Top 10 Most Scenic Hiking Trails in Michigan

Michigan has no shortage of outdoor activities and is blessed to have seemingly endless hiking trails throughout the state! Here are my top 10 picks for the most scenic trails to enjoy when exploring the great outdoors!
0:00 Intro
0:49 Au Sable River Trail
2:13 Grand River Trail
2:44 Great Warren Dunes Trail
3:28 Potawatomi, Algonquin and Chippewa Trails
4:07 Port Crescent Trail
5:03 Big Carp River Trail
5:59 Pyramid Point Trail
6:53 Lakeshore North Country Trail
7:36 Greenstone Ridge Trail
8:47 Iron Belle Trail
9:44 Bonus
11:22 Outro
10. Au Sable River Trail
Hartwick Pines State Park
Grayling, MI
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Length: 3.9 Miles
Type: Loop
Highlights: Old growth pine forest, river, dog friendly, historical
Park Amenities: Camping, paddlesports, fishing, mountain biking, cross-country skiing
For info visit www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksand...
9. Grand River Trail
William Burchfield Park
Holt, MI
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Length: 4 Miles
Type: Loop
Highlights: Hardwood forest, river, wetlands, century-old farms
Park Amenities: Paddlesports, swimming, biking, cross-country skiing, sledding, snowshoeing
For info visit pk.ingham.org/
8. Great Warren Dunes Trail
Warren Dunes State Park
Sawyer, MI
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Length: 4.9 Miles
Type: Loop
Highlights: Hardwood forest, sand dunes, Lake Michigan, dog friendly
Park Amenities: Camping, paddlesports, fishing, mountain biking, cross-country skiing
For info visit www2.dnr.state.mi.us/Parksand...
7. Potawatomi, Algonquin and Chippewa Trails
Negwegon State Park
Harrisville, MI
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Length: 5 Miles
Type: Loop
Highlights: Hardwood forest, Lake Michigan, dog friendly, rustic
Park Amenities: Camping, paddlesports, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing
For info visit www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksand...
6. Port Crescent Trail
Port Crescent State Park
Port Austin, MI
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Length: 2.5 Miles
Type: Loop
Highlights: Sand dunes, Saginaw Bay, dog friendly
Park Amenities: Dark sky preserve, boat launch, paddlesports, fishing, cross-country skiing
For info visit www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksand...
5. Big Carp River Trail
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Ontonagon, MI
Difficulty Rating: Hard
Length: 9.6 Miles
Type: Out & Back
Highlights: 35,000 acre old-growth forest, waterfalls, Presque Isle River, Lake Superior, backpacking, rustic camping, dog friendly
Park Amenities: Cabins, paddlesports, fishing, hunting, downhill skiing, snowmobiling, winter camping
*for additional scenery continue along the Escarpment Trail for views of Lake of the Clouds, or along North Mirror Lake Trail leading to Mirror Lake
For info visit www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksand...
4. Pyramid Point Trail
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Empire, MI
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Length: 1.0 Mile
Type: Out & Back
Highlights: Sand dunes, Lake Michigan, family friendly
Park Amenities: Over 100 miles of trails, camping, paddlesports, fishing
For info visit www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm
3. Lakeshore North Country Trail
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Grand Marias, MI to Munising, MI
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Length: 42.0 Miles
Type: Point to Point
Highlights: Sand dunes, steep cliffs, waterfalls, rivers, Lake Superior, densely wooded, 2,000 ft elevation gain, backpacking, rustic camping, NOT dog friendly
Park Amenities: Camping, fishing, commercial tours, paddlesports, historical, 4-season outdoor opportunities
For info visit ​​www.alltrails.com/trail/us/mi...
2. Greenstone Ridge Trail
Isle Royale National Park
Windigo, MI to Rock Harbor, MI
Difficulty Rating: Hard
Length: 43.0 Miles
Type: Point to Point
Highlights: Lake Superior, densely wooded, 5,000 ft elevation gain, backpacking, primitive camping
Park Amenities: Lodging, guided boat tours, fishing, paddlesports, scuba diving
For info visit ​​www.nps.gov/isro/index.htm
1. Iron Belle Trail
Michigan
Ironwood, MI to Detroit, MI
Difficulty Rating: Varies
Length: 1,250 Miles (hiking) / 770 Miles (biking)
Type: Point to Point
Highlights: Spans 48 counties, various terrains & surface types, crosses Straits of Mackinac, still in development
Amenities: Crosses through numerous cities with all amenities
For info visit www.michigan.gov/dnr/places/s...
BONUS
North Country National Scenic Trail
North Dakota to Vermont
Difficulty Rating: Hard
Length: 4,800 Miles
Type: Point to Point
Highlights: Spans 8 states, various terrains and surface types, waterfalls, mountains, backpacking, camping & more
Amenities: Crosses through numerous states/cities with all amenities
For info visit northcountrytrail.org/
For any and all real estate needs call 248-221-2777

