Hikes 2008 Galleries

Timm's Hill, WI (12-24-08) : Christmas Eve on Wisconsin's highest point. A quick stop along a holiday trip south we decided to check another highpoint off our list. Located west of the small town of Tomahawk the day was a snowy one, 3-6 inches had fallen overnight. The 2 mile round-trip hike to the summit was a pleasant walk through the snowy Northwoods and a wonderful way to spend the afternoon before Christmas...

Timm's Hill, WI (12-24-08)

Christmas Eve on Wisconsin's highest point. A quick stop along a holi ...

Updated: Feb 19, 2009 9:12am PST

Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway, MI (12-11-08) : A series of early snowstorms had left us with a snowpack of nearly 2-feet! With many of the streams still not frozen at this early date I decided to go explore the trails near the Lower Peninsula's only named waterfall. Ocqueoc Falls is located just east of Onaway in Presque Isle County. There are 6 or so miles of trails running downstream from the falls. I had forgotten, however, how taxing breaking trail through two feet of snow can be and made a 4-mile loop instead...

Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway, MI (12-11-08)

A series of early snowstorms had left us with a snowpack of nearly 2-f ...

Updated: Feb 12, 2009 9:51am PST

Maybury State Park, MI (12-7-08) : Maybury State Park sits in the northwest corner of Michigan's most populous county, Wayne County. There is no camping within the park, just a network of some 12-miles of trails. We stopped by the park so I could check off another county highpoint. Due to the fact that it was barely 20-degrees and windy we didn't spend much time exploring but we did spend the good part of an hour exploring...

Maybury State Park, MI (12-7-08)

Maybury State Park sits in the northwest corner of Michigan's most pop ...

Updated: Dec 08, 2008 7:06pm PST

Warner Creek Pathway, MI (11-9-08) : Warner Creek Pathway sits about midway between the towns of East Jordan & Gaylord in the highlands of northern Lower Michigan. The North Country Trail passes through the pathway on its way south into the beautiful Jordan River Valley. As often happens at this time of the year snow was beginning to fall quite heavily in these slightly higher elevations. I decided it would be a good day to first hike this 3-mile loop and enjoy one of the first snows of the season...

Warner Creek Pathway, MI (11-9-08)

Warner Creek Pathway sits about midway between the towns of East Jorda ...

Updated: Feb 19, 2009 9:15am PST

Starved Rock State Park, IL (10-21-08) : A quick stop with the fam at one of Illinois coolest outdoor attractions, or so I had heard. Located near LaSalle along the Illinois River, Starved Rock State Park contains cliffs, canyons, overlooks, waterfalls, and due to it being October some nice fall colors. The park lived up to all the hype. We spent an amazing afternoon hiking about 5 miles of trails in the central portion of the park visiting many overlooks and canyons. As it turns out though we still have some two-thirds of the park yet to explore another day. It's definately a place we'll be back to...

Starved Rock State Park, IL (10-21-08)

A quick stop with the fam at one of Illinois coolest outdoor attractio ...

Updated: Feb 19, 2009 9:19am PST

Pickeral Lake Pathway, MI (10-9-08) : This hike I am sure I will look back on in years to come and wonder where the time has gone. The fall colors were nearing their peak in our neck of the woods and I decided to take my youngest son, Chris, out with me to enjoy them. Pickeral Lake is located in Pigeon River State Forest north east of Gaylord. The day was crisp and breezy and there was hardly a soul around as we made our way through woods blazing with color. As enjoyable as the colors were it was even more special to see the wonder on my son's face as he his own little discovery's along the 2-mile loop. The scenery and the company was priceless...

Pickeral Lake Pathway, MI (10-9-08)

This hike I am sure I will look back on in years to come and wonder wh ...

Updated: Feb 19, 2009 9:22am PST

Batchawana Mountain, Ontario (9-4-08) : Batchawana Mountain is, depending on your source, the 3rd, 4th, or 16th highest peak in Ontario. Taken from the Ojibwe word Badjiwanung meaning “water that bubbles up,” Batchawana is fairly unremarkable compared to the uncounted thousands of low, rocky peaks that make up the highlands of Algoma with two important exceptions. First is the peak’s relative proximity to an access road and second, perhaps more importantly, is the fact that it boasts a partially open summit. This provides Batchawana with outstanding views to the north, south, and west. Batchawana Mountain rises from the north shore of Batchawana Bay about 45 minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie. The mountain is covered in forest dominated by northern hardwoods which, at this latitude, are beginning to give way to the great boreal woodlands of the north. The Sugar Maple is king of the forest here with a mix of conifers, yellow birch, and ash filling in where it is absent. The vegetation is also very thick. Hiking to the summit of Batchawana requires bushwhacking through thick stands of raspberry and other low shrubs which can be disorienting as well as frustrating. What, to me, makes Batchawana so unique is the thick mat of Juniper that clings to the steep western side of the summit. Likely the result of an ancient blow down, the tenacious junipers cling tightly together against the chilly winds off nearby Lake Superior. It really is a remarkable place…

Batchawana Mountain, Ontario (9-4-08)

Batchawana Mountain is, depending on your source, the 3rd, 4th, or 16t ...

