SPECTACULAR UP NORTH

We have great lodging

at all of our stops.  We did our best to keep cost down at this very popular time of year. 

You will enjoy all that each lodging choice offers between hikes.

MACKINAC ISLAND

MARQUETTE

MUNISING

SILVER CITY

ST IGNACE

Hiking in this unique Michigan treasure

will be worth training hard for and another memorable Cairn Stone adventure.

Grand Island is part of Hiawatha National Forest  and is located just one-half mile from the mainland community of Munising, MI. This historic island comprises 13,500 acres and the only exception to the no vehicles policy is the summer tour bus.  We will have multiple hiking options from moderate up to a 20 mile scenic course around the island.

 The Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a 46,179-acre state park in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the second largest of Michigan's state parks.

 Nearly 200 feet across and 50 feet high the Upper Tahquamenon Falls Michigan's largest waterfall.

 You’ll be hard-pressed to find trails more beautiful and full of landmarks, with miles of hiking trails within this park, but also on the North Country Trail — part of the National Scenic Trail System. 

 The Porcupine Mountains, or Porkies, are a group of small mountains spanning the northwestern Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Ontonagon and Gogebic counties, near the shore of Lake Superior. 

 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park features 60,000 acres of old-growth forest, roaring waterfalls, Lake Superior shoreline, rivers, trails, and ridges, the park’s incomparable vistas make Michigan’s largest state park a popular destination 

 Mackinac Island sits in Lake Huron, between Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas. Mackinac Island State Park, with trails, woods and the limestone Arch Rock formation, covers most of the island. Founded in 1780, Fort Mackinac is a walled cluster of military buildings on a coastal bluff. The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum has local works, including Native American art, maps and 19th-century photos. 

LAKE VIEW HOTEL

 Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore hugs the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It's known for the dramatic multicolored Pictured Rocks cliffs. Unusual sandstone formations like Miners Castle and Chapel Rock define the park’s headlands. Twelve mile Beach has a trail through a nearby white birch forest. Remnants of shipwrecks dot the shoreline around Au Sable Point’s 19th-century lighthouse. 

7:30AM

Bus arrives at public parking in downtown Dowagiac near the Amtrak station (the Dowagiac Police Department has been informed) for loading.  [Car pool if you can.]

8:00AM

Bus promptly leaves for your hiking adventure Up North.

1:30PM

Lunch stop in Petosky & get trail lunch supplies.

4:15PM Hike at Wilderness State Park. 

8:30AM

Checkout and load bus.  Dress for a hike en route.

10:30AM

Hike at Pictured Rocks.

4:30PM

Load bus and check in at Boarders Hotel in Munising. 

9:00AM

Load bus for short hike at Wagner Falls and Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

1:00PM

Rehydration station with stop for fresh smoked whitefish from Matson's Fisheries.  Following our meal at “Ron's Patio” high up over the bay we will stop in downtown Munising for supplies for the Grand Island hike. 

6:30AM

Early breakfast at hotel.

7:30AM

Bus leaves for hike at Grand Island.  Pack food for lunch and afternoon snack.

7:30PM

Dinner stop in downtown Munising.  Waiting for us at our hotel are an indoor pool and Jacuzzi. 

9:00AM

Checkout and load bus for a three hour drive to a beautiful recovery hike at Porcupine Mountain State Park.

Our lodging is at the beautiful and remote AmericInn in Silver City on the shores of Lake Superior and Big Iron River. 

9:00AM

Load the bus for the Lake of the Clouds and Lake Superior Trail hike.  Pack trail lunch.

6:00PM

Load bus for dinner at The Konteka Black Bear Resort. 

8:30AM

Checkout and load bus for our two hour trip to Marquette with a stop en route for our hike at Canyon Falls (the Grand Canyon of Michigan) near L'Anse.  After the hike we will move on to Marquette for a late lunch.  This is a very charming city and our hotel is the Fairfield Inn located very close to Lake Superior.  An extra credit hike will be conducted to Sugar Loaf Mountain or just enjoy a great urban hike along the shores of Lake Superior from our hotel.  Marquette is great for shopping and rehydration. 

9:00AM

Load the bus for a beautiful hike on the North Country Trail 

8:00AM

After checkout we'll load the bus for a two hour 15 minute ride to Taquamenon Falls.  Following a super hike of 6.0 miles we will rehydrate at the Falls Brew Pub before venturing on another hour and 15 minutes to our final destination on Mackinac Island.

Our luggage will be taken from the dock to our lodging at the wonderful Lake View Hotel located on the main street.

Enjoy the magic that sets in when the day tourists leave the island. 

Breakfast on your own.

This is our only hotel on this trip that breakfast is not included but there are several great restaurants nearby.

A variety of hikes will be offered including Ron's Inner Island hike, Around the Island hike, and the Arch Rock hike. 

9:30AM

Have your luggage outside your room with ID before 9:30AM.  The hotel will take your luggage to the ferry.

The time for our ferry departure for the mainland will be announced later.