One of our hands-down favorite places to hike. There's tons of hike-in camping spots along the…read more11-mile hiking trail, which largely follows the shoreline of the Manistee River with a few inland jaunts on a few of the oxbows. Despite being fairly well known, it's pretty pristine and doesn't feel overly busy but it's also never completely vacant. The river views are lovely, there's plenty of wildlife (great fishing & birdwatching), and there's a cliff swing over the water (huge adrenaline rush for this 43-year-old) on an off-shoot path just past the suspension bridge and a waterfall at mile 3.5 if you're coming from the north. You can return on the main path or on the other side of the river on a section of the North Country Trail.

What a great hiking trail! Parking wasn't bad at Red River Bridge Access…read moreOnce on the trail it is well marked. Campsites were clean and it looks like the hikers who enjoy the trail take good care of it. I didn't see one bit of trash the whole day. It was pretty busy, with folks heading both directions, everyone was very friendly and they all seemed to be enjoying the day! The views are beautiful. Absolutely the best hiking we have done in the lower peninsula. We will absolutely be back!

Such a beautiful scenic area with plenty of short distance hikes that offer fantasies views for the…read moreminimum effort requires. We have the national park pass which we were able to use during our visit. We stopped by numerous overlooks and of course, the main one where you can see the two land mass/bear cubs lay and the mama bear watching over them. You can read about the lore and why this area is named sleeping bear dunes. It's a cute, albeit sad story of love and loyalty and never leaving behind those you love. Now on to the wondrous nature view you'll find here. Sand dunes, yes! But also a beautiful lake view unobstructed by modern buildings. Pure nature beauty. This really is a place to visit. Don't skip it if you're in the area! It is dog friendly. There was even a kind man up on top of the dunes overlooks giving treats to pups. Our pup enjoyed the treats and the attention and I enjoyed creating memories with her and my husband in the middle of nature. Go check it out!

Sleeping Bear Dunes is a must if you are nearby! There are beaches that are free to enter, but to…read morego into the actual park and see the big dunes, you have to pay $20 per car, or you can get in with a National Parks pass. Most of it is drivable once you're in, and you can park your car off to the side of the road and view multiple different overlooks. The dunes are huge I was surprised. They're much bigger than I am used to seeing at Indiana Dunes! We stopped at the Lake Michigan overlook. There's a parking lot with plenty of parking. To get up to the overlook, you'll have to walk up a smallish sand dune. It's easier if you take your shoes off. Once you get up, there's super steep dunes that many people attempt to go all the way down then climb up on all fours. It's extremely hard to get back up!! Walking through sand is not easy. There's even a sign that warns you of the dangers of doing so and the damage it does to the dunes. There was a firetruck and ambulance on sight ready to rescue anyone.

This is probably one of the best playgrounds up north, the only real downside is the location…read more Kalkaska is a humble and honest small town, but beyond grabbing a bite to eat there isn't much else to do in town... this is only relevant if your traveling to the area from down state. Not much touristy things to do if you plan to come to this park.... downtown is cool but there isn't really shopping... back to the park: this park is tucked behind some buildings and easy to miss if you are driving through. The structure is completely wooden and connected completely through bridges, tunnels, and monkey bars. There's a sign with rules and restrictions and beyond guardians and parents the playground is meant for 12 and under in age. I brought my sister in law and nephew after we grabbed lunch at the up north grill in town (only 5 minutes away so highly recommend for lunch) my nephew is almost 2 years old but there was still tons of interactive stuff for him to do which was unexpected based on the size of this huge castle themed park. There's about 5 different slides so age shouldn't restrict enjoying. The structure is very well built and laid out so, as adults we were for the most part able to maneuver it with our little guy. A bouncy tire contraption that reminded us of a bull was a win as well as a swing that allows an adult to swing with your baby which was SOOOO COOL. Better that just pushing because it adds safety and gives you a chance to do something enjoyable with your baby while making eye contact. Wyatt was all giggles. The park was busy when we visited but it never felt crowded because how it's designed. It's both 40 minutes from my sisters house in grayling but left enoug of an impression that she plans to take Wyatt with my brother this weekend again!

This is a nice beach that is a little bit east of downtown so it is not that busy. I rode my bike…read morehere from our hotel (super convenient) which was less than half a mile away. There is a small parking lot (and street parking) if you choose to drive here.

Such a cute park at the end of downtown Traverse City and the start/base of Old Mission peninsula!…read moreI wanted to find a park where I could pull up and get a great view just from the parking lot and Bryant Park delivered! They have a small parking lot (I think there's more parking the further up into Old Mission peninsula you go), but the parking lot I pulled up in is relatively small, but also on a Saturday evening, there were plenty of people coming and going and eventually I was able to get one of the spots that faces right up to the beach. I rolled my windows down and just enjoy the sounds of the waves, people running about, and read my book and ate my dinner while I waited for the sunset! It was wonderful and exactly what I wanted! Thanks Bryant Park! It looks like there's also a part of this beach that is dog friendly if you keep to the left side fencing of the beach from this parking lot and once it opens up closer to shore, keep left and there'll be a whole strip where the dogs are allowed to play. I love that!!

