Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Michigan / Northern Lower Peninsula

High Country Pathway

Pigeon River Country State Forest (near Vanderbilt and Atlanta)

The High Country Pathway circles the Pigeon River Country State Forest in the northern Lower Peninsula, a loop of about 80 miles that the Pigeon River Country Association says “was designed to provide the backpacker with roughly one week of outdoor adventure.” The DNR describes rolling hardwood forests, meadows, cedar swamps, and wetlands, and “one of the largest free-roaming elk herds east of the Mississippi.”

It’s a big commitment, and the 2025 ice storm hit this country hard, so current conditions matter more than usual.

The hike

The Pigeon River Country Association splits the loop into five sections: Sturgeon Valley Road to Osmun Road (17½ miles), Osmun Road to Shoepac Lake Campground (20½), Shoepac Lake to the Clear Lake/Jackson Lake Pathway (13¾), on to Camp 30 Road (14), and back to Sturgeon Valley Road (14½). Hiking Project lists official trailheads on Sturgeon Valley Road near Vanderbilt and next to the forest headquarters on Twin Lakes Road, and many road crossings give other access points.

From Sturgeon Valley Road, the association says the pathway reaches Pigeon River Campground, “a good place to overnight,” about three miles in. It then shares 6.7 miles with the Shingle Mill Pathway, with scenic overlooks, before splitting off near Devil’s Soup Bowl Lake and heading north to Pine Grove Campground, which the association calls one of the most secluded in the forest.

Along the way, the association points to McLavey Lake (“an inviting place to camp”) and Duby Lake (“good camping sites”), a trail shelter just west of Canada Creek, and a stretch through some of the most remote country in the forest, where “the strenuous 200’ climb to the top of Rattlesnake Hill rewards you with a tremendous panoramic view.” Seeking Lost, which hiked the loop counterclockwise from Clear Lake State Park in four long days in 2013, notes that the Rattlesnake Hill summit itself is private property.

That trip report is frank about the pathway’s character. It describes pine forests, logging areas, two-track and road walking, slippery boardwalks on the swampy north side, flooded sections, and few campsites (“I just can’t believe how few campsites there are along the HCP”), and it calls the hike “rather boring” in places. It also reports several elk sightings on the last day. Hiking Project’s check-ins mention blowdowns and faded blazes, and a 2020 comment on Fastest Known Time describes meadows “massively overgrown” with chest-high berry bushes.

Since March 2025, ice-storm debris has been the main question. The DNR said in July 2025 that roughly 60 percent of its trails in the region remained temporarily closed. Call ahead.

Tips

Camping

Most hikers stay at the state forest campgrounds along the route; Pure Michigan names Jackson Lake, Pine Grove, Round Lake, Shoepac Lake, Tomahawk Creek Flooding, Tomahawk Lake, Town Corner Lake, Pigeon Bridge, and Pigeon River, and the DNR’s page also lists state parks such as Clear Lake. Dispersed backpack camping on state forest land is free and allowed more than one mile from any state forest campground, as long as the site isn’t posted “No Camping,” according to the DNR. You must post a backpacking registration card at your site for the whole stay; the DNR says cards are available at local DNR offices. The Pigeon River Country Association asks campers to stay at least 100 feet from water.

Inside Intel: Seeking Lost’s 2013 trip report picks the best campsite on the entire pathway as the one “right next to Grass Lake.” The Pigeon River Country Association recommends McLavey Lake for its shallow, sandy-bottomed shore.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

Five nights in elk country:

A week on the High Country Pathway means a lot of nights on lumpy campground and dispersed ground, so a pad you trust matters. See the pads reviewers like.

See what testers chose →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.