Blacksmith Bayou Boat Launch. THE WAY: From Grand Rapids, take US 131 north to Cadillac. Bear Creek River Access Site Boat Launch, River Road, Brethren, MI, United States, USA Description: Bear Creek, the largest tributary of the Manistee River below Tippy Dam, boasts a bountiful fishery in its own right, so the U.S. Forest Service site where Bear Creek flows in the Manistee River provides access to the best of both worlds. You’re welcome Dan! I did that trail 2 years ago with some buddies it is a great trail. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. ... Also wondering if we need to take black bear precautions in this area of Michigan (near Cadillac). Wow, thank you so much for the breakdown of each campsite!! Bear River Trail, Trail Guide and Trail Map, Photos, Maps, Links, Resources for hiking and running,bicycling,trail maps, trail information, rail trails, Michigan trails Manistee River Trail Located in the Manistee National Forest approximately 12 miles from PRPC, the Manistee River Trail features spectacular vistas and several foot bridges traversing the small creeks cascading over unique clay formations on their descent to the river. You are either right next to the river or along the … Map: This brochure is set to print on 8.5x11 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. Heading up there in early October with my brother in law! What a difference a bridge makes. You’re most welcome Mike! 5. After 5 miles, turn left on Coates Highway, and the Red Bridge Access parking lot is 2 miles ahead on the left just after the bridge. Though there are established campsites along the trail, you may set any camp anywhere you please as long as it is 200 feet from the river. Break the long Michigan winter with a lengthy hike on Michigan's Riding and Hiking Trail. The Big Manistee River is slower paced opposed to the Little manistee. DRIVE TIME: The Manistee River Trail is located in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, about 270 miles (5 hours) northwest of Detroit, and 300 miles (51/2 hours) northeast of Chicago. Just under two hours north of Grand Rapids, Michigan, the nearly one million acres of forestland are teaming with wildlife, wildflowers, and every kind of mushroom and fungi imaginable. 6 years ago. Trail Map and Guide Classic Trails of Michigan Map Series By combing the scenic Manistee River Trail with a portion of the North Country Trail, hikers can enjoy a 23-mile, multi-day trek with backcountry campsites, ridge-top views of the Manistee River and even a waterfall … or two! It used to be you couldn't hike the North Country Trail (NCT) through Huron-Manistee National Forest without a two-car shuttle or back-tracking. The North Country Trail system is no stranger to gushing praise. Unmolested by bridges, cottages and dams, this wild stretch of Michigan's third-longest river appeals not only to paddlers and anglers looking for trophy trout but also to hikers. Everglades National Park is definitely one place you’ll want to put on your bucket list! Bear River Trail, Trail Guide and Trail Map, Photos, Maps, Links, Resources for hiking and running,bicycling,trail maps, trail information, rail trails, Michigan trails CROWD CONTROL: Summer weekends are popular with anglers, canoers, mountain bikers, and hikers. Travel journalist and blogger for BustlingAbroad.com who finds humor and meaning in life's misadventures. Lots of new Steelhead on gravel. The Manistee River Trail is an 11-mile (18 km) linear hiking trail located in Michigan in Manistee County, along the east bank of the Manistee River between Red Bridge River … Or better yet, leave it at home and enjoy nature’s symphony. We stopped to rest and wave back at all the happy kayakers who were laughing, waving and singing their way down the river. When we get enough of the white stuff to start making smooth trails, the volunteer grooming community of over 250+ volunteers strong make their way out into the cold in Northern Michigan to keep this elaborate trail network in peak condition. 4A – Approaching campsite 4A the trail opens up and you get a good view of the river. The North Country Trail system is no stranger to gushing praise. Spring and fall midweek hikers will find absolute solitude. Back on the Manistee River Loop! MORE INFORMATION: Huron-Manistee National Forests Headquarters & Visitor Center 1755 S. Mitchell St., Cadillac, MI 49601; (616) 775-2421; http://www.netonecom.net/~hurmannf/hmindex.htm. Take the North Country Trail to the right (the sign just says “Trail”) to complete the loop back to the Red Bridge River Access parking lot. It should be beautiful right now. This area is known for fall colors, and deer season is best avoided. © 2021 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. A couple miles later we stopped near campsite 2C to fill our water bottles with fresh cold creek water. The Manistee River Trail can be a great fit for many different levels of hikers. Go in on the right hand side[northwest.] One