Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Michigan / Northern Lower Peninsula

Jordan Valley Pathway

Jordan River Valley state forest land (near Alba and Mancelona)

Wikipedia describes the Jordan River as Michigan’s first designated wild river, free of dams, and notes the valley was heavily logged for white pine in the early 1900s. The Jordan Valley Pathway makes an 18- to 19-mile loop through it. Pure Michigan calls it “a good two-day hike,” with the halfway night at Pinney Bridge, a hike-in state forest campground. Camping anywhere else along the pathway is not allowed.

Part of the loop doubles as the North Country Trail.

The hike

The main trailhead is Deadman’s Hill, a scenic overlook about two miles west of US-131 on Deadman’s Hill Road, north of Mancelona. Wikipedia says a 3-mile short loop drops into the valley and back from here, and the full loop continues along the river.

Michigan Trail Maps says a footbridge in a wetland about 1.8 miles in was damaged, so a reroute now avoids the old beaver-pond boardwalk and adds 0.8 miles to the first day, putting Pinney Bridge about 9.2 miles from Deadman’s Hill. MyNorth’s hiker found the boardwalk and “a broken footbridge” at Beaver Pond and got turned around there on an unmarked detour, so carry a good map. Beyond the pond, the trail follows cedar banks along the river, which Michigan Trail Maps calls a blue-ribbon trout stream, with overlooks into the valley.

Pinney Bridge campground sits near the loop’s halfway point. Seeking Lost, describing a two-day trip, called the bridge itself a favorite spot, a short walk from camp. From there, the second day climbs out of the valley and joins the North Country Trail, which Michigan Trail Maps says shares the route for 11.2 miles from the Warner Creek split. Michigan Trail Maps warns of “constant climbs in and out of the valley, especially on day two.”

Other landmarks named by hikers include a 45th parallel marker, Cascade Creek, Section 13 Creek, and Landslide Overlook, which Seeking Lost called the best high point on the southern side. The Jordan River National Fish Hatchery sits along the river; Michigan Trail Maps describes it as a side trip that brings the loop close to 20 miles, though Seeking Lost could only see it across the river.

Guides agree on the seasonal problems: spring flooding, intense black flies, deer flies, and mosquitoes in spring and early summer, and mud. Michigan Trail Maps singles out early October for fall color. Seeking Lost described the trail as well maintained and easy to follow. Bikes are not allowed on the pathway, per Pure Michigan.

The DNR’s current pathway map notes a temporary closure on the North Country Trail between Pinney Bridge Road and Jordan River Road for bridge replacement, so check the detour before you go.

Tips

Camping

Backcountry camping is not allowed along the Jordan Valley Pathway; the only overnight option on the loop is Pinney Bridge State Forest Campground, according to Michigan Trail Maps and Pure Michigan. The DNR describes Pinney Bridge as a rustic, hike-in campground with 15 tent-only sites about 200 yards from its own parking area, a hand-pump well with drinking water, and a 15-day maximum stay. Sites are first come, first served; no reservations are taken. Seeking Lost and MyNorth describe picnic tables, fire rings, and pit toilets. A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry at state forest campgrounds.

Inside Intel: No camper accounts recommending a specific site at Pinney Bridge were found. Seeking Lost notes the campground sits in an open field and is convenient, though it felt a bit like “car camping at a state park,” since it’s also reachable by road.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

A night in Pinney Bridge's open field:

Pinney Bridge is the loop's only overnight stop, a campground in an open field about 9.2 miles in. Side sleepers who wake up sore can try these fixes before the climb out of the valley.

See the fixes →

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.