Lansing: Deerfield Park
This pleasant 4-mile loop runs through a peaceful hardwood forest, then roughly parallels the banks of the Chippewa River to a wooden covered bridge.
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Grand Rapids, MI: Manistee River LoopExplore the cedar groves and 100-year-old white pines in the Manistee River Valley on this 22-mile overnight.
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. Chicago: I&M Canal State TrailHike 5.9 miles along the most scenic section of the Illinois and Michigan Canal to the convergence of the Illinois and Kankakee Rivers. Heron, egrets and turtles are common. |
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Shingle Mill PathwayShingle Mill Pathway, part of the High Country Pathway in the Pigeon River Country, northern Michigan, Lower Peninsula. Overnight solo trip: left after work on a Friday around 6pm. Completed 11-mile loop the next morning Clear skies both days. (Route approximate; I didn't have GPS) Green Pine Lake PathwayThis trip was difficult and a little technical because it's a trail that has been on ignore for many years. However, ignore mean solitude too, so yours truly can put up with a little rough going for the sake of getting away from the crowds. |
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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