of Michigan’s newest trails, the 11-mile […] Bear Creek Boat Launch. MAPS AND GUIDES: USGS Yuma and Marilla topographic maps are available for $4 apiece through the Forest Service, along with free maps of the Manistee River Trail and the NCT. A spur trail to the North Country National Scenic Trail is available from the campground. It's impressive not for the views, but for the variety. The Manistee River in the U.S. state of Michigan, runs 190 miles (310 km) through the northwestern Lower Peninsula; it now passes through the contemporary villages of Sharon, Smithville, and Mesick, entering Lake Michigan at Manistee.It is considered, like the nearby Au Sable River, to be one of the best trout fisheries east of the Rockies.. ... Black bears are rare along this trail, but have been reported. The Manistee River Trail, together with a portion of the NCT, forms a 20-mile loop of varied hiking. ... Black bears are rare along this trail, but have been reported. 4C – Not visible from the main trail, this site is a great spot for privacy right on the beautiful Slagle Creek. 3B – This is one of my favorite sites. 5. There were also hundreds of small frogs! (Beaver Photo Credit – Kent Mason). Departing from the creek with hoards of vicious mosquitoes in tow, we wound deeper into the lush forest, skirting the river and crossing several creeks before reaching the last campsites and the suspension bridge near the Seaton Creek Campground. 3A – Site 3A is right along the trail a mile or so after 3B in an open spot that offers no privacy and little shade. CCC Bridge SFCG Boat Launch. On the east side of the river, the Manistee River Trail rolls across smaller hills and flats, where waterfalls, streams, wetland boardwalks, and high, cut-away riverbanks characterize the land. A beautiful section of the North Country trail runs along the river through Manistee County. I laughed at his confidence while reflecting on how grateful I was to find this wild preserved place. However, we forged ahead, hoping to hike another 30 minutes before stopping for the night. The fire pit is located right on the edge overlooking a snake turn in the river. Let me stop here and put a plug in for being a courteous camper. Let us know how it goes and please suggest any additions you think would be beneficial. Our misadventure did include rain, mosquitoes, rude campers and six extra miles. Thank you so much! Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Michigan. You’re most welcome Heather! Hot and physically demanding, trekking through Myanmar is also rewarding, inspiring and deeply spiritual. My eye caught movement in the water, and as I focused in I saw a fat beaver! Both were gorgeous and would have been perfect places to watch the sun set over the Manistee river. To reach the Marilla trailhead from MI 55, take MI 37 north to Mesick, turn left on MI 115, left on Beers Road and left at the North Country Trail sign. 2C – Set off the main trail along a beautiful cold creek, this campsite is pretty but is also heavily shaded and a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Have one of the best backpacking adventures in the Lower Peninsula on this tranquil 17.5-mile loop through the Manistee National Forest. Two trails, same river, two different worlds. There are a lot of great mushrooms and interesting fungi growing between site 3A and 3B. Usually we would have pressed on to get further away from other campers, but my whining had reached an obnoxious decibel and Travis, anxious for my sniveling to end, agreed to stop. In Michigan's Trap Hills, you'll find space to wonder and wonder, and quiet rock outcrops with panoramas so wide you'll be blinking in disbelief. You’d think I’d learn to slow the pace a bit but every time […] to haul! A few things to note: 1. I smiled as we drove away, happy at our good fortune and excited to come back and hike it all over again. ... 34 contributions 13 helpful votes. Take the Manistee River Trail back to Seaton Creek Campground to complete the loop. The Upper Manistee River Area offers motorized and non-motorized boating opportunities, and fishing is excellent on the Manistee River. I hit the backpacking jackpot this summer when I discovered the Manistee River Trail Loop in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. However, the road to Seaton Creek Campground trailhead may be impassable, especially in winter. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. I think you’ll enjoy exploring such a great backpacking location that doesn’t require driving to the Upper Peninsula! The hike begins through trees and some rolling hills and you are soon rewarded with incredible views of the Manistee River. From Hodenpyl Dam Pond the Manistee River winds south uninhibited and free in the Manistee National Forest for 13 miles before a road crosses it. You have the choice to hike all 10.8 miles and then retrace your steps back to your vehicle for a 21.6 mile hike. 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