Back in March we were chosen to record a radio interview with the Pure Michigan Radio Show. The interview was played on WJR 760 Detroit as well as several other stations across the state in April. Please listen (beginning at 18:00) to hear more about our mission, philosophy, offerings, and services we provide! https://soundcloud.com/puremichigan/pure-michigan-radio-show-april-12-2020#t=18:14 We are so excited our business has gotten state-wide exposure, and we are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to guide hikes this summer. What…

We regret to inform you that we have decided to cancel our Memorial Day Weekend backpacking trip due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will re-evaluate periodically to determine any further disruptions to our 2020 schedule. Please check the homepage for up-to date information on our tour offerings. Like many of you, we find immense value in spending quality time in the outdoors. During this unusual situation, we understand how important it is to spend time in nature to clear our…

Get to know your guides a little better, learn some helpful hiking tips, and get insight into Hiawatha Hiking Company’s mission by reading Domonick and Carolyn’s responses to the following questions! How/when did you get into hiking/backpacking? Domonick: In 2005 a high school buddy and his dad invited my father and I on a 10-day backpacking adventure in the Sierra Nevada. Neither my father or I had any extensive backpacking experience, but our friends were seasoned, and we figured they…

Porcupine Mountains Yurt Camping Background/Logistics Domonick and I decided to get out of town in mid-December and planned to snowshoe and yurt camp in the lovely porcupine mountains (aka “porkies”). Porcupine Mountains State Park, established in 1945, is just one of Michigan’s 103 state parks (Michigan state parks boast 28 million annual visitors!). The highlands of the park were created more than a billion years ago during periods of volcanic activity, later being shaped by moving glaciers. I had never…

Just a couple more weeks until the winter solstice! On December 21st, the sun will be at its lowest in the sky and we’ll experience the longest night of the year and shortest amount of daylight. That also means that the days will start getting longer! Instead of hunkering down and hiding inside, this is a good time to get out of our comfort zone. Let’s get outside (take a headlamp if setting out in late afternoon!) and take advantage…

Our First Season It’s hard to believe that exactly a year ago, we decided to start a guided hiking company. Domonick and I worked with a local non-profit to develop a business plan, established the LLC, and began working on everything else that comes with owning a business. Domonick spearheaded the website, logo, booking software, and gear selection. I developed the routes, interpretive information, made campsite reservations, and applied for permits. It sounds easy now, but there were so many…

The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was established in 1966 and while it encompasses about 115 square miles, people new to the area may not be aware of all it has to offer!  While leading kayak tours along the Lakeshore last summer, I encountered several people pointing to an interesting feature of the cliffs and asking, “Is that the Pictured Rock?” The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is more than just a single rock.  It contains about 40 miles of lakeshore composed…

Enjoy this short video we took backpacking the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore Trail this past weekend (May 4-5th)! The snow is almost gone, the trees are just beginning to bud, and the next few weeks should be beautiful. Looking forward to summer and warm weather! Watch the video to see snapshots of the rocks in Spring, including iconic locations like Chapel Rock, Grand Portal, and the Au Sable Dunes. We hope you can join us this summer on one of our…