Best Summer Michigan Adventure Spots

Do you live for summers in Michigan? We do! Camping, hiking and exploring is all part of the adventure we call life.

We've outlined 5 of our favorite camping destinations, nearby hikes and the best places to grab a cold beer afterwards. Tag along for the adventure!

1. Alpena, MI Where to camp: Ossieneke State Forest Campground Where to hike: Lumberman's Monument Where to eat/drink: Austin Brother's Beer Company

Ossieneke is first come, first serve with only rustic spots available. This quiet campground sits right on the shores of Lake Huron with sandy beaches! If you're lucky you can catch a great sunrise over the lake too!

Lumberman's Monument was a bit south of the campground, but worth the drive. The landscape was a mixture of old growth forest, sand dunes and, at points, you were privileged to stunning views of the Ausable River.

Back up near camp is Austin Brothers Beer Co. While we personally weren't blown away by the beer, it's a great place to kick back, relax and enjoy a solid meal with a cold adult beverage.

2. Greater Ludington, MI

Where to camp: Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area or Lake Michigan Recreation Area Where to hike: Ludington State Park or Nordhouse Dunes Where to eat/drink: Stix or North Channel Brewing Co.

This is one of our favorite areas to camp! We've camped in both first come first serve sites, but have also ventured out and done some dispersed camping. Here is a great video from a Michigan-based photographer we follow on the in's-and-out's of dispersed camping in Michigan. Depending on where you end up, you won't be far from a trail head or you can just explore the open woods around your dispersed site.

If you're closer to Ludington, check out Stix. This place is newly updated, but boast a solid beer selection, delicious grub, but more importantly entertainment - they have a bowling alley, an outdoor beer garden and feature live music in the summer. You can also head north to Manistee where you'll find North Channel Brewing Co.

3. Traverse City, MI

Where to camp: Traverse City State Park Where to hike: Glen Arbor, MI Where to eat/drink: Ethanology Distillery, Farm Club, HopLot & more

Now we will note, camping in Traverse City (TC) isn't the best, but this is more of a city-based trip versus a nature adventure. Traverse City State Park is right in downtown, so it can be loud, but there are bike paths that make the entire city accessible! You're also right across from Lake Michigan.

We love hiking a bit west of TC in Glen Arbor, MI - home of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. A plethora of hikes surround this little up north gem. Be sure to check out Alligator Hill, Pyramid Point and more! Also don't forget to venture into both peninsulas back near TC - Leelanau and Old Mission - as there are plenty of winers, breweries, views and additional hikes along the way! To call out a few specific favorites - Ethanology is in Elk Rapids (near Shorts Brewing!) and they've created not only a beautiful tasting room experience and creative, locally-sourced cocktails but are home to the state's only head female distiller. FarmClub is, as the owners state, a gathering place to celebrate land, honest food and community. It's a can't miss! HopLot Brewing, and their beautiful, forested beer garden, is also worthy of a visit! We could go on and on...

4. Upper Peninsula, MI

Where to camp: Superior Times or dispersed Where to hike: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Where to eat/drink: Blackrocks Brewing or Ore Docks Brewing

While there are plenty of more remote camping options, and endless dispersed camping, Superior Times was discovered in a pinch and turned out to be great! While they have cabins, they also offer rustic spots which worked out perfectly. Centrally located between Munising and Marquette, camping here allowed easy access to both cities, and was also only a short drive to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We did a long day hike - between 7-9 miles - which was absolutely worth it! The views are spectacular and don't be afraid to take a dip in Lake Superior...it's not that cold. Here is a comprehensive list of hikes in the area.

And after the hike you can head into town for a refreshing beer! Blackrocks Brewing and Ore Docks Brewing are both located in downtown Marquette. Being only a 2 minute drive or 9 min walk apart, we recommend hitting both. Cheers!

Up next on the UP list is exploring the Porcupine Mountains!

5. West Branch, MI

Where to camp: Ambrose Lake or Rifle River Recreation Area (Spruce Campground) Where to hike: plenty of trails around the camp sites Where to eat/drink: The Highway Brewing Company

The middle of Michigan is packed with a few surprises!

There is a nice hidden gem within the Rifle River Recreation Area called the Spruce Campground. It sit right on the river, is rustic, quiet and the site are spacious.

Being a bit harder to access, Ambrose is rustic, a bit more secluded but totally worth it. It sits on a nice inland lake, with depending on the time of year, great sunset views. We also caught a few sizable bass. Aside from the ORV Trails (be careful if you're exploring those) there is plenty of land to explore.

The Highway Brewing Co. is in West Branch proper, so it will have to be a set destination. The beer is solid, the service was great and other patrons sparked up conversation.

Well that should be plenty to keep you busy this summer! Wherever your adventures lead you, be safe and enjoy the beauty that is #PureMichigan. ____________________ #camping #beer #craftbeer #michiganbreweries #hikinginmichigan #campinginmichigan #upnorth #michigansummers #exploremichigan #optoutside #M22 #puremichigan #aplena #ludington #traversecity #westbranch #hiking #michigan

Spring Is In the Air: Camping Season

Can you smell it in the air? The scent of spring is fighting its way back into our lives. That means it’s time to plan your summer hiking and camping excursions. Are you a day hiker? A weekend adventurer? Or a PCT-type warrior? Car camper? Backpacker?

Whatever your fancy, there is an outdoor adventure for you out there.

