Trap Hills, Michigan, September 14-16

whiskypig

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2019
Messages
7
I've been lurking on this site for a couple of years and have learned a lot of great information that helped me plan trips to the Winds and elsewhere, so I figured it was about time I posted but I wanted my first trip report to highlight something from my neck of the woods. Last weekend we made it up from our home in Madison, WI to the Trap Hills segment of the North Country Trail in the UP.

Not as popular as the Porkies or Pictured Rocks, the Trap Hills are arguably just as beautiful and, with overgrown trails, no developed campsites and no permits, don't feel nearly as domesticated. And while the Midwest is flat, this trail is decidedly not. According to Caltopo we tallied a total elevation gain of over 5800 feet in 28 miles. In many, many increments of 150-300 feet each. The trail profile resembles a heart rate monitor.

Weather was humid but otherwise perfect and the fall colors were just starting to show but still a couple of weeks from peak. Perhaps the best part was that we saw no other people in 3 days except for a glimpse (and noise) of ATVers when we crossed an ATV trail on day 2.

20190914_17 - Copy (3).jpg20190914_18 - Copy (4) - Copy.JPG

No major wildlife sightings, but we saw plenty of interesting prints in the fresh mud along the trail. We also listened to the howling from a resident wolfpack on the first night.
20190915_092100 (3) - Copy - Copy - Copy.jpg
20190916_110026 (2) - Copy - Copy.jpg

Lots of beaver activity as well. You can just make out the large beaver house in the below picture, among a massive set of beaver ponds. I am always fascinated by the ways beavers can radically transform their environment.
20190915_110949 - Copy (2) - Copy.jpg

Since the leaves turn at the top first, as we walked through the forest it was incredibly green, but then we would pop out on the top of a bluff for spectacular views of fall color among the sea of trees as far as the eye could see.
IMG_4551.JPG
20190915_162109.jpg

We crossed numerous mossy creeks and camped next to to of them, Bush Creek and Whiskey Creek, pictured below. Alas, Whiskey Creek holds only water.
20190916_080539 (3) - Copy - Copy.jpg

I also saw more varieties of fungi than I have ever seen, including some enormous mushrooms and this set that was growing in a perfect circle.
20190916_122320 - Copy - Copy.jpg20190915_113200 - Copy - Copy.jpg

The morning of day 3 was glorious.
20190916_082004 - Copy - Copy.jpgIMG_4641.JPG

Yes, we even have talus fields in the Midwest.
20190916_110348 - Copy - Copy.jpg

It felt like the colors were changing even as we walked.
IMG_4602.JPG20190916_124927 - Copy - Copy.jpgIMG_4579.JPG

The many peaks of the Trap Hills in all their glory.
IMG_4614 - Copy - Copy.JPG

Victoria Lake, the final view before heading down the bluff and the end of the hike.
20190916_130515.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4614.JPG
    IMG_4614.JPG
    541.2 KB · Views: 6
Last edited:
looks beautiful

thanks for adding another sort of east coast trip :)
 
Nice pics. Thank you for sharing. Made me a bit homesick for the hardwood forests and the fungus.

I miss four things about Michigan. Family. The big water. The spectacular hardwood forests of the UP. A good Coney Island loose burger.
 
Great report! Looks like a wonderful trip. I'd love to make it to Michigan for some backpacking someday. Still a long drive even when I'm visiting family in Indiana.
 
First picture looked to me like Morels. Some of the finest eating mushrooms you fan find.
 
First picture looked to me like Morels. Some of the finest eating mushrooms you fan find.

I wish those were morels, but they did not look like it up close, much more spongy and somewhat spiky. Not sure what they were. There are always moments on a trip when I wish I had someone to explain the nature I am looking at and this was one of them. I also always wish I could take a geologist along with me on every trip.
 
Thank you for sharing the pictures. I miss the UP, the hardwoods, and Lake Superior. This brought back great memories. Pringles
 
Love all the colors! Thanks for the share!
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Titans Rick’s Recovery : Paw Hole Sand trap, winch to the rescue! My Lizzy moment, ha…. General Discussion 24
SteveR Bull Creek Hills, Alberta Hiking & Camping 5
LarryBoy SLC: Terrace Hills Drive to Big Mountain Peak Trip Planning 16
b.stark Black Hills February 2019 Hiking & Camping 2
Ross Sand Hills/Vermillion Cliffs NM hoodoos & brainrock Trip Planning 0
R Badlands and black hills Backpacking 8
R Black hills trip advice Trip Planning 7
b.stark Black Hills Bummin' Hiking & Camping 9
b.stark Black Hills SD in winter? Trip Planning 7
Tim Valentine Alabama Hills Hiking & Camping 3
hatchcanyon Utah Emery County: Clay Hills Road aka Wild Horse Road Off Road 4
hatchcanyon Glen Canyon NRA -Purple Hills Off Road 1
605troutbum Hello From the Black Hills, SD Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
themidwestwanderer Hello from Michigan/Tennessee! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 4
Reef&Ruins A Sinking Feeling in Michigan General Discussion 1
Janice Manistee River Loop in Michigan Backpacking 9
Janice Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan's Upper Peninsula Backpacking 6
Janice Porcupine Mountains in Michigan's Upper Peninsula - August 2-7 Backpacking 15
R Newbie from Michigan! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 8
AKay09 Manistee River Loop Trail, Michigan 5/26-5/28 Backpacking 13
T Hello from Michigan Noobs: Introduce yourself! 8
G Hello from the shores of lake michigan Noobs: Introduce yourself! 6
Michael B There are more good place to backpack in Michigan than you'd think! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2

Similar threads

Back
Top