Grand Island Michigan Hiking: Routes & Tips
Interested in Grand Island Michigan hiking? You’re in the right place.
Grand Island is a large island in Lake Superior, known for its inland lakes with sandy beaches and clear water, and of course – its hiking. Grand Island is a fantastic place to hike because of its 13,500 acres of National Forest land, and views of the lake and surrounding forest from 300 ft tall cliffs.
As a Michigan resident, I’ve been fortunate to spend time on Grand Island and enjoy the hikes there. One thing you don’t realize until you visit Grand Island for yourself is that many of the hikes are unnamed, and it can be difficult to find the information on them without visiting for yourself.
But, that’s what I’m here for. I’ve put together all the information you need to know on all the different trails that you can hike on Grand Island, so that you can be prepared for the hikes you want to do on Grand Island.
Some Grand Island hikes are short and sweet, while others are longer and more strenuous.
Regardless of what kind of hike you’re looking for, there are a few different hikes for different ability levels and interests on Grand Island.
So, let’s look at the best hikes on Grand Island and everything you need to know about them.
Best Grand Island Michigan Hiking Trails
Here are the best hikes on Grand Island, and everything you need to know about each of them
1. The Grand Island Loop
DISTANCE: 20.5 miles (33 km)| TIME: 7 hours | DIFFICULTY: Hard
The Grand Island Loop is the main hiking trail on Grand Island and is rated as one of
Michigan’s top 10 mountain biking trails. You will see both hikers and mountain bikers
on this popular path, and the views are spectacular.
The nice thing about the Grand Island Loop is that you don’t have to do it in one day;
most hikers do the full course of it over several days.
Many hikers on Grand Island take 2-3 days to hike the entire Grand Island Loop, staying
at different campsites along the way, or the same campsite every night.
The Grand Island Loop is a mostly dirt path that is very well maintained. You’ll pass
many beaches, lakeside cliffs, camping areas and well-shaded forestry areas.
There are many great views; one of the prettiest lookouts is from the southeastern part
of the trail where you can see even the scenic shoreline of Pictured Rocks National
Lakeshore on Michigan’s mainland.
Good to Know: The Grand Island Loop is by far, the most well-known and popular trail for both hiking and biking on Grand Island. There are a few smaller trails; two of which are hikers-only and others for both hiking and biking which we’ll get into below.
2. The Thumb Trail
DISTANCE: 2 miles (3.2 km) | TIME: 1 hour | DIFFICULTY: Easy
The Thumb Trail on Grand Island is a relaxing out-and-back trail located inland on the
southeast tip of Grand Island (that looks like a thumb.) It takes you to Wick Point, which
is a cliffside lookout on the southern tip of the island.
The Thumb Trail has been designated as a hiking-only trail, which means it is
completely free of mountain bikes. It takes about an hour to complete.
Pro Tip: There are washroom facilities at the opposite end of the island from Wick Trail, which you can use before or after your hike.
3. Grand Island Hike Only East Trail
DISTANCE: 4 miles (6.4 km) | TIME: 1.5 hours | DIFFICULTY: Medium
This unnamed, 4-mile trail is a dirt path located inland in the northeast part of the island.
It runs from the Shelter’s Ridge Campsite in the north to the east part of the Grand
Island Loop trail.
The trail is mostly shaded with mature trees, and there is lots of wildlife.
Besides the Thumb Trail, it is the only other trail on Grand Island that has been
designated for hikers only. Depending on your walking pace, it can take from 90 minutes
to 2 hours to complete.
4. Duck Lake Road
DISTANCE: 2.5 miles (4.1 km)| TIME: 1 hour | DIFFICULTY: Medium
Duck Lake Road is located in the south part of Grand Island. On Duck Lake Road, you pass
Lake Superior to the south from which you can see mainland Michigan, and Duck Lake to the north.
This trail can be done in either direction, and it is very popular with mountain bikers, so you will need to look out for them while on the path.
5. Center Road # 1
DISTANCE: 8 miles (13 km) | TIME: 2-3 hours | DIFFICULTY: Medium
Center Road is a dirt gravel road with two different parts – an 8-mile, and an option 2.2-mile path that splits off from it.
The full 8-mile main Center Road connects the southern tip of Grand Island to the northeast.
There are also a couple of optional turn-offs on different (short) trails along the way.
It takes an average of 2.5 hours to complete the 8-mile Center Road on foot. The trail is mostly in-land and shaded with trees but you will pass Echo Lake.
Center Road is very popular for mountain biking, so you’re likely to see people on mountain bikers on the trail.
6. Center Road # 2
DISTANCE: 2 miles (3.6 km)| TIME: 11 minutes |DIFFICULTY: Easy
This short trail splits off from the main Center Road and brings you to the north part of the island instead of the west rim. You can use it to access the main Center Road trail or the main Grand Island Loop on the north side.
This small section of Center Road is a gravel road that both hikers and bikers use.
7. East Lighthouse Point
DISTANCE: 4 miles (6.5 km) | TIME: 1.5 hours | DIFFICULTY: Medium
Lighthouse Point is a 4-mile trail that splits off from Duck Lake Road, and the Grand
Island Loop.
It takes you on a forestry walk of the ‘thumb’ area of Grand Island.
