Distance: 80 total miles
Trail Type: Cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing
Terrain: Rolling hardwood forests, meadows, low-lying wetlands
Difficulty: Moderate
Nearest City or Town: Vanderbilt, MI
Distance: 80 total miles
Trail Type: Cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing
Terrain: Rolling hardwood forests, meadows, low-lying wetlands
Difficulty: Moderate
Nearest City or Town: Vanderbilt, MI
The High Country Pathway is one of the most unique and longest hiking and mountain biking trails in the state. The 80-mile loop trail system passes through habitats ranging from rolling hardwood forests to cedar swamps, and is the home to one of the largest free-roaming elk herds east of the Mississippi. Outside of hiking and mountain biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing is available in the winter. There are nine state forest campgrounds along the pathway for trail users to spend the night or to access to the trail from. The trail can also be accessed at the Pigeon River Country State Forest Headquarters, found on Twin Lakes Road in Vanderbilt.
Although the trail is on state land, managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the trail has an active volunteer group who manages trail maintenance. See what they are up to on Facebook.