Marquette and Alger Counties
47.6 mi total 12.8 certified 3.0 connecting 30.8 marked 16.8 bare
0.0 [0.0] LAKEWOOD LANE AT M-28/US41
The section begins at the intersection of US41/M28 about half a mile north of the junction of M28 and US41 at Harvey, and follows Lakewood Lake, a suburban street, southeast for about 0.4 miles, where the lane bends to the north to cross Silver Creek. After 0.1 mile it bends back to the southeast again, paralleling an abandoned railroad grade, which it follows southeast for another 0.3 mi.
0.8 [0.8] TURN SOUTH ON RIVERSIDE RD.
The route jogs south to cross the old railroad grade on Riverside Road, then continues to the southeast paralleling the south side of the old railroad grade for another 0.3 miles, where the road jog slightly, becomes County Rd. BU, and continues southeast alongside the old railroad grade for another 0.6 miles, then turns south for 0.1 miles, reaching M-28, which it crosses, and continues south for another 0.1 miles, with the road bending to the southeast, until reaching Ridgewood Dr., which crosses
1.9 [1.1] TURN NORTHEAST ON RIDGEWOOD DRIVE
After a short distance, perhaps 0.1 mi., Ridgewood Dr. again crosses the old railroad grade, and bends back to the southeast. After 0.6 miles, it reaches Jennifer Lane.
2.6 [0.7] TURN SOUTH ON JENNIFER LANE
Follow Jennifer Lane south for 0.1 mi., until reaching County Road BU, also known as Chocolay Lake Road.
2.7 [0.1] TURN EAST ON CHOCOLAY LAKE RD.
Follow Chocolay Lake Road to the east for 3.0 miles. Just before reaching, paved Kawbawgam Lake Rd., a trailhead lies on the north side of the road.
5.7 [3.0] TURN NORTH ON MARKED TRAIL
The trail soon turns east and crosses Kawbawgam Lake Rd. joins from the north; and the route continues east for another 0.9 mile, joins an old woods road for a short distance, then continues east off the road. After about another mile, the route turns northeast, and after 0.3 miles emerges on CR BAA.
7.9 [2.2] TURN EAST ON CR BAA
The route follows CR BAA east 3.5 miles to the Alger county line and the crossroads village of Sand Point, paralleling a railroad grade most of the way.
11.4 [3.5] TURN SOUTH ON MANGUM RD.
Mangum Road is known as CR BAE in Marquette County. Follow it south for 1.3 miles, until reaching marked trailhead on the west side of the road.
12.7 [1.3] TURN SOUTHWEST ON MARKED TRAIL
The marked trail heads southwest, still near Mangum Rd., for about 0.5 miles, crosses CR480 then heads back to the southeast for another 0.5 miles, join Mangum Road again for about 0.8 mile. Mangum Road heads to the southwest, but the route continues south on an old woods road for 0.7 mile, then turns southeast for 0.6 mile, emerging on Sigan Rd.
15.8 [3.1] TURN SOUTHEAST ON SIGAN RD (CR433)
The route follows Sigan Rd. southeast; after about 0.6 mile, it turns to the east. At this point, there is a trailhead for marked trail leading southeastward.
16.2 [1.2] CONTINUE SOUTHEAST ON MARKED TRAIL
The trail continues to the southeast for about 0.2 mile, then turns east, roughly parallel to CR402 but about a quarter mile south of it. After about two miles, the route crosses CR 403, then bends to the south, and descends to cross the Laughing Whitefish River on a new bridge after another mile, then turns easterly and ascends from the canyon. After about another mile, the route joins an old woods road and follows it to the south for half a mile, where it gradually begins a slow turn to the east, reaching Silver Lake Road after another 0.2 miles.
21.1 [4.9] CONTINUE EAST ON SILVER LAKE RD
.Silver Lake Rd. gradually bends to the north. After about 0.7 miles, just before crossing Silver Creek, the trail leads off to the east.
21.8 [0.7] TURN EAST (RIGHT) ON MARKED TRAIL
The route heads to the east for about 1.2 mile, then turns north, crosses Silver Creek, and continues north for about another mile, until reaching Sandstrom Rd.
24.0 [2.2] TURN EAST ON OLD WOODS ROAD
The route follows an old woods road eastward for about 1.0 mi., then bends to the northeast for about 0.3 mi., joining Sandstrom Rd.
25.3 [1.3] TURN SOUTHEAST ON SANDSTROM RD. (USFS2276)
The route follows Sandstrom Rd. southeast for about 3.0 miles, until reaching Rock River Rd. (H01).
28.8 [3.5] TURN SOUTH ON ROCK RIVER RD.
