Customer Reviews

Backpacking in Michigan

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This concise, authoritative guide by seasoned travel author and backpacker Jim DuFresne offers everything you should know about backpacking Michigan's trails, footpaths, state forests and back country areas. It's an easy read, interspersed with interesting photos and tips ("when I'm 64" and "hiking with kids"), and in addition to maps to complement the text, provides info on exactly where to get the best topo/detail maps for each area. The "trails at a glance" offers a quick overview of each trail by area, including distance, number of days to hike, difficulty, nearest town and highlights along the way. It's easily-packed and a great take-with guide for any foray into Michigan's trails or back woods!

An amazing book. As an avid backpacker, this is entirely focused around exactly what I was looking for. It only details trips that have "walk-in" campsites.

If you enjoy backpacking and live in Michigan (upper peninsula or lower), it is an absolute must have.

DuFresne knows Michigan and thoroughly covers all the best trails- Upper Penninsula as well as the Lower. The guide is detailed and informative with topo maps of all the trails as well as access points, difficulty, hiking time and mileage break-downs along every trail.
Though certainly geared towards backpackers, he also includes info., when possible, for family outings and day hike options. I really like how he breaks down all the trails extensively.
If you're planning on hiking or backpacking in Michigan, get this book. This is the 3rd book of his I've bought and I'd buy anything the guy has to sell- great book.

Last summer, we went from southern Michigan up to Isle Royale. The island portion was planned, but, we 'winged it' for the rest of the trip. This book was invaluable for the spontaneos portions of the trip. We'd feel like not driving anymore, check the book for some trails and/or campsites near wherever we happened to be, and we were out of the car and off on the next adventure. The descriptions, locations, and info was correct every time.

I have owned this book since it came out. I have found new places to hike in Michigan that I never knew about. I heard Jim Speak at SOLAR last year about his top ten places to hike in Michigan and I would agree with all of them. If you have never hiked Michigan, or are looking for new places to hike, get this book. One of the jewels that I found is the Schoolhouse in White Cloud along the NCT. Great place to stay for a night or two.

Thus far, I have yet to try out some of the interesting hikes as described by Jim. Those places I've explored that he has written about are accurate. I can't wait to try the hikes that are closer to home than I realized. I like that they are graded by level so I can trek on my own on the more difficult ones, leaving the easier jaunts to explore with my husband - which will keep him open to trying more. :) I like the style of writing, too. I wish I could have written a similar book documenting my own travels...

This book is a great resource. I really like the way the trails are broken down (by location, mileage, length in days, difficulty, etc.)and the descriptions are fantastic.