Top Backpacking Trails in Michigan
20 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated October 2026.
Backpacking in Michigan is shaped by the Great Lakes. The trips on this site cover Isle Royale, the Pictured Rocks and Grand Island shoreline in the eastern Upper Peninsula, the Porcupine Mountains and Craig Lake in the western Upper Peninsula, Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Manitou Islands, state and national forest pathways in the northern Lower Peninsula, and the Waterloo-Pinckney area in southern Michigan. Elevations are modest, but the tread can be rugged: rocky ridges on the Greenstone and Minong, escarpment climbs and a river ford on the Big Carp River loop, soft sand at Nordhouse Dunes, and trail along 50- to 200-foot cliffs at Pictured Rocks.
Most trips fit late spring through early fall. Isle Royale closes from Nov. 1 to April 15, Craig Lake’s road is impassable from about November to mid-May, and the National Park Service warns of insects at Pictured Rocks from late May through September.
Camping rules vary by managing agency. Pictured Rocks, the Porcupine Mountains, Grand Island in season, and the Waterloo-Pinckney hike-in sites use reservations and designated sites. Isle Royale’s campgrounds are first come, first served with a free permit, and state forest land and the Manistee River Trail allow dispersed camping under posted rules.
In 2026, the Manitou Islands had no ferry service or potable water while their docks were relocated, and Isle Royale closed tent sites at four campgrounds because of wolf activity. Storm and flood damage also affected several Lower Peninsula trails, so check current conditions before you go.
Quick picks
- Easy first overnight: White Pine Backcountry Campground (Platte Plains)
- Island traverse: Isle Royale Greenstone Ridge Trail
- Lake Superior shoreline trip: Pictured Rocks Lakeshore Trail
- Longest loop: High Country Pathway
- Southern Michigan overnight: Potawatomi Trail and Blind Lake
Eastern Upper Peninsula
- Grand Island Perimeter Loop Grand Island National Recreation Area, Hiawatha National Forest (Munising) 23 miles Moderate Reserved designated campsites (Recreation.gov) during peak season
- Pictured Rocks Chapel and Mosquito Beach Overnight Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Chapel Road trailhead) 10.6 miles Moderate Designated backcountry campgrounds (Chapel Beach, Mosquito River) by Recreation.gov permit
- Pictured Rocks Lakeshore Trail Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Munising to Grand Sable) 42.4 miles Moderate Designated backcountry campgrounds by Recreation.gov permit
Isle Royale
- Isle Royale Feldtmann Loop Isle Royale National Park (Windigo) 30.1 miles Moderate First-come, first-served campgrounds; free small-party permit
- Isle Royale Greenstone Ridge Trail Isle Royale National Park (Windigo to Rock Harbor) 41.7 miles Hard First-come, first-served campgrounds with shelters and tent sites; free small-party permit
- Isle Royale Minong Ridge Trail Isle Royale National Park (McCargoe Cove to Windigo) 32.1 miles Hard First-come, first-served campgrounds; free small-party permit
Northern Lower Peninsula
- High Country Pathway Pigeon River Country State Forest (near Vanderbilt and Atlanta) 80 miles Hard State forest campgrounds along the route, plus dispersed camping with a posted registration card
- Hoist Lakes Foot Travel Area Huron National Forest, Huron-Manistee National Forests 7.6 miles Moderate Walk-in sites and dispersed camping; no permit found
- Jordan Valley Pathway Jordan River Valley state forest land (near Alba and Mancelona) 18.8 miles Moderate Pinney Bridge hike-in state forest campground only; first come, first served
- Manistee River Trail and North Country Trail Loop Huron-Manistee National Forests (near Mesick and Wellston) 20 miles Moderate Dispersed and established primitive sites; no permit required
- Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Manistee National Forest, Huron-Manistee National Forests (between Manistee and Ludington) 6.5 miles Moderate Dispersed wilderness camping; no permit
- Sand Lakes Quiet Area Pathway Pere Marquette State Forest (near Williamsburg, east of Traverse City) 7.4 miles Moderate Walk-in backcountry sites at Sand Lake No. 1; state forest campground at Guernsey Lake
Sleeping Bear Dunes
- North Manitou Island Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (ferry from Leland) 14.2 miles Moderate Wilderness dispersed camping by backcountry permit, plus an 8-site village campground
- South Manitou Island Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (boat access from Leland) 7.4 miles Hard Three designated campgrounds by backcountry permit (Bay Campground closed in 2026)
- White Pine Backcountry Campground (Platte Plains) Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (south of Empire, off M-22) 4 miles Easy Six-site backcountry campground; permit required
Southern Michigan
- Potawatomi Trail and Blind Lake Pinckney Recreation Area, Michigan DNR (near Pinckney) 17 miles Moderate Blind Lake rustic hike-in campsites; reservation, one night only
- Waterloo-Pinckney Trail Waterloo and Pinckney Recreation Areas, Michigan DNR (near Chelsea and Pinckney) 36 miles Moderate Designated hike-in and rustic campgrounds only; reservations
Western Upper Peninsula
- Craig Lake State Park Backcountry Craig Lake State Park (near Michigamme) 8 miles Moderate Reserved designated backcountry sites; check in at Van Riper State Park
- Porcupine Mountains Big Carp River and Lake Superior Trail Loop Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (M-107 and Lake of the Clouds) 18.6 miles Hard Reserved designated backcountry sites (LS and BC sites) and trailside cabins
- Porcupine Mountains Lake Superior Trail Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (Presque Isle to M-107) 16 miles Hard Reserved designated backcountry sites (LS sites) and trailside cabins
Backpacking in Michigan: common questions
Do you need a permit to backpack in Michigan?
