As with Michigan biking and Michigan camping, the outdoors can be reached and touched through Michigan hiking. This state has it all when it comes to the great outdoors. With state parks everywhere and scenic routes through the uncompromising beauty of Michigan's varied areas, you will find the kind of hiking you are looking for in the Great Lakes State. Whether you want to stroll along an urban walkway or head into the forest for a walk among the trees and wildlife, it's all here. Old growth forests and ice age moraines mix with mulched pathways and barely-marked trails to deliver a most varied array of terrains. Grab your boots, fill up the water bottle, toss some trail mix in your pack and leave the rest up to the hiking trails in Michigan. If you are wondering when to go, perhaps you should ask when not to go. The views just change with the season.

Michigan hiking trails are everywhere, and they are a great way for the family to get out together and spend some quality time together. On the western edge of the state, there are many Michigan hiking trails through the dunes along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The views are spectacular and at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, the park has an area exclusive for hiking. Climbing the dunes is a favorite activity for kids and adults alike and there are numerous areas to stop on the beach for a picnic.

Hiking enthusiasts will find a number of opportunities for hiking in Michigan that highlight the natural beauty to be found in the state. For spectacular views of waterfalls, the Lake Superior shoreline, and the Presque Isle River you can try the Lake Superior Trail. It's the longest trail through the stunning Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. You might pre-position a vehicle for your trip back, however, since the trail is lengthy, but if you hike east to west, it's all downhill back from the Escarpment Overlook. Perhaps the highest rated trail for Isle Royale hikes, is the Greenstone Ridge Trail, which offers up views of Lake Superior, Lake Desor, and Hatchet Lake.

Michigan Map

Those most rugged hikers looking for the full-on experience should try the Michigan Section of the North Country Trail which is a national scenic trail running from New York to North Dakota. It is long, so join it where you may, and it offers a complete look at urban and rural Michigan featuring Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island, Tahquamenon Falls, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and the Porcupine Mountains. It truly offers some of the best in Michigan hiking. The Shore-to-Shore trail is an easier grade for extensive hiking trails in Michigan and connects the town of Empire, on Lake Michigan, with the Lake Huron community of Oscada. It was primarily designed as a horse trail to cross the state, but its sights are a joy for hikers, and it features the Kirtland warbler habitat near the banks of the Au Sable River. Among the many other birds and animals you'll encounter, the Kirtland warbler is rare and a joy to see and hear.

If you're just looking for that half day with the kids or to add a hike to your already filled vacation itinerary, you need not stress about finding the perfect Michigan hiking fit. You'll find that the State and National Parks dotted throughout Michigan have all kinds of trails to choose from. Whether you are vacationing in Sault Ste Marie, find yourself around Lake Huron, in Battle Creek, along Lake Michigan, or in Detroit, Michigan hiking trails are but a breath away. Top spots for hiking trails in Michigan include Sleeping Bear Dunes near Traverse City and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the UP, but the possibilities are definitely not limited to that. So lace up your boots, and off you go.