Michigan

My beautiful home state! Don’t let anyone fool you, Michiganders are a proud people. They love their state and all its beauties and faults. 7 National Parks reside here and with 103 State Parks, there are over 306,000 acres to explore. That doesn’t include county or city parks, which can be found far and wide. My focus here was on the M-22 area (located in the northwest “pinky finger” section of the mitten). Gorgeous and lush with a wide range of terrain from hard pack to sand, there are 6 major hiking trails in the Leelanau Peninsula with smaller, unmarked trails to be found. My favorite place to hike here is Houdek Dunes. Although you’ll see by the gallery that I climbed Sugarloaf Mountain, it is an unofficial trail. I have been visiting Sugarloaf since I was a child and know the mountain well (as of 2020, the once gleaming crown jewel of Michigan ski resorts is beyond salvaging and will be demolished, though when the new owner can tear down and rebuild is unscheduled). Getting back to the marked trails: there is a lot of sand here. LOTS of sand. If you have gaiters, consider bringing them with you, though on large dunes it’s simply easier to trek longer distances barefoot. Definitely pack sunscreen and more water than you think you’ll need as many areas are hot and exposed. If you’re a blueblazer (kayaking/canoeing), check out the photos included in the gallery of the amazing Crystal River where you can “Shoot the Tube” when the water conditions are just right! I mention this because the 4.5 mile gentle blueblaze is a spectacular way to get to know this diverse area. It isn’t all dune walks and Lake Michigan shoreline! Visit Crystal River Outfitters for more information. Lastly, I did include images of Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive for three reasons: #1. It’s an iconic place to visit in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, and #2. There are short trails #3. It’s incredibly beautiful and deserves to be photographed and seen.