Best Spots to hike: Midwest



Posted: Monday, September 22, 2008

by Steven Steinke
http://hike-hunt-fish-midwest.com

The place to hike in the Midwest has to be upper Michigan. Plenty of space to roam with lots of national forests of beautiful scenery. Animals at every turn and pristine lakes are also a draw. But the best part is there are just not many people to spoil the solitude. You can go days in the right area with out seeing anyone.

My favorite new place is the Sturgeon River Gorge just west of Marquette. This place is like the land that time forgot. A beautiful river that runs through it with any falls to explore. You won't see many people. I have been in the bush for days without seeing anyone. The North Country Trail also runs through the area. You can pick up the trailhead and hike from the Porkie Pine Mountain to the Sturgeon River Gorge; this is a true backcountry experience. Great rolling ridges that go on forever like a giant carpet will give you an appreciation for the landscape. Lots of wildlife and no people.

I have seen tons of animals. Black Bear are one of the apex predators so if you spend anytime out in the woods you will see one. I recommend hanging your food because they can make a mess of things. Wolves have made a great come back in this area. If you are lucky you will see one there is enough of them around now. Both these predators make lunch of the huge deer population in the UP. I have seen a bunch of Otters in the Sylvania Wilderness. They are very cool they will come right up to your canoe to check you out. The Sylvania is also a great place to Smallmouth fish. June and July are great times because fish will be biting everything you throw at them. You don't even have to be a good fisherman to catch fish in this chain of lakes. My personal best right now is a 22 incher. Mink are another creature to look out for they inhabit quite a few lakes and rivers in the UP. Also hundreds of Porcupine are around so watch your dog or they will make a mess of it. Beaver are crazy animals that are all over the UP. I have seen dams on the Fence River that were 12 feet tall and you could walk across. The DNR blows one up every once in a while to get streams working again. They can dam a stream and change the landscape in no time.

Backpacking is a great sport in the UP. A large number of parks will offer great times that you will remember forever. I highly recommend they Shinning Cloud falls in the Porqies. It is a hike to get to; but a great place to camp. Also the best place to put a tent in the Midwest has to be Isle Royale in Lake Superiors waters. Even if you do it once in your life you cant miss the untouched scenery; just do it. Untouched with tons of wildlife Lane cove on Isle Royal is a great over night place to stay. It is the most beautiful hike I can recall just beautiful. Pictured Rocks is also a great place to day hike. 90-foot bluffs and streams with waterfalls that cut right trough the woods to the Lake Superior shoreline is something to see. Go in the fall; like October, this way all the bugs will be gone and the leaves will be changing. It is great.

Another place that we have become very fond of is Marquette. This is a great little town with lots to do. Hike the streets looking at all the shops or bring your mountain bike for all the trails just out side of town. Very cool town you will not be disappointed. I feel this town will become the Midwest town of Outdoor Peoples hidden secret.

I have been all over the UP and cant even touch the surface of the things or places you will find. Its like out west with out the mountains. Go see it is great you won't be disappointed.

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