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Would it surprise you to learn that we have beautiful mountains and waterfalls right here in Michigan? If you're a fan of hiking and the great outdoors, you don't have to look beyond the Mitten for some of the most scenic hiking trails in the Midwest! Whether you're looking for a fun, rolling trail to enjoy with the family for a day trip, or a challenging adventure backpacking overnight with dispersed camping, you can find it all right here in our home state! Which is your favorite Michigan hiking trail? Let me know in the comments below!

[@robertchomic8226]

The stretch of the North Country scenic trail along the Manistee river near Cadillac and Mantpn is probably the best stretch of the trail in the LP.

[@austinpothast4121]

this is really great thank you for pitting this together mike. Great pronunciation of some difficult names too!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Glad you liked it and my pleasure! It may have taken a couple of takes, but I got them! Lol

[@DRM.81]

Great video! Pictured Rocks Lakeshore and Porcupine Mountains are both on my hiking bucket list 👊🏼

[@MichaelPernaTV]

YES! They both look amazing and challenging in their own right! Visiting Isle Royale is right up there as well!

[@justdailylifestuffab2289]

Great video I’ve been looking for new trails to hike in MI!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you! We definitely have a number of great ones to choose from. If you don't already use it, AllTrails is a phenomenal app to download to help find additional hiking spots that gives excellent info on trail type, length, difficulty and more. Enjoy!

[@jordanhicks1345]

Excellent video Mike. I have been running 50-100 mile ultramarathons in Michigan for years and you hit all of the great trail systems that I train on. A recommendation I will give you is to check out Grand Island by Munising. I was tired of how busy the Munising trail system was getting so I camped out on Grand Island and got several hikes/runs in over the course of three days. They also have a great 50k race that runs around the secluded beaches and incredible cliffs into lake Superior.

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you for your kind words and sharing your experience, I truly appreciate it! It's great to hear from someone who has explored Michigan's amazing trail systems so extensively. Your recommendation of Grand Island sounds fantastic, and I'm definitely intrigued by the 50k race you mentioned. I'll be sure to check it out and maybe even add it to my list of future adventures. Thanks again for watching!

[@jbecigne]

LOVE LOVE LOVE Pyramid Point

[@MichaelPernaTV]

YES!! It's one of my favorites as well. Such a spectacular view!

[@SplayBook-95]

Great trail choices! A couple that are on my top 10 in Michigan are the manistee river trail, hogback mountain, and lookout mountain/nicole bloom memorial trail. Ive also heard the bare bluff trail is amazing, but i havent had the chance to hike it yet.

[@robertchomic8226]

I agree. The Manistee River trail is definitely top 5. I've hiked it several times. Also. Grand Island in Lake Superior and Beaver Island in Lake Michigan are excellent hikes.

[@jamessmith637]

A hidden gem for me is lumberman's monument near or in Oscoda MI.

[@MichaelPernaTV]

I'm not sure I'd heard of this before, but after looking it up I'm definitely going to check this one out! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@unknownaimbot1530]

Informed and entertained. Thank you good sir

[@chaos0852]

My favorite trail is not in the mitten, it’s on Isle Royale

[@testing123istheseon]

You know of a trail not far from MI that is like a 2 day hike

[@MichaelPernaTV]

I guess it depends on what you're looking for and where in MI you're located... If you live in northern MI then the UP is your best bet - mostly along Lake Superior. If you live in the southern part of MI I would highly recommend looking into Hocking Hills in Ohio. Its a fairly short drive and while I don't know they have any 2 day hikes, there are a ton of fun trails with amazing things to see that you would ever expect in Ohio. Plus there are a bunch of camping options. They have some great dispersed camping right in the park. I hope this helps!

[@testing123istheseon]

@@MichaelPernaTV the lower part around adrian MI. The wife and I when to get out on a hike for a couple days and do some camping so we are trying to get something set up

[@7586usmc]

Go Bucks!! ( You asked for it, really. 😊)