It depends on who manages the land. Pictured Rocks requires a Recreation.gov backcountry permit for every overnight stay, year-round, and Isle Royale requires a free small-party permit that rangers issue on the ferry or on arrival, while the Porcupine Mountains require a reservation made 6 months to 72 hours ahead and an in-person check-in. Dispersed camping on state forest land is free but needs a posted backpacking registration card, and no permit was found for the Manistee River Trail or Nordhouse Dunes. Rules vary by managing agency, so confirm with the park or forest before you go.
Can you camp anywhere when backpacking in Michigan?
Only on some land. The Michigan DNR allows dispersed camping on state forest land more than one mile from a state forest campground, but not in state parks, recreation areas, or state game areas, and you must post a registration card at your site. On the Huron-Manistee National Forests, a Forest Service order bars camping within 200 feet of water except at designated sites, and Nordhouse Dunes adds a 400-foot setback from Lake Michigan. Pictured Rocks, the Porcupine Mountains, Grand Island in season, and the Waterloo-Pinckney hike-in sites use designated sites, and Pictured Rocks prohibits beach camping.
When is the best time to backpack in Michigan?
Most trips on this site fit late spring through early fall. Isle Royale closes from Nov. 1 to April 15, and the National Park Service says potable water at Rock Harbor and Windigo typically runs from the end of May to mid-September. Grand Island campsites require reservations from Memorial Day through Columbus Day, the Michigan DNR says Craig Lake's roads are impassable from about Nov. 1 to May 15, and the Park Service warns of insects at Pictured Rocks from late May through September. Opening dates and services change, so check the managing agency.
How should you store food on Michigan backpacking trips?
Storage rules vary by park. At Isle Royale, the Park Service requires food, trash, and scented items to go in food storage lockers or animal-resistant hard-sided containers, and in 2026 it closed tent and group sites at four campgrounds because wolves were getting into tents and packs. Pictured Rocks campgrounds have bear-proof food lockers, Grand Island sites have a bear locker or pole, and the DNR says most Porcupine Mountains sites have bear poles. Bring your own hang kit or container where poles or lockers aren't provided.
Can you bring a dog backpacking in Michigan?
On some trips. Pets are not allowed at any Pictured Rocks backcountry campground, and the trail pages on this site list pets as prohibited at White Pine and on the Manitou Islands and as not allowed on Isle Royale backpacking trips. Dogs must be leashed at Craig Lake (6-foot leash), on Grand Island, and in the Porcupine Mountains, and Michigan Trail Maps lists dogs as allowed at Nordhouse Dunes. Rules vary by managing agency, so check before you bring a dog.
Is it safe to backpack in Michigan during hunting season?
Hunting overlaps fall backpacking on much of Michigan's public land. The Michigan DNR's 2026 deer seasons include archery from Oct. 1 to Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 to Jan. 1, and the regular firearm season from Nov. 15 to 30. The trail pages note hunting at Nordhouse Dunes, along the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail, and at Pictured Rocks from after Labor Day through March 31. Wearing bright colors is a sensible precaution, and you can check the DNR for current dates and local rules.
Where this comes from
- Michigan DNR: Backpacking and dispersed camping
- Michigan DNR: Porcupine Mountains backcountry camping registration
- Michigan DNR: Deer hunting regulations (2026 season dates)
- National Park Service: Isle Royale small-party permits
- National Park Service: Isle Royale backpacking FAQ
- National Park Service: Isle Royale closes tent and group campsites at four campgrounds (2026)
- National Park Service: Current conditions at Isle Royale
- National Park Service: Pictured Rocks backcountry camping
- National Park Service: Sleeping Bear Dunes current conditions
- Recreation.gov: Grand Island National Recreation Area