5 of MI Top 10 Hikes Include NCT Sections

Tahquamenon Falls (from the NCTA web site)

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based on an article in the Saginaw News

Hugh Bernreuter, sportswriter for the Saginaw News has put forth a list of the ten best day hikes in Michigan, based on his personal experiences. He is an avid hiker and backpacker, and has been checking out Michigan trails since grade school.

Of the ten hikes he selected, five of them include sections of the North Country Trail. The very first words on his list are "North Country Trail." How cool is that?!

one of the falls on the Black River (photo JHY)

1. "North Country Trail/Porcupine Mountains waterfall hike, Bessemer" -- Here one can take an 11-mile walk and almost see one waterfall per mile. Head north along the Black River to Lake Superior passing 7 waterfalls, hike east four miles to the Presque Isle River and follow that to see 3 more falls.

2. "Chapel Loop, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising -- This 6.5-mile loop takes you past one of the state's top waterfalls (Chapel Falls) and to one of Michigan's most scenic beaches (Chapel Beach)." Chapel Beach is on the Lakeshore Trail, another section of the NCT.

4. "Tahquamenon Falls, Paradise -- Perhaps Michigan's best river hike. The 4.5-mile, one-way trail takes you from the Upper Falls to the Lower Falls along the Tahquamenon River." Once again, this piece of state park trail is also a portion of the NCT.

5. "McCormick Wilderness, Michigamme -- If you want solitude, this is your hike." Several short trails begin at the parking area on the west side of the wilderness. "The North Country trail runs along the southern edge of the McCormick and can also be accessed from the parking lot." Be prepared if you want to hike this one. Wilderness cannot be blazed, and many have gotten lost here.

pond on the main trail in the McCormack Wilderness (not on the NCT - photo JHY)

7. "Sturgeon Falls, Sidnaw -- A challenging one-mile trail takes you into a deep canyon to the falls, a powerful blast of 30 feet. The area is a hot spot for rock climbers and you can also access the North Country Trail from the parking area."

Be sure to check out Hugh's article for his other selections!

Top Ten: Michigan Day Hikes