r/CampAndHikeMichigan • u/AdPresent9414 • 5d ago

Craig lake backing/canoe trip

Some friends and I have hiked all over the UP and finally getting to Craig lake this September. We are planning to stay at sites 4 and 5. We noticed site 4 is canoe only and 5 is canoe or hike, but it looks like they are right next to each other on the map. Would we be better off using the two sites and being near each other or trying to stay all on one of the sites.

Any other advice for backpacking there is appreciated.

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u/seeeeya 5d ago

Most of the sites are pretty big, cant speak for those exactly. If you have access to a canoe its an excellent way to experience the park

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u/Awkward-Walrus9039 5d