Lighthouse Point is very close to the Thumb Trail which is designated for hiking only, so
if you’re hiking, I would choose to do the Thumb Trail instead of this one.
8. Echo Lake Road
DISTANCE: 0.4 miles (0.7 km)| TIME: | DIFFICULTY: Easy
Echo Lake Road is a short, easygoing dirt path located inland on Grand Island. It
passes by Echo Lake.
The only way to access Echo Lake Road is from the Grand Island Loop, or from the
Center Road trail. It acts as a road in between the two trails and can be done as an option add-on trail to either of those hikes.
Echo Lake Road is popular for mountain bikes, so you may see some along this
single-lane path.
Read more | 15 Hiawatha National Forest Best Hikes
Grand Island Michigan Hiking Packing List
Here are the things you will need for hiking on Grand Island Michigan. These will help you get the most out of your hike and have the best experience.
Bug Spray
Buy spray and other insect repellants (such as bracelets and stickers) are a must while hiking on Grand Island Michigan.
Black flies and mosquitos are very common during the summer months on the island, so you’ll need these repellants to keep them at bay.
After Bite Solution
Even with loose-fitting clothing and bug spray, it would be hard to escape Grand Island without being bitten at all during your hike. Bring some after-bite with you to soothe the itches and pains of bug bites so you can sleep more easily.
Reusable water bottle
There are limited shops and services on Grand Island, so it will be important that you have your own water bottle that you can refill during your hikes.
A Bike
Grand Island is a deceptively large island, and things are spread out; having a bike to get
around between different hiking trails, beaches and landmarks can be helpful.
You can also use your bike on most hiking trails, except for the two that are labelled as hiking only.
Mini First Aid Kit
It’s helpful to have a lightweight, mini first aid kit on you as you hike or venture around Grand Island. This can help with minor injuries such as scrapes and cuts, or make a difference in the (unlikely) event of an emergency situation.
Swimsuits
There are many beaches that you’ll pass along the main Grand Island Loop. They offer great settings to take a refreshing dip in Lake Superior, so you’ll want to bring your swimsuit in order to take advantage.
Loose-fitted Clothing
Wearing loose-fitted pants and shirts makes it harder for bugs to bite you. I would highly
recommend this, in addition to wearing a bug repellant.
Sunscreen
Since hiking and most of the activities on Grand Island are centered around the outdoors, you’ll be outside a lot. Be sure to protect your skin with a good SPF.
Camera
Don’t forget your camera (and smile) to capture your memories of hiking Grand Island!
5 Grand Island Michigan Hiking Tips
Here are five most important tips to help make your hiking adventure to Grand Island a success.
Tip # 1: Make sure to carry a minimum of 2-3 litres of water with you during your hikes on
Grand Island. There aren’t a lot of services on the island, and the water-filling stations can be far spread out. Bring one big 2 L reusable water bottle or 2-3 smaller ones.
Tip # 2: There are lots of places to rent bikes on the island – if you aren’t bringing your own bike, you can rent one on Grand Island for only $30/day.
Tip # 3: If you want to go for a swim during the Grand Island Loop hike, our
recommendations are Waterfall Beach and Mather Beach on the west side of the island, North Light Beach at the north end and Trout Bay Beach on the east side.
Tip # 4: Peak bug season on Grand Island lasts from mid-May to mid-July, however, it
can vary from day to day based on the weather. Carry lots of repellant on you, as the bugs can get pretty bad on Grand Island
Tip # 5: There are no stores on Grand Island, so be sure to bring whatever supplies you
need for hiking and camping with you from mainland Michigan
Tip # 6: Wear bright-colored clothing on Grand Island hikes. Many of the trails are popular for mountain biking, so wearing something brightly colored like red or yellow allows bikers to spot you easily from a distance. It also comes in handy should you happen to get lost or separated from your hiking buddy.
Grand Island Michigan Hiking: FAQs
Here are the most commonly asked questions about hiking in Wisconsin Dells.
Yes, you can swim in Grand Island Michigan. There are a number of beautiful beaches
where you can enjoy the crystal clear water of Lake Superior. One of the best beaches
is North Light Beach in the northern part of the island.
Michigan is a spectacular place to go hiking because of its incredible natural beauty. On Grand Island, you can find forest dirt roads, inland lakes, waterfalls, spectacular
lakeside cliffs, and the crystal-clear water of Lake Superior from the shoreline.
The best hike in Grand Island is undoubtedly the Grand Island Loop. Although it’s a total of 20 miles long, you don’t have to do all of it at once. You hike several miles each day, completing the whole trail over a few days.
Yes, you can absolutely hike on Grand Island. Grand Island has a scenic main loop that
takes you around the circumference of the island, giving you incredible views of cliffs
and Lake Superior. There are also a handful of hikes and trails located inland on Grand
Island.
Final Thoughts: Grand Island Michigan Hiking
I hope that this post has laid out for you your hiking options and helped you plan for Grand
Island Michigan hiking. You can hike most of the island in a long weekend if you are doing
around 3-5 miles per day. In addition to helping you enjoy some of the most gorgeous
sites in Northern Michigan, your hiking trip on Grand Island will be an adventure you’ll
remember for years to come.
Some preparedness is needed to deal with the bugs, weather and lack of water supply.
But as long as you follow the advice above, you will be set up to have an amazing and
memorable trip hiking on Grand Island.
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