Miners Castle, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising, Michigan; Photograph by Danita Delimont, Getty Images
Miners Castle, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising, Michigan, USA

Michigan: A Grand Adventure

ByChris Kassar
August 12, 2014
2 min read

Tour Grand Island on foot, by bike, and by kayak.

What Is It? Grand Island, located a quick boat ride from the bustling town of Munising, boasts spectacular scenery, rich history, and countless recreational opportunities. Take advantage of all this island has to offer with a multisport weekend camping adventure featuring hiking, biking, paddling, and fishing.

Why Do It? This island is aptly named. It’s the largest of four distinctly different Great Lakes islands within the Hiawatha National Forest, and it’s truly an outdoor lover’s paradise. Ride or walk a vast network (over 40 miles) of scenic and challenging trails complete with lookouts, 300-foot cliffs, pristine forests, and quiet lakes. Wander an array of varied beaches, some with stone-covered shores where rock hounds and agate seekers frolic, some offering seclusion, and some boasting unblemished views of nearby crags and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Or jump in a kayak and paddle the usually calm waters to discover shipwrecks, sea caves, lighthouses, and secluded beaches.

Make It Happen: Learn more from the Hiawatha National Forest website. Explore nature’s wonders on your own or arrange a tour. Northern Waters offers guided daylong kayak tours while UP Michigan offers guided hiking tours.

What’s your favorite summer weekend adventure in Michigan?

See all the summer weekend adventures.

More: See America’s 100 Best Adventures and Long Weekends Like a Local

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50 Best Summer Weekend Adventures: Great adventures are all around us—and summer is the ideal time to seek them. To give you some ideas and inspiration, every weekday we will be sharing a different U.S. summer weekend adventure, state-by-state from A to Z. We invite you to share your favorite summer weekend adventures in the comments section below when your favorite state is featured. Report back after the weekend to tell us about the outdoor adventures you had.

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