First off, it's a great time of year to upgrade or buy new outdoor gear. You'll find clearance deals on winter apparel, but historically, spring brings sales on rain gear, backpacks and activity-specific gear like cycling or climbing.

It's also a great time to grab a new axe or hatchet. Whether you're a vet or a first timer, having a sharp blade around can serve many purposes. The 'Up North' was designed and inspired by our camping adventure.

We also now carry larger axes. If you have wood to chop or trees that need to come down we have the tool for you.

Historically I have mostly been a car camper. The car is usually within a mile max allowing easy access to food and gear. This year the goal is to try a 2-3 day back packing adventure - eyeing the Manistee River Loop Trail.

If that goes well, our sites are set on our big camping trip of 2021 to be on an island - whether that be Isle Royale, Beaver Island, the Manitou’s or Grand Island.

Isle Royale, located in the northwestern part of Lake Superior, is one of the least visited National Parks visited by roughly 20-25K people each year. The park, only open 6 months out of the year from April 16 until October 31, is difficult to travel to given its remote location. Accessible by ferry or seaplane, it offers a chance to see more moose than people.

Beaver Island, located less than 30 miles west of Charlevoix, is the largest island in lake Michigan. With most of the population living in the northern portion of the island in St. James Township, the settled regions still only account for only 6 percent of Beaver's total land area. To us, this says there is plenty of area to enjoy and explore.

The North and South Manitou Islands have been on our list for years. With a daily ferry leaving from Leland, you better stock up on supplies as there are no shops upon arrival. This is truly a rustic getaway where your daily distractions disappear. Keep in mind you do need a pass for camping and no campfires are allowed on the island.

Visited year-round by outdoor enthusiasts, Grand Island sits just north of Munising in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In the summer you’ll find hikers, camper and cabin goers, while the winter months bring ice climbers and sled dogs.

Whether you have ambitious goals or are aiming to start with a day hike at a local state park, we hope you get outside. See you on the trails! We will for sure be taking an axe or 3 with us.

Looking for a few suggestions in you area? Maybe hikes that are near breweries? Check out this great article from BioLite - they’ve put together a list of 15 hikes near delicious breweries. Another, way more accessible, Michigan hike we plan to check out is the Grass River Nature Area near the amazing Short’s Brewing Co.

Where are you headed? Let us know in the comments. And remember, just get outside and enjoy the natural world around you. Studies* do show that being outside with a Motor City Axe hatchet in hand increases your likelihood to live longer.

Don't forget that wedding season is around the corner. With all the 2020 cancelations the calendar is filling up quickly. It's not to late to grab custom axes or hatchets as groomsmen gifts. We previously covered the uniqueness and usefulness of such a gift Here.

* disclaimer - this is true, but not backed by real medical professionals or science.

#camping #optoutside #explore #hiking #backpacking #axes #hatchets #axejunkies #outdooradventure #puremichigan

The National Parks Need our Help

Unless you’re living under a rock, the likelihood that you’ve heard about the government shutdown is very high. Now we won’t go into the political nature of the shutdown, but we’d like to call attention to our National Parks.

From Yellowstone to Acadia, Yosemite to Zion, and all the parks in between, these national treasures are some of the most beautiful places our country has to offer. Per the National Parks Services website, their mission is to preserve unimpaired natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. With over 330 million annual visitors and close to 25,000 employees, the parks are something we at Motor City Axe, along with millions of others cherish.

Since the government shutdown began on December 12th, 2018, these parks have remained opened. Why? Well it appears no one knows why, or who is responsible for keeping them open. The parks are still available for the public to enjoy and frankly, for the public to destroy. Down to the roughly 3,000 employees not granted furlough, this 87% cut has left many of the typical day-to-day park services at a standstill. This includes no visitor center services, no trash collection, closed restrooms, and a general lack of overall park maintenance. Visitors to the parks are leaving trash all over, using the forest as a restroom and some have even taken to vandalism.

There are growing concerns over sanitation and safety across all parks. One news report states, “There’s human poop everywhere and a man died at Nevada Fall on Christmas day, reportedly after allowing his dog off-leash in an area where pets are banned.” The overflowing pit toilets and growing amount of human waste could create issues, including the pollution of fresh groundwater for years to come.

The massive amounts of unattended trash (more than 100 million pounds of garbage are generated by national park visitors each year) is causing concern for local wildlife as well. Park rangers fight this battle on a daily basis, but with the lack of staff, some wildlife species are being habituated to consume human trash. The fragile habitats these animals call home is also at risk. With no one policing a majority of areas in most parks, visitors are wandering off marked paths and there is even evidence of people driving off-road in restricted areas.

If you plan to visit the any of the 50+ National Park in the coming days or weeks, please be prepared. Be responsible. Be respectful. Lend a helping hand.

Some simple tips if you're considering a park visit:

• Pack snacks in a packable tupperware

• Bring your water in a reusable bottle

• Leave a donation in the drop box if you’re able to or Donate Here

• Plan to take any and all trash you create back out of the park with you

• Consider picking up any trash you see along your hike to help out

• Stop before entering the park and use a public restroom

• Report anyone you see violating park rules

• Write to your senators asking them to either end the shutdown or close all parks

We want to enjoy the parks. We want you to enjoy the parks. Together we can make that happen. Twenty percent (20%) of our profit from all custom orders placed between now and the end of shutdown will be donated to keep our parks clean.

For a more in-depth look at the issue within the National Parks check out This Article from Outside Online.

#NationalParks #camping #hiking #outdooradventure #MotorCityAxe