Updated: Feb 19, 2009 9:09am PST

Grand Sable Loop - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI (8-2-08) : Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a linear park. Loop hiking within the lakeshore is quite limited. The Grand Sable Loop along with the more popular Chapel Loop to the south are about the only two options for a good, long day-hike loop within the park. The loop runs around a large piece of trackless piece of real estate known as the Grand Sable Dunes. Starting at the Grand Sable Visitors Center I headed west to make the loop in a clockwise direction, returning to the same spot some 12-miles later. The main reason for the direction I chose is that it allowed me to descend rather than ascend the 500' Log Slide as well as saving the most scenic part of the trip for the end.

Grand Sable Loop - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI (8-2-08)

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a linear park. Loop hiking within ...

Updated: Feb 19, 2009 9:08am PST

Horseshoe Bay Wilderness, MI (7-28-08) : Horseshoe Bay Wilderness, located just north of St. Ignace, is a wonderful bit of overlooked Lake Huron shoreline. It is a wilderness in the loosest sense of the word as its diminutive size, just under 3800 acres, allows for a good deal of solitude but civilization is never really that far away. The area is accessed from Foley Creek National Forest Campground. A nice 2.5 mile trail leads out to the 7-miles of protected shoreline. Here I was dazzled by the array of blooming lakeshore wildflowers. I imagine earlier in the yaer it must be even more spectacular! I spent some time wandering the shore and just enjoying having the place all to myself...

Horseshoe Bay Wilderness, MI (7-28-08)

Horseshoe Bay Wilderness, located just north of St. Ignace, is a wonde ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 10:21am PST

Panorama Point, NE & Three Corners, CO/NE/WY (7-5-08) : Lucky for us the way home passed by another obscure state highpoint. Panorama Point was pretty in its own way but not worth a trip west on its own. We headed south from Pine Bluff, Wyoming across the prairie about 10 miles to the highpoint. After paying a small entry fee (its on private land) we found our way to the top of Nebraska at 5464'. At the top we read a small pamphlet informing us that we were only a couple miles from the equally exciting "Three Corners" where the states of Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming meet. We just couldn't pass that up so we went off to find it. The Three Corners monument sits in another field and is extremely hard to find. There are no signs along the road so we had to rely on our GPS to find the state lines. The effort finding it made it all the more unique when we finally got there. Together the two points combined for a very enjoyable visit...

Panorama Point, NE & Three Corners, CO/NE/WY (7-5-08)

Lucky for us the way home passed by another obscure state highpoint. ...

Updated: Aug 14, 2008 9:32pm PST

Mount Evans, CO (7-4-08) : We decided to visit Mount Evans on our last day in Colorado. As it so happened it was the Fourth of July which assured us that at no time on the mountain would we find ourselves alone. The drive up was wonderful, as could be expected. The views, flora, and fauna were as usual a wonder to behold. Unfortunately the steady stream of cars and motorcycles heading up and down the mountain really ruined the atmosphere. This was a much different experience than our climb of Mt. Elbert a few days prior. We enjoyed the views from the top but started to feel a bit guilty that we had enjoyed the mountain at the obvious expense of what the auto road was doing to it. On the way down we stopped by the Mount Goliath Natural Area, home to an ancient grove of Bristlecone Pines. Some of the trees here date back over 1,000 years! It was amazing to wander amongst that had watched a millenia of history pass beneath them. I would have to say the trees were the best part of the visit. All in all, it was still a fine way to spend our last day in the Rockies...

Mount Evans, CO (7-4-08)

We decided to visit Mount Evans on our last day in Colorado. As it so ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 10:23am PST

Arches National Park, UT (7-2-08) : Arriving in Arches National Park was like stepping out into a dream. The terrain and climate were so unlike anything we had experienced in our lives that every turn of the road was amazing to us. The day was hot so we mainly toured the park from our car but we did manage to brave the heat for a couple short hikes. I've tried to identify formations as my guidebook allows but have likely got some wrong. I hope I can just share a bit of the wonder we experinced during our first visit to the desert west and this truly remarkable piece of God's creation...

