JAYMIE DEPEW

As hundreds of thousands of people flock to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to relish in the natural sights every year – with over a million the last two, respectively – the Hiawatha National Forest offers miles of unmatched hiking areas for those interested in exploring paths less traveled.

While the national forest spreads across six Upper Peninsula counties, here are several recreational trails located in Alger County:

Au Train Songbird Trail

This easy two-mile interpretive hiking loop next to Au Train Lake Campground offers a unique wildlife watching opportunity.

Take the first campground loop to the right and you will find the trailhead near campsite #11.

The trail winds through forest and field, along bog and lakeshore, and includes an observation platform.

Bay De Noc Grand Island National

Recreational Trail

This trail follows an ancient Native American portage route used to carry canoes and supplies between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.

The trail begins at Ackerman Lake off M-94, extending to just east of Rapid River and one mile north of U.S. Highway 2.

Bay Furnace

Historic Site and Interpretive Trail

A short 1/8-mile accessible trail at Bay Furnace Campground in the town of Christmas encircles the recently-stabilized ruins of a blast furnace where pig iron was made between 1870 and 1877.

One of the last remaining structures of its kind in the U.P., it is also a good place to view Lake Superior and Grand Island.

Bruno’s Run

This trail offers a 9-mile loop, wrapping around inland lakes and vast forest. Located about 11 miles south of M-28, Bruno’s Run Trail may be reached from the north or the south via Forest Highway 13. The trail may be accessed from both Widewaters and Pete’s Lake campgrounds as well as from Forest Highway 13 at Moccasin Lake and Forest Road 2173 at Grassy Lake.

*Descriptions were edited from the HNF’s website

Editors note: Jaymie Depew, communications and special project assistant, Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development, Munising Downtown Development Authority and Munising Visitors Bureau