The Best Hikes in the Upper Peninsula
Here you will find our hiking guide for the best hikes in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This is a long-term project and hikes will be added periodically as they are mapped and written. The hikes that make the list are ones we believe are must-dos in the area – highlighting waterfalls, lakeshore walks, breathtaking vistas, quiet woodlands, and gorgeous inland lakes.
Each listed hike has directions to the trailhead, hiking ques, a printable map, and downloadable GPS tracks to use with your smartphone or GPS device.
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Difficulty Ratings
Each hike is given the following difficulty ratings depending on mileage, elevation gain, trail surface and navigation ease.
Easy – relatively flat, easy to follow trail, up to 3 miles in length
Moderate – may contain uneven trail surface and/or moderate elevation gain, distance is between 3-8 miles in length
Challenging – may contain uneven trail surface, moderate elevation gain, and/or navigation challenges, distance of 8 miles or more
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When to Hike
The best times to hike the trails in the UP are between Mid-May and Mid-October (snow out, to snow in). Bugs in the UP are worst in June and July, and start tapering off around mid-August. During bug season be prepared with bug spray, long pants and shirt, and a head net (to keep your sanity). Peak fall foliage ranges from the last two weeks of September to the first or second week of October. All the hikes listed here can also be snowshoed if your are looking for a winter adventure, but keep in mind some parking locations may need to be altered depending on road access.
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Safety
Ensure you have the 10 essentials before heading out on the trail. Keep yourself and your group safe by familiarizing yourself with the National Park Service’s recommendations at the link below. Let a friend of family member know where you are going and when you plan to be back.
The Ten Essentials (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
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Have a Great Hike!
Please send us an e-mail at hiawathahikes@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments. If trail conditions have changed let us know so we can update our resources. Have fun!
If you are looking for a guided experience, check out our Pictured Rocks Backpacking Trips or Sunset Hike.
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Additional Resources:
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore – National Park Service
North Country National Scenic Trail
Noquemanon Trail Network (Marquette)
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The Hikes
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| Hike | Area | Distance (mi) | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laughing Whitefish Falls/ Subway | Alger County | 1.2-6 | Easy/ Moderate |  |
| Echo Lake | Marquette | 2.5 | Easy/ Moderate |  |
| Sugarloaf Mountain | Marquette | 0.9 | Easy/ Moderate |  |
| Little Garlic River and Falls | Marquette | 8 | Moderate |  |
| Mount Marquette | Marquette | 3 | Moderate |  |
| Hogback Mountain | Marquette | 3.5 | Challenging |  |
| Presque Isle | Marquette | 2.4 | Easy |  |
| Bulldog Falls | McCormick Wilderness | 5.5 | Moderate/ Challenging |  |
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*Hiawatha Hiking Company provides these maps and resources for free using open source software. Those utilizing these hiking resources do so at their own risk. Any damages due to the use of these resources is not the liability of Hiawatha Hiking Company, LLC