Michigan GGG (or just a plain old backpacking trip)

That sounds like it would work, I've not done the trail that particular way before.
I have done it several times clockwise and counter-clockwise, but always from the south side of the loop. Each of those ways works well too. If you do the west side first, you just have to carry enough water till you get to Eddington Creek (maybe about 8 miles), then after that, water is usually plentiful.

Sounds good Nathan,

I have often parked at Seaton Creek campground, it does add a few more miles on to the loop though.

Camping on the NCT side (west) is wild, but less water and less people.
But the view is not as good. FS side (east) more water, better, view, but fixed sites.
It really doesn't matter to me, all hike is good hike.

Hi Tim,

An out and back on the Manistee Trail is definitley more scenic.

Lets see what the collective thinks.

Very new here and not sure how this works, I don't want to invite myself if this isn't that kind of event. However, if you will take a stranger and you have room for one more this sounds great. My cabin is just down the road at Caberfae and I was already planning to head up there.

Hi Kyle,

You are welcome to come along, the more the merrier :-)

I am unfortunately not going to be able to get up there for the weekend. I broke my ankle last month and I'm not going to be going for any walks just yet. Sniff, sniff….

But my favorite way to do the loop is to stay at the red bridge campsites right by the highway on Friday night, hike north along the NCT Saturday and camp about a third of the way back down the MRT side. Then hike back to the cars Sunday. I think I'm one of the few people who actually really like the NCT side. The MRT side is soooo crowded these days and I really like the terrain of the NCT side…no need to do an out and back.

So if I were going that would be my vote ;)

Have fun guys….I'll be sad…….

Hi Jen,

That's a shame you cannot come along. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

Hopefully we will meetup later in the year.

Id be interested. I really don't have my gear anymore but I might be able to put together something. I could at least do a long day hike(I've hiked the loop in a day two times before. Makes for an exhausting day). If anyone else wanted to do half the loop we could car pool. Sounds easier to me.

Hi Andy,

It would be great to have you along, are you short much gear?

I need a lot of gear actually. Ive been offered some gear to borrow(got to love the people on this forum). Ill keep you updated and will see what I can come up with.

Thats great Andy, hope you make it.

I enjoy doing it exactly the same way as Jennifer: head up the NCT, cross over, go down a bit on the MRT and camp on one of those terrific campsites on the bluffs Saturday night. Down the rest of the MRT on Sunday.
NCT from the south starts with a big climb to get you in the mood. Then teases you with view-less vistas. Really makes you earn those great river views around the bend. Love it!

A big climb in lower Michigan is something I do not often see.

Damn you Peter, you just made me home sick for Irish Mountains :-)

@Jennifer, Oh no! I broke my ankle last March. I feel your pain!

I usually camp at the Seton Creek campground and drive to the Red Bridge in the morning. Not sure why I've never camped at the Bridge, though. I park in the NF parking lot on the NCT side.

The NCT is a bit of a slog but I usually do the loop anyway, and camp one night on the MRT, pretty much how Jennifer described it.

By the way the weather is now we could be on snow shoes by then :-)
I still getting down to 0F some nights here in central Michigan.

It seems I am the only one who doesn't think of the NCT side as a slog! No, it doesn't have the vistas that the MRT side has, but I really like the trail. I like the area around Eddington Creek (there is a very cool super secret campsite on the opposite side of the little "canyon" (not sure what else to call it) just as you approach the creek crossing. It has access to the creek and is tucked away in the pine trees.

I have never done the full circuit so cannot comment :-)

Ooooh, gonna have to look for that one! Eddington Creek is nice. Found a bunch of watercress growing there on a May hike. Yummy.

+1 on NCT side. It is a nice walk since the sides are so different.

Tim,

You have to come :-)

Hi all,

Another trip closer to home came up, and I'm going to do that instead.

Hi Andy,

Thanks for letting me know.

Have a great trip.

Stephen

Not long to go :-)

Night time temps of 18F the next few days in the area.

There has been enough snow melt the past week that snow shoes will probably not be required but micro spikes
And poles would be handy to have.

NOAA snow depth chart shows 0" for the region as of today. The ten day forecast (Mesick) indicates after this Tuesday, highs generally around 50-55 lows mid 30's till 4-22. The Manistee river is at flood stage right now but should drop considerably since the snow is out.

I'm thinking lots of dry socks. :)