Michigan
Looking for the best backpacking in Michigan? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Michigan. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Backpacking Spots in and near Michigan
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Ontonagon, Michigan
Backpack the Big Carp River and Lake Superior Trails in the Porkies
18.2 miWe started our hiking in the afternoon at the Lake of the Clouds parking lot. Our original plan for the hike was to thru hike the Lake Superior Trail, however, due to muddy conditions and recent rain, we chose the Big Carp River Trail as a dryer route to get to our mid-camp point near the Big Car...Read more -
Munising, Michigan
Grand Island Loop
20.63 mi / 1309 ft gainLocated in Munising, MI, Grand Island National Recreation Area is a part of the Hiawatha National Forest. While this section of the Upper Peninsula is known for Pictured Rocks National Park, many people fail to see or check out Grand Island. Secluded by ferry access, the island features 12 backpa...Read more -
Houghton Township, Michigan
Backpack Rock Harbor to Lane Cove
7 mi / 500 ft gainIf coming from Michigan, take the ferry to Isle Royale from Copper Harbor. After a three-hour journey you will arrive at the park via the dock in Rock Harbor around lunchtime. After registering at the park office you can set off on a great 7-mile hike to Lane Cove, which is well marked. This hike...Read more -
Eagle Harbor Township, Michigan
Backpack Windigo to South Lake Desor, Isle Royale NP
11.3 mi / 1400 ft gainThis guide assumes that hikers have already made their journey by either float plane or charter ship to the Windigo Port on the West end of the island of Isle Royale National Park.As mentioned above, this section hike of the Greenstone Ridge Trail partitions off one of the NUMEROUS options one ca...Read more -
Ontonagon, Michigan
Backpack the Union Spring and Lost Lake Trails in the Porkies
8.1 mi / 600 ft gainThe hike begins at the Union Spring trailhead, roughly two miles south of the Park Headquarters on Boundary Road. This area of the park is also the winter cross country and snowshoeing section of the park, so many of the trails are marked for winter travel. To make sure you stay on the summer rou...Read more -
Leland, Michigan
North Manitou Island Loop
4.513.55 mi / 1010 ft gainNorth Manitou Island Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Maple City, Michigan.Read more -
Headquarters Road, Michigan
Snowshoe to the Lost Creek Yurt in the Porkies
13.6 mi / 610 ft gainThe Porcupine Mountains offer a lot of fantastic winter options including cabin and yurt rentals for winter excursions. The most remote trek available in the park is towards the Lost Creek Yurt, a 6.8 miles route that is 2.8 miles on cross country ski trail, and 4 miles on a flagged route into th...Read more -
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Backpack Isle Royale 'Eastern Half' Loop
60 miMy boyfriend and I did this loop in August of 2018. This was our first trip to Isle Royale, and we planned out this specific loop based on our previous hiking experiences, as well as to try and see a lot of different areas of the island in the limited time frame we had. The weather was fantastic ...Read more