Backpacking the Lower Michigan Triple Crown - Manistee River Trail - 60 Mile Hiking Challenge

The final leg of our Lower Michigan Triple Crown brought us to the Manistee River Trail…the end was in site but we had arrived on a weekend and finding parking and camping proved to be difficult. Join us on the beautiful Manistee River and a challenging section of the NCT as we claim our LMTC.
I took on the Lower Michigan Triple Crown (LMTC) with Jason Outdoors, aka Jason Kelly. You can find his trip video here: • Lower Michigan Triple ...
The Lower Michigan Triple Crown is 3 loops, in 3 days and is just over 60 Miles. The LMTC consists of hiking the Jordan River Pathway Loop, Fife Lake Loop, and the Manistee River Loop in 3 consecutive days.
To learn more about the Lower Michigan Triple Crown check out Mark Goes Hiking, here is a great video explaining it in more detail: • What is the Lower Mich...
Jordan River Pathway Loop video: • Backpacking the Lower ...
Fife Lake Loop video: • Backpacking the Lower ...
On this utralight trip I brought and used both sleep systems, the Dream Hammock Raven with the Hammock Gear Dynema Tarp and the Zpacks Duplex and Nemo Tensor air pad. The quilt of choice this time around was the 20 degree Enlightened Equipment Revelation, and of course, I wore my favorite shoes and pack for this one...the Altra Olympus 4's and the Joey Pa'Lante.

[@WealthandTravelonaDime]

Love manistee views for days there . Great campsite . So glad you guys beat the rain . Amazing trip

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Tony. Views are killer there for sure! I really enjoy helping others push their limits to get their new personal best, i’ve gotten to do it twice now, who’s gonna be next!

[@NickandRachel]

Really nice views! Thanks for sharing

[@jasonwish-]

You are welcome! Thanks for taking time out of your day to check out the video, I appreciate it!

[@NickandRachel]

@@jasonwish- you're welcome 😊 we have a good time making outdoor content as well

[@jamesosborne5950]

Your an inspiration to get off my butt and get into better shape . i started walking more to get in shape for my kayak camping trip in Michigan on the Manistee in July . thank you

[@jasonwish-]

Glad I can help inspire others! Kayaking might be a little easier, but as the Colonel always says, its like hiking with your arms!! 🤣 The Manistee river along the section we hiked could possibly be the best kayak camping anywhere!

[@uptrail7169]

I love the views on the Manistee River side. You guys crushed the 3 loops!

[@jasonwish-]

They are so beautiful! Jason wants to go back and rock it out in two days! Wanna come 🤣🤣

[@uptrail7169]

@@jasonwish- That would be fun, but I'd slow you down. Lol. After my SHT hike 2 years ago back when I was in good hiking condition it would have been a lot easier. Lol again!

[@THERAPYINU]

Congrats, Jason. I did Manistee the opposite way and camped at that site in the pines at 12:53 along the creek early April. The whole area was tinder dry...which I hadn't expected. I mean, one spark and my fire was lit. I laughed during your video b/c I also somehow convinced myself the trail was mostly flat. It's not. Especially the NCT side--thanks again for taking us along.

[@jasonwish-]

Yeah there were some pretty good rolling hills there for sure especially on the NCT side. I kind of wish I would’ve took some time to go check out those sites in the pines they looked really nice! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment, take care!

[@joelcarminati7822]

Great job Jason . Congrats on triple crown. Looking forward to your trip with the colonel this fall if it happens. Thanks for sharing

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Joel! We are planning a trip for this fall!

[@zachcherry8221]

Beautiful area, this one makes the list!

[@jasonwish-]

It’s definitely one to keep on the shortlist especially if you live close to Michigan!

[@BackpackingwithBuckley]

Digging on Doug! Sick burn man! I probably would have been dead after loop 1! This looked like a sweet trip! You pushed that camp site as close as possible man....hope you remembered which side to get out and pee on! 🤣 Congrats fellas!

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

First to fail biatches! My record cannot be broken!

[@jasonwish-]

🤣🤣

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Tim! We had a great time! I had to pick on somebody from the inaugural group and Doug was the most logical choice 🤣🤣

[@KentuckyWoodsman]

Good stuff Jason! A lot of mileage in a beautiful area for sure!