Pretty easy trail to follow. The whole map, if you walk fast can probably finish in 2 hours. There…read moreare no trash can on the trail so don't leave anything behind. There is a trail that reach the cliff and it has great views. If you physically can't climb Bear dunes, it is a good alternative

Really great place to check out for some trail time in nature! I can't wait to come back in summer…read moreor fall, as our visit was in winter- but still beautiful. We only saw one other couple hiking, so it was very serene. We started at the Mt Baldy trailhead parking area and went to the outlook trail. It was a fairly easy half mile with beautiful views and benches. We then went to the dune trail for the dune/bluff overlook. That, especially the part going right up to the dune, was a bit more challenging and steep. Could have been the snow obscuring steps or something though. It was VERY windy right on the lake but so beautiful with the epic views and the sand mixing with the snow. After that we headed back to the parking lot. Total it was about 2.5 miles. Trails are well marked and in the winter it appears appropriate for snow shoes or cross country skiing. There's so much more to check out than that at this preserve, so I'll definitely come back if we come to this area again.

If you're visiting Traverse City, you need to drive up to Old Mission Lighthouse Park! We came on a…read moreSaturday and it wasn't super crowded. The beach was absolutely beautiful. The water was super clear and shallow. You could walk far out into the water and the it would still only be a little bit above your knees. It's the perfect place to just relax and enjoy the nature. It was a little too chilly to swim when we came, but I would have loved to come back to enjoy the water more. Unfortunately we didn't have the time to come back during this trip, so maybe next time! To go up to the historic lighthouse, it costs money but you can go inside on the bottom floor to view the gift shop and infographics for free. We chose not to go up because it didn't seem worth the money.

This is a gorgeous spot in the Traverse City area! Beautiful clear waters with ample beach space…read moreand shaded areas. The beach was very clean and well kept. The shallow water allows for wading in and just enjoying the surroundings. The water isn't deep enough to swim for quite a ways so if you're looking for a swimming area I would go elsewhere! Parking is somewhat limited depending on what time you arrive. We got to the beach around 1:30pm and parking was a little hard to find. This doubles as a dog beach so there were plenty of dogs here as well! As a first time visitor to the traverse city area, I would definitely return to this spot!

A short walk from the parking lot to the lake. Maybe a 1/3 of a mile. The wide open beach is a…read morewonder place. there are also miles of trails. Their trail maps are a little confusing, a you are here would be helpful. I took a wrong turn and ended up going on a 2 and a half mile hike. The dog truly loved it though. Honestly so did I. Overall definitely a 5 star review and would highly recommend this place for people looking for a nice beach with a small wall or people looking to go on a hike.

Beautiful! Lovely nature area as well as views of the lake!…read moreRemember to bring bug spray if in bug season!

This is a hidden beach that few know about, mostly because you need to drive toward the Portage…read morePoint Inn (be sure to fill your water bottles at the artesian spring, just past the camp), and then keep going right past it on a VERY dinky, one lane road. Head past the marina and yacht club, take a right, and up the dune to the parking lot (free). There's a single room changing area with a pit toilet (needs must), well lit. There are two gazebos and a wooden walkway at the south end of the small parking lot, and a gazebo with benches at the north end of the parking lot. There are dog bags, if you're walking your dog (thank you for cleaning up after them!). I especially love the new addition this year of a barely inclined wooden walkway, with a handicap mat (not sure what to call it, but it is plastic netting that is a stable place for you to walk or wheel down). There's a pier, and a lighthouse at the end. There are 4 fire rings, if you are inclined to have a lovely beach sunset fire (bring supplies). This is my favorite hidden beach in Michigan, and the swims - and sunsets - are glorious.

Lovely campground with nice level sites for the most part. We somehow lucked out and got what I…read morefigured was a handicap spot. No complaints here

Its a pretty nice spot. Located right within the city limits actually. So its not far from good…read moreawesome city fun. It was packed when we first arrived. It was labor day weekend, which was to be expected. But the site was pretty big. 2 cars and 2 tents took up only a fraction of our site. But on the next day, everybody left and it was hella quiet. Loved it! The facilities were pretty good. Although i kept hearing from 2 campers in our group that one of the shower rooms didnt have hot water. Mine was fine, but i believe them. They're like family to me. Plus the noise from the main road is hella extra. Specially when obnoxious farmers with the loud aftermarket exhausts. Fire pit was pretty dope, we cooked some of our food on it. Sausages, giant tomahawk steak, and our smore dessert. I had a pretty good time camping here. Aside from the cold shower stall that my fellow campers experiencee. I would totally camp here again. Thank you so much for reading my review. I hope this helps with your decision making experience. Enjoy your awesome yelptastic day!!!