Arches National Park, UT (7-2-08)

Arriving in Arches National Park was like stepping out into a dream. ...

Updated: Jul 28, 2008 8:34am PST

Four Corners, AZ/CO/NM/UT (7-2-08) : Four Corners...what can I say? Not worth a drive across the country perhaps but being in the area we had to go. We made the half hour drive from Cortez and made it shortly before sunset. What an amazing place the southwest is at this time of the day! The drive out to the corners was beautiful and added something to the uniqueness of the place. We each did the tourist thing and stood (or, in my case, sat) in all four states at once and added two more states to our growing list of first-time state visits for our trip. A very cool little piece of roadside Americana...

Four Corners, AZ/CO/NM/UT (7-2-08)

Four Corners...what can I say? Not worth a drive across the country p ...

Updated: Jul 28, 2008 8:42am PST

Rocky Mountain National Park, CO (7-1-08) : We knew ahead of time that one day just wouldn't be enough in this, one of America's premier National Parks. We arrived early and entered the park from its quieter west side. We followed the Trail ridge Road across the park stopping as much as time allowed to take in all the beauty. We made two short hikes along the way...one short walk near the Alpine Visitors Center and another mile hike along the Tundra Communities Trail. The weather was a constant threat as dark clouds were billowing overhead already before noon. We were originally hoping to head back across the park again on our way home but thunder and lightning were seen over the higher peaks as we reached the east side at Estes Park. We decided to call it a day but were hardly disappointed, what a day it had been...

Rocky Mountain National Park, CO (7-1-08)

We knew ahead of time that one day just wouldn't be enough in this, on ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 10:27am PST

Mount Elbert, CO (6-30-08) : For me, climbing Mt. Elbert would be the realization of one of my oldest dreams...to climb a Rocky Mountain 14,000'-er. We decided on Elbert not only because it was the highest in the state (and second highest in the lower 48) but because it has a well-travelled non-technical trail to the summit. Neither my wife or I are rock climbers so this was a necessity. We decided on the popular route up the north-east ridge of Elbert. The 9-mile round trip route climbs from an elevation of about 10,000' to the 14,433' summit. Sounds straight forward enough but for a couple of flatlanders the sheer elevation would be a powerful obstacle to overcome. It promised to be a memoravle day on the trail...

Mount Elbert, CO (6-30-08)

For me, climbing Mt. Elbert would be the realization of one of my olde ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 10:29am PST

Over Independence Pass, CO (6-29-08) : After our Maroon Bells hike and a quick drive-through of Aspen we decided to make our way up CO-82 and above treeline to the 12,095' summit of Independence Pass. On the way we stopped by the ghost mining town of Independence for a glimpse into life in this area 100 years ago. I know, not really a hike, but rarely do you get this kind of diversity along the roadside...

Over Independence Pass, CO (6-29-08)

After our Maroon Bells hike and a quick drive-through of Aspen we deci ...

Updated: Jul 14, 2008 9:06am PST

The Maroon Bells, CO (6-29-08) : Located near Aspen the Maroon Bells are among the most recognizable peaks in the Rockies. The sight of their snow-capped peaks rising from the waters of Maroon and Crater Lakes is supposed to be one of the most memorable views in the Rockies. We thought, therefore, it would be a good introductory hike for us. After a 15-minute shuttle ride we began our 4 mile walk through paradise...

The Maroon Bells, CO (6-29-08)

Located near Aspen the Maroon Bells are among the most recognizable pe ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 10:30am PST

Garden of the Gods, CO (6-28-08) : Garden of the Gods, located just outside Colorado Springs, came highly recommended from most who had visited Colorado before us. The Garden is made up of a number of brilliant red rock formations towering hundreds of feet high. Numerous trails wind their way through the park but with just a few hours to visit we decided to limit ourselves to the Central Garden Trail which passes beneath some of the highest cliffs in the park. The day was dreary and the nearby Rockies we were so anxious to see remained hidden but the Garden itself did not disappoint...

Garden of the Gods, CO (6-28-08)

Garden of the Gods, located just outside Colorado Springs, came highly ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 10:31am PST

Mount Sunflower, KS (6-27-08) : As we made our way west towards the Rockies we decided to make a detour to the state highpoint of Kansas. Located about 20 miles southwest of Goodland, it is no mountain, but it does overlook a remotely beautiful section of the Kansas high plains. I truly haven't found this kind of solitude on many of the true peaks I've climbed. Rolling fields stretched out unending to the horizon and amongst the prairie grass were a number of beautiful new (to me) wildflowers...

