| In Michigan, outdoors is the place to be. You may | | | | until it splits, and take the road to Wilsey Bay. |
| already know about the great national parks, but | | | | Where the road first comes to the water, it is a |
| there are also interesting places you have never | | | | public access point. Leave your car here and walk |
| heard of. | | | | a mile to the end of the road, and then along the |
| In Michigan, being outdoors can mean relaxing on | | | | rocky beach past the last house (stay below the |
| a sandy beach or getting lost in the wilderness. | | | | high-water mark and it is legal to walk past |
| One of the hidden places described below will let | | | | private property). |
| you do both. Here are three places that you | | | | Just past the house you enter the Hiawatha |
| haven't seen in magazine articles and guide books. | | | | National Forest for the next seven miles of beach. |
| Michigan Outdoors - Rivers | | | | The last time I camped out there, I never saw a |
| You can float the Manistee River from Baxter | | | | person in two days. One morning I followed fresh |
| Bridge (the next crossing down from Hwy 131) | | | | black bear tracks along the sandy beach, and later |
| north of Cadillac, all day without seeing a house or | | | | explored the ruins of an old cabin. There are no |
| a road. The majority of the route is in the | | | | roads into this area, and ATV's are not permitted. |
| Manistee National Forest, where you can camp | | | | If you want forested wilderness, just walk away |
| without permits. The Manistee isn't a river full of | | | | from the beach - and watch for wild blueberries in |
| exciting rapids (at least not on this stretch). It is a | | | | the forest clearings if it is August or September. |
| river for relaxing. | | | | Michigan Outdoors - Really Hidden |
| A few years back, we used to park where Road | | | | You'll want a topographical map for this one. In |
| 17 crosses the river, and hike upstream with a | | | | Michigan's Upper Peninsula, north of Ishpeming, |
| small day pack loaded with snacks, water, a saw, | | | | there is some wild and rough country. Driving out |
| hatchet, and rope. By early afternoon we would | | | | of Ishpeming, you'll wind through rocky lakes and |
| build a raft of dead trees cut to length. We spent | | | | woods. An hour north, on a sandy road, you'll |
| the following hours floating back to the car. We | | | | come to a river with two-hundred foot high cliffs |
| called it Tom Sawyer Day, and on six of these | | | | on the other side. I promised friends not to get |
| trips I have never passed another canoe or boat | | | | more specific than this, so you'll have to work a |
| on the river. | | | | bit to find it. |
| Michigan Outdoors - Beaches | | | | Continue a bit further, until the road gets too |
| Probably you have heard of or been to the | | | | rough or the puddles too deep. Park the car and |
| Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore (and the dunes), | | | | find a log to cross the small river on, then head |
| and the other sandy spots along the east side of | | | | uphill (you may need your hands to go up the |
| Lake Michigan. They are beautiful, and I highly | | | | wooded hillside). Beyond and on top of those cliffs |
| recommend them, but what if you want a beach | | | | and hills there are two lakes, just a thirty minute |
| to yourself? Head north, to the Upper Peninsula of | | | | walk away, surrounded by a rocky wilderness, |
| Michigan. | | | | and with no trail going to them. My brother had a |
| From Highway 2, a couple miles east of Rapid | | | | trout on the line in ten seconds the first time I |
| River, turn south on County road 513. Follow it | | | | took him there. Good luck! |