Hiking Trails & Parks in Michigan
20,738 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 284 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across Michigan. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in Michigan
Michigan has 20,738 mapped hiking trails and 284 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 152 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 152 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in Michigan
A spatially-sampled view of 611 trail and park locations across Michigan’s counties.
Michigan Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 152 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in Michigan
Parks & Campgrounds in Michigan
Longest Trails in Michigan
Curated Guides for Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in Michigan?
Yes — we have 20,738 mapped hiking and walking trails in Michigan, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in Michigan?
Canadian Shield Trail near Grand Marais is rated hard — the toughest classification among Michigan's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in Michigan for families?
Border Route Trail near Grand Marais is one of the best family picks in Michigan — easy difficulty and 0.1 miles round trip, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for Michigan?
Each of the 20,738 trails in Michigan has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in Michigan?
Michigan has 284 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (33 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in Michigan?
Yes — 53 of Michigan's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is PLATTE RIVER CAMPGROUND with 179 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for Michigan
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in Michigan, Ranked
Michigan's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Joshua EarleMichigan's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten Michigan trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in Michigan
Ten gentle, well-marked Michigan trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Holly MandarichThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in Michigan
Michigan's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in Michigan
Federal parks and recreation areas in Michigan ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Tobias MrzykBest Waterfall Hikes in Michigan: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
Michigan's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.