Mount Sunflower, KS (6-27-08)

As we made our way west towards the Rockies we decided to make a detou ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 10:32am PST

Aubrey Falls, Ontario (6-16-08) : I'd been eyeing Aubrey Falls for a visit for quite some time. Trouble is its not the easiest falls to get to. Its located in a remote corner of the Algoma District almost 2 hours northeast of Sault Ste. Marie. The falls themselves are among the highest in Ontario, comparible to Niagara, at over 170' high! If you can make the time to get there the falls are accessed by a short half-mile trail that leads to a beautiful overlook of the cascade. As is often the case in the Algoma District the drive up was almost as scenic as the destination itself...ENJOY!!

Aubrey Falls, Ontario (6-16-08)

I'd been eyeing Aubrey Falls for a visit for quite some time. Trouble ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 10:33am PST

Gros Cap & Waterfalls, Algoma District, Ontario (6-1-08) : The Algoma District, a land of rocky hills and lakes north of Sault Sainte Marie, is quickly becoming one of my favorite day trip destinations. Every time I visit I leave wanting more...it is such a diverse and beautiful area. This day the family and I ravelled north to do a bit of exploring. Our first stop was at Kinsman Park in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Within the park are two beautiful waterfalls, Minnehaha & Crystal. We than wandered our way an hour north along Lake Superior to beautiful Chippewa Falls and had some fun wandering around on the rocks. From there we headed back south stopping by to hike stunning Gros Cap, a rocky headland that rises some 300' directly out of Lake Superior just 20 minutes west of the Soo. Unfortunately, the Black Flies were out in swarms so we couldn't stay and enjoy as much as we liked but the day was still wonderful...

Gros Cap & Waterfalls, Algoma District, Ontario (6-1-08)

The Algoma District, a land of rocky hills and lakes north of Sault Sa ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 10:34am PST

McCune Nature Preserve, MI (5-19-08) : This pretty little preserve is located not far from my home east of Petoskey off Maxwell Road for those familiar with the area. The preserve encompasses 168 acres of hardwood forest, meadows with scotch pine, and lowland conifer swamps. There are some 2 miles of trail that wander the property offering a look into each of these communities...

McCune Nature Preserve, MI (5-19-08)

This pretty little preserve is located not far from my home east of Pe ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 10:39am PST

Negwegon State Park, MI (5-16-08) : Negwegon State Park is something of an anomaly in the Michigan state park system. There are no RV's, swingsets, or developments of any kind. In fact, the access road off US-23 south of Alpena is not even marked!! You have to travel some 5-miles of two-track and dirt roads before you reach what facilities there are...a parking lot and a self registration kiosk. Two trail loops begin from the parking area. The Chippewa and Algonquin Trails head north and the Potawatomi, which I'd be following, heads south. The 3.5 mile Potawatomi Trail follows the lakeshore quite closely for half its length before turning inland for the return journey. Although rain was threatening the entire time, I managed to avoid a serious drenching and was treated to some nice scenery along the Lake Huron shore as well as more than a few spring wildflowers...

Negwegon State Park, MI (5-16-08)

Negwegon State Park is something of an anomaly in the Michigan state p ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 10:40am PST

Susan Creek Nature Preserve, MI (5-6-08) : Sitting right along busy US-31 between Charlevoix and Petoskey, this gem is hidden in plain sight. In the many times I've driven past it I rarely count more than one or two vehicles in the parking area, if any. Two trails combine to offer over 2 miles of hiking through a variety of habitats. After visiting, I was even more surprised this preserve doesn't attract more attention...

Susan Creek Nature Preserve, MI (5-6-08)

Sitting right along busy US-31 between Charlevoix and Petoskey, this g ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 8:33am PST

Sleepy Hollow Nature Preserve, MI (4-21-08) : Sleepy Hollow Nature Preserve is located a few miles north of East Jordan, MI and contains a mile or so of trail through some pleasant woodlands. I was out in search of more early spring wildflowers, of which I found a few. All in all, this was a pleasant hike and I'd be interested to see how well used it is in the summer as it is quite secluded...

Sleepy Hollow Nature Preserve, MI (4-21-08)

Sleepy Hollow Nature Preserve is located a few miles north of East Jor ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 8:32am PST

Oden Island Nature Preserve, MI (4-15-08) : Oden Island Nature Preserve is tucked away within a private community in the middle of Crooked Lake east of Petoskey in Emmet County, Michigan. The preserve is a precious piece of property protecting a long stretch of shoreline along one of Northern Michigan's most heavily developed lakes. Around a mile's worth of trails wander the interior of the preserve taking you from the small parking area along the shoreline and out to the eastern tip of Oden Island. A very nice and all but unknown place to stretch your legs on a sunny spring day...

