas, the Western U.P. offers some of the best hiking opportunities in the Eastern United States. Spend a day or a week or a summer.. Treat yourself to views of majestic old growth forests, scenic overlooks, inspirational waterfalls… Relax on a river bank or on the shores of an inland lake…
Highlights of hiking adventures in the Western U.P. include:
The National Black River Scenic Byway includes, Great Conglomerate Falls, Potawatomi, Gorge, Sandstone, and Rainbow Falls. As you visit our waterfalls, stop and take notice of the signs explaining the conglomerate rock formations.
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is Michigan’s largest state park, and one of the Midwest’s largest wilderness areas. Splendid scenery, pristine old growth forest, scenic vistas mark “the Porkies” as the premier wilderness area in the Midwest.
The Sylvania Wilderness and Sylvania Recreation Area, is located near Watersmeet, Michigan and is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Combined with the adjacent Recreation Area, the 18,327 acre wilderness offers an outstanding experience for those who want to camp, fish, hike, canoe, ski or enjoy the solitude of a wilderness experience.
Hiking trails on the Ottawa National Forest offer something for everyone. More than 196 miles of hiking and backpacking trails vary widely in character. Some provide short easy walks to points of interest, such as waterfalls and historic sites.
The North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) is a premier footpath that stretches over 4,800 miles from Vermont to North Dakota, making it the longest National Scenic Trail in the nation. Whether you’re looking to hike just a few miles or plan a longer backpacking trip, the NCT offers diverse landscapes and flexible hiking opportunities. The Western U.P. offers hikers very remote, long stretches of trail with the majority of it located within the Ottawa National Forest and the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
Jump on the longest designated state trail in the nation as you hike or bike your way between Belle Isle Park in Detroit and Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula. Explore pristine forests, pass cool rivers and visit charming towns, and find out why Michigan is known as “The Trails State.” The 1,273-mile hiking route (69% complete) incorporates a large portion of the existing North Country National Scenic Trail. It traverses the west side of the Lower Peninsula and borders Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula. The 791-mile bicycle route (64% complete) utilizes existing multi-use trails and follows US-2, a designated national bicycling route in the Upper Peninsula. View the interactive trail map!
Wolverine Trails for skiing, snowshoeing, biking and hiking are constructed on land that is privately owned and available to non-motorized use only. For more information see www.wolverinenordic.com
