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Michigan

Original Post
Ben Ambrose · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 0

Hey everyone,
Going to be spending the summer in Michigan this year with plenty of time to do some climbing. Looking for partners as well as some good info. I'm thinking of heading up to Pictured Rocks for a weekend, anyone climb up there? I could use all the info you got. I do TR and Trad.

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

There is no rock climbing in Pictured rocks. It is illegal and also, the rock is complete garbage, like absolute crap all along sand point road.

Check out the route database for the Marquette area, or contact Downwind sports in MQT for the only guidebook to the region.

pat a · · ann arbor, mi · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 0

Where in Michigan?

Bear in mind that if you're in the Detroit metro area, it takes longer to drive to Marquette than to Slade, KY or Fayetteville, WV. :)

Ben Ambrose · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 0

I'll be in Muskegon. I'm looking for some fairly secluded areas to do some backpacking and climbing. Any suggestions then?

pat a · · ann arbor, mi · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 0

Definitely take advantage of the water and sand. West Michigan has some of the best lazy beach-y beer-y summer/fall living on earth.

For camping and hiking check out Huron-Manistee National Forest. You can camp right on the beach in Nordhouse Dunes and the hike in is ridiculously short (a mile or two). On busy weekends you'll have other campers within a couple hundred feet on either side, but it's not awful. There are some great trails as well, and dispersed camping in the forest if you want to stay off the beach and somewhere more secluded.

If you have time to make it up to the Porcupine Mountains, do it. Not a lot of climbing in the UP, but it's spectacularly rugged, beautiful country.

Bill Thompson · · Marquette, MI · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 245
Silver Mountain

Gotta disagree....loads of rock climbing in the U.P. and no crowds! Backpack in Pictured Rocks then head west. Marquette to the Keweenaw has both trad and sport areas.
James Schroeder · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined May 2002 · Points: 3,166

From Muskegon you're closest "real" rock climbing is Devil's Lake. Although Marquette and The Red are only an hour or two farther. Of course, you're only a couple of hours from Grand Ledge, which gets mixed reviews.

Ben Ambrose · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 0

I'll probably be hitting up Grand Ledge and plan a big backpacking/climbing trip to Marquette. Thanks for all the info guys. If anyone wants to do some Alpine climbing but us up at swarnerexpeditions.com

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

Also, drive to Lions Head in Canada. Limestone sport.

Seth Webster · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 5

Welcome to Michigan! Hopefully you enjoy other outdoor activities besides climbing. There is great water everywhere and pretty good hiking too. The Manistee Trail is close and very enjoyable. As for Grand Ledge, I went there once. Just once. For outdoor climbing, the RRG has been the best option for me. But you are probably a little close to Devil's Lake and that place is very awesome too. (*Waves to the DL people*)

Matt Nottingham · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 5

I grew up close to Muskegon. I second the Porcupines for nice hiking/backpacking. Look out for the biting ladybugs! (Seriously). If you have enough time check out Isle Royale National Park on Lake Superior. Fantastic backpacking destination. We didn't see the moose or wolves, but they are there. Saw fresh wolf tracks on a sandy beach one morning. Some of the bolts I saw at Grand Ledge looked sketch. Not so much the bolts themselves but their placement in rocks that appeared held together with mortar. Hoffmaster State Park is a nice place to visit. Close to you and right on Lake Michigan.

alpinejason · · Minneapolis · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 176
Cracker wrote:If you have enough time check out Isle Royale National Park on Lake Superior. Fantastic backpacking destination. We didn't see the moose or wolves, but they are there. Saw fresh wolf tracks on a sandy beach one morning.
True this is a beautiful place but the wolves are all but extinct, only 2 remain.
Ben Ambrose · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 0

I've spent the last few years hiking/backpacking in Colorado and Virginia. Unless Michigan grew done mountains with some sweet views I'm pretty sure there backpacking will be kinda a let down. But I'm getting my fix by climbing Elbrus in June. I am looking forward to some good camping though, maybe get into some paddle sports a bit.

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

No mountains, just sweet views while out(all in the UP as I know little of downstate);

-PRNL (during the week, can be busy in the summer weekends), Miners beach to Spray falls.
-Porkies, Lake of the clouds to the Presque Isle river.
-Isle Royal, Greenstone trail with a side trip to rainbow bay.
-or for a real adventure, go Xcountry from the mouth of the Huron river to Big Bay....

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Midwest
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