Oden Island Nature Preserve, MI (4-15-08)

Oden Island Nature Preserve is tucked away within a private community ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 8:30am PST

Agnes Andrae Nature Preserve, MI (4-15-08) : Agnes Andrae Preserve is a 111 acre natural area along the Pigeon River east of the community of Indian River in Cheboygan County, Michigan. It contains a couple miles of nice trails that wander through a number of interesting natural communities. The snow was finally (almost) gone and it was a balmy 70 degrees. This nice little stretch of the legs was a nice way of kicking off the 2008 hiking season...

Agnes Andrae Nature Preserve, MI (4-15-08)

Agnes Andrae Preserve is a 111 acre natural area along the Pigeon Rive ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2009 8:28am PST

Sleeping Bear Dunes - Empire Bluff Trail, MI (4-3-08) : Eager to get out and at least pretend to have spring on Spring Break I headed out to Sleeping Bear Dunes with my family. The kids had been absolutely itching to go hiking so the 1.5 mile round trip out to Empire Bluff seemed like a good first hike of the year. Relatively balmy temps in the mid-40's made it comfortable and the blue skies made for some fantastic scenery. Here's hoping spring is on its way...

Sleeping Bear Dunes - Empire Bluff Trail, MI (4-3-08)

Eager to get out and at least pretend to have spring on Spring Break I ...

Updated: Feb 12, 2009 9:52am PST

Ocqueoc Falls, MI (3-11-08) : A quick trip over to the only named waterfall in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. I should've known it'd be frozen after all the recent cold weather but I tried to make the most of it. I'll have to come back during the snowmelt!

Ocqueoc Falls, MI (3-11-08)

A quick trip over to the only named waterfall in Michigan's Lower Peni ...

Updated: Feb 12, 2009 9:51am PST

Mill Creek State Historic Park, MI (3-2-08) : A winter afternoon exploring Old Mill Creek near Mackinaw City. In the summer costumed interpreters introduce visitors to life at the mill in the 18th and 19th Centuries. In the winter the park is closed and it looked to me like very few folks take the short walk in to enjoy the buildings at a quieter time. I also took the time to hike the 2 mile loop up around Mill Creek. The nature trail was both pretty and informative.

Mill Creek State Historic Park, MI (3-2-08)

A winter afternoon exploring Old Mill Creek near Mackinaw City. In the ...

Updated: Feb 12, 2009 9:48am PST

A Trip to Paradise, MI (2-16-08) : An afternoon up to Paradise, a small town in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Our destination was Upper Tahquamenon Falls. We ended up taking a quick (chilly) sidetrip out to Whitefish Point Lighthouse on the way. The kids had a blast snowshoeing and the scenery was amazing...

A Trip to Paradise, MI (2-16-08)

An afternoon up to Paradise, a small town in the eastern Upper Peninsu ...

Updated: Mar 29, 2008 1:05pm PST

Oden State Fish Hatchery, MI (2-7-08) : A recent trip I made to the Oden State Fish Hatchery north of Petoskey. One of six state hatcheries the Oden facility specializes in Rainbow and Brown Trout, producing around 1 million per year!

Oden State Fish Hatchery, MI (2-7-08)

A recent trip I made to the Oden State Fish Hatchery north of Petoskey ...

Updated: Feb 12, 2009 9:47am PST

Fisherman's Island State Park, MI (1-30-08) : The other morning I awoke to Northern Michigan in rare and spectacular form. The temp outside was a nippy -5'F and the wind was blowing above 40mph giving a windchill somewhere in the -30 range. Classes were cancelled so, naturally, I decided it would be a nice day to go out for a hike!

Fisherman's Island State Park, MI (1-30-08)

The other morning I awoke to Northern Michigan in rare and spectacular ...

Updated: Feb 12, 2009 9:46am PST

Sinkholes Pathway, MI (1-5-08) : Located in SW Presque Isle County, the Sinkholes Pathway is a 2-mile loop around some very impressive sinkholes. I was unprepared for how immense they would be. Also, after a solid 5 days of snow the woods had been transformed into a true winter wonderland...

Sinkholes Pathway, MI (1-5-08)

Located in SW Presque Isle County, the Sinkholes Pathway is a 2-mile l ...

Updated: Feb 12, 2009 9:45am PST