Publisher's note: We absolutely LOVE this book. Click here to read our author interview! 

Michigan is a beautiful place for hikers, paddlers, and casual travellers alike. In Hidden Gems of the Northern Great Lakes: A Trail and Paddling Guide, I cover some of the best spots in Northern Michigan and beyond for outdoor enthusiasts. 

If I had to pick just five places or incredible adventures in Michigan, here’s what I would choose:

The Manistee River 

The Manistee River is well known among backpackers and home to the popular Manistee River Trail, but did you know this river has endless potential for multi-day canoe trekking? Along the Manistee River, State Forest campgrounds are spaced at about a 3-5 hour paddle apart, perfect for cruising the river for several days. 

Bonus: A less crowded alternative to the Manistee River Trail is the 21-mile Fife Lake Loop, another backpacking route near Fife Lake, MI.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Soft sand beaches and clear blue water? Yes please! The Sleeping Bear Dunes are a classic Michigan destination. My favorite times to visit are late spring, when the wildflowers bloom but before the crowds, or in the fall when the leaves begin to change. 

Paddling the Keweenaw Peninsula

Everyone flocks to the Pictured Rocks to sea kayak, but did you know you can paddle through black rock sea arches and out to remote waterfalls in the Keweenaw Peninsula? Keweenaw Adventure Company offers guided sea kayaking tours out to some of the best, most underappreciated paddling spots in the United States, including the remote island national park Isle Royale. 

Bond Falls

The Western Upper Peninsula is often overlooked, but Bond Falls is worth the trip! This roadside park is ADA accessible, with multiple viewing points of the many cascades. Beyond Bond Falls, the Western Upper Peninsula has countless waterfalls and plenty of remote campsites, perfect for any Upper Midwest roadtripper.

Big Island Lake Wilderness

Looking for a remote canoe camping trip where you might spot wildlife, appreciate quiet lakes, and never see another soul? Big Island Lake Wilderness in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a quiet chain of lakes perfect for a paddler seeking solitude. 

This chain of lakes is a gentle and easy paddle but incredibly remote. There is no cell service in the wilderness area so be sure to have means of emergency communication!

Madeline Marquardt is a writer, photographer, and paddler currently based in Grand Marais, Minnesota. She has worked as a sea kayaking guide in the Apostle Islands, English teacher in Armenia, and paddled and hiked extensively throughout the Lake Superior Region and state of Michigan. You can find her at madelinemarquardt.com, where she writes about the outdoors and adventure travel.

All photos courtesy and copyright Madeline Marquardt