Watersmeet, MI: Clark Lake
This 8.2-mile Sylvania Wilderness overnight loops around a glacial lake with sandy beaches and huge virgin-growth trees. It's one of the best hiking spots in the upper Midwest.
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Grand Rapids, MI: Ludington Canoe TrailConnect dune-lined shores, secluded inlets, and marshlands Hamlin Lake on this 4.9-mile paddle in Ludington State Park.
Grand Rapids: Big Sable PointClimb to a historic lighthouse and spot a mysterious shipwreck in Lake Michigan on this 4.3-mile loop in Ludington State Park. Grand Rapids: Saugatuck Dunes South LoopEscape to a secluded strip of rippling dunes on this 5.2-miler, which rewards your efforts with panora- mas from high above Lake Michigan. |
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Porcupine WeekenderSimple, but technical (due to choss) off-the-beaten-path route through the Porcupine Mountains. South Bend, IN: Michigan Wine CountryOenophiles rejoice! This 34-mile tour of south Michigan wine country rolls past local vineyards and a handful of tasting rooms--hiccup--along the way. Porcupine MountainsTwelve of us spent 4 days absorbing the beauty of the Porcupine Mountains. |
Trail Mix: Great November Hikes in the Central U.S.Your region's go-now guide: Perfect days in Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Tulsa. Going, Going...Gone?Wolf howls have echoed across Isle Royale National Park for decades. But with the once-widespread predators down to a single pack, the time to go hear--and maybe spot--them is now. |
Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Become a Backcountry BataliServe a 5-star meal that matches the scenery. Ultimate Adventure HandbookTired of the same old weekend loops? Looking to create memories your grandkids will talk about? In this how-and-where guide, we serve up 15 extraordinary escapes that will shatter your expectations of "normal." From adventure moviemaking to canyoneering, we'll take you places you've never been—but will long to visit again soon. Readers' Choice 2012: Top 3 - Midwest HikesThis region's top mapper has notched 20 bag nights and 200 trail miles in 9 states this year scouting trails for BACKPACKER. Here are three of his favorite routes. |
Gear Review: The North Face Summit Series Anti-Matter SoftshellThis softshell packs a double punch with waterproofing and breathability. |
Gear Review: Big Sky Soul TentGo lightweight with this freestanding solo tent. |
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