The route follows Rock River Rd. south for about 0.6 miles, passing the junction with USFS 2278, until reaching the trailhead for the trail leading east (left) in the Hiawatha National Forest.
29.4 [0.6] HIAWATHA NF TRAILHEAD (CR H01)
Talone in 1994 reported maintenance poor in this area; he followed FR2278 between Rock River Road and M-28, which the long-distance hiker is advised to do if maintenance hasn't improved. CAMPING is permitted anywhere in the National Forest at least 50 feet off the trail. INFORMATION: Hiawatha National Forest, 601 Cedar St., Munising, MI 49862.
CR H-01 is also known as Rock River Rd. FR2278 is .4 miles north of this point, and will be to the north when taking crossing forest roads between here and the Ponds campsite. Trail follows grassy lane and old logging road. Next water is about 5 miles away.
31.7 [2.3] CROSS FR2483
FR2483 is also known as Slap Neck Rd. Trail continues east, then northeast, then east, making gradual to moderate climbs and descents through gently rolling hills before reaching paved Co. Rd. H-03.
33.7 [2.0] CROSS CO RD. H03
Trail descends a ridge, and joins FR2276 to cross the wide, but shallow Au Train River. Trail continues along paved (in this area) FR2276.
34.3 [0.6] CROSS FR2595
FR2595 goes north to AuTrain Campground, about 1.1 mile north. Fee, water, pit toilets, beach. About .1 mi east of this road, the trail turns gently into the woods to the south, and stays close to the (now gravel) FR2276 for a ways before angling more to the southeast. The trail crosses a ravine and tops a ridge before descending to the next waypoint, dirt FR2482.
35.1 [0.8] CROSS FR2482
Just past this road, the trail crosses Buck Bay Creek on a log bridge. This stream supports a good population of wild brook trout as well as spring steelhead. Shortly past this creek, a side trail leads south to a hike-in campsite. The trail continues east, crosses an old logging road, makes a fairly steep climb, and reaches a side trail to a second campsite, this time to the northeast. About a quarter mile further on, yet another side trail leads northeast to a third campsite. These three campsites feature fire rings and minimal improvements. The trail then descends to the Bay de Noc-Grand Island Trail Junction.
35.9 [0.8] BAY DE NOC-GRAND ISLAND TRAIL JUNCTION
The Bay de Noc - Grand Island Trail runs from Lake Michigan to Lake Superior. Among other things, is used for the U.P. 200, the Upper Peninsula's best-known dogsled race. Just past the trail junction, the trail crosses tiny Buddy Creek, then crosses two ridges and valleys, follows a dry stream bed for a ways, crosses some deep ravines, and emerges at the site of the old Au Train C.C.C. Camp. Workers were here from 1935 to 1941, building roads, fighting fires, and planting trees. No structures are still standing, but the foundations are still present. The trail follows a one-lane gravel road a short distance to FR2274.
38.1 [2.2] CROSS FR2274
The trail climbs up from FR2274, then is more or less level before reaching an old logging railroad grade for a ways, then an unused logging road, then makes a moderately steep climb using four switchbacks, follows the ridge for a ways, then descends again, makes more climbs and descents, then, near the end of the section, reaches the primitive Ponds campsite. Just past the ponds, the trail emerges onto FR2276.
40.4 [2.3] CROSS FR2276
FR2276 has run more or less parallel to the trail to the north, at varying distances, all the way from Rock River Road. From here to M94, the road will be to the south. The trail crosses FR2276 and continues into the forest on the other side, more or less level for a ways, then making gradual climbs and descents until reaching M-94.
41.7 [1.3] CROSS M94 (VALLEY SPUR TRAILHEAD)
Valley Spur Trailhead is a large parking area used in the winter by cross-country skiers. The trail makes a long, gradual descent on an old logging railroad grade, crosses Valley Spur creek on a plank bridge, then ascends, still on the grade. After a ways, the trail jogs onto an old logging road for a short distance, leaves the road, crosses a valley, and shortly descends to cross the Soo Line railroad. The trail continues moderate climbs and descents, then makes a moderate descent to M-94.
44.3 [2.6] JOIN M94 (HIAWATHA NF BOUNDARY)
End of certified segment. The trail continues east along M-94 as a marked connector, using a sign similar to the NCNST trail marker, but with a hiker symbol, rather than the eight-pointed star. A separate treadway was once established along the south side of the road, but has reportedly been allowed to deteriorate, so this section may be a roadwalk.
46.4 [2.1] JOIN M-28
Turn north on M-28, leading into Munising.
47.6 [1.2] USFS/NPS VISITOR CENTER
End of this segment.