[@jasonwish-]

I love Michigan! Thanks Chris!

[@SlonesWildernessExpeditions]

That looks awesome, and excellent campsite! I need to do some hiking in Michigan. Awesome job on the miles!

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks guys! you definitely need to make the trip over to Michigan there are so many beautiful areas to hike and camp!

[@a88mmck97]

Dude, beast mode 💪 Well done 👍

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks man! I'm ready for another!

[@AmericasParks]

Hey Jason, nice to stop by your channel and see you enjoying some great hikes. Love Michigan... would like to check this one out for myself. Be blessed, dear brother!

[@jasonwish-]

Hey Randy, good to hear from you! Michigan is definitely one of my favorite states to go hiking in. Funny, I just watched your virgin island video a day before you made this comment LOL. My wife and I love St. John and was one of our favorite places we visited on our very first cruise a decade ago. Hope you and your family are all doing well, thanks brother!

[@JourneyontheTrail]

Awesome trip video! Definitely an area I want to check out though kayaking may be the first thing I do there. Thanks for sharing.

[@jasonwish-]

The Manistee River is definitely one of my favorite kayaking rivers of all time mainly because of how plentiful and beautiful the campsites are. Hopefully you get a chance to make it there soon, thanks AJ!

[@billmitchell7731]

Like number 94. Another awsome video. You just cant do better than Michigan. Maybe as good , but not better. Of course I was born and raised their 🤣

[@jasonwish-]

Michigan is definitely one of my favorite states. I’ve done quite a bit of backpacking and kayaking there. Also spent many years mushroom hunting and snowmobiling in the Gaylord Atlanta area. I usually try to make it up there at least once a year. Thanks again for watching and the 👍.

[@chadgaier1405]

Another great video

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Chad I’m glad you liked it, I appreciate you taking time out of your day to give it a look!

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Well done Jason! Congrats on the two “Jasons” finishing the MTC! great videos. Crow✌️

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Crow I appreciate that! It was definitely a fun challenge and I hope I get a chance to take on your triple crown challenge in your home state next!

[@eh5296]

Awesome video!

[@jasonwish-]

Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed it! More challenge hikes coming soon!

[@66bigbuds]

You can camp anywhere you want on that trail unless you need a fire ring. If you start at red bridge and go up the NCT side, there is a 1000ft. Accent according to my Gaia app. It kicked my butt. You went the right way.

[@jasonwish-]

Yep we knew that but I had my heart set on getting one of those grassy peninsulas right on the water 😉 Thanks Keith!

[@joshmcmanaway6627]

I"m considering doing all three next summer. I'm wondering about your schedule. Did you sleep the night before the first one out at Fife Lake, then after you finished, drive to Jordan Valley, set up camp for the night, hike the next day, then drive to Manistee, set up camp, and hike again?

[@jasonwish-]

We did Jordan Valley first, then fife lake, then Manistee. We camped out at Jordan Valley the night before we started. And after finishing fife lake, we still had several hours of daylight, so hiked in on the Manistee river trail, about five or 7 miles.

[@joshmcmanaway6627]

@@jasonwish- Thank you! I appreciate the insight.

[@michaelnichols5973]

There must be something I don't understand. How can you claim that you completed the Triple Crown when you spent the night? 3 loops, 3 days, 1 loop each day. I've gotta compare those Olympus 4 vs Lone Peak.

[@uptrail7169]

They finished the 21 mile Fife Lake loop early on day 2 and then hiked part of the MRT loop. This made it a long day but they had less miles to finish day 3.

[@jasonwish-]

Yes I can see how that may look confusing. Instead of spending the second night at the trail head at Manistee we decided to hike in a little ways to find camp and it ended up being about 7 miles in because of how busy it was. Still did it in three days, but day two was a 27 mile day instead of 20. We actually ended up doing it in 2 1/2 days. Hopefully that makes sense. And yes, the Olympus definitely deserves a look, they are amazing! Thanks Michael.

[@luizzaleski9709]

LUCIANA ZALESKI.

[@jasonwish-]

Cool last name!

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Wow....I'm famous....lol.

[@jasonwish-]

Well the last time I picked on somebody, which was restless, I ended up eating some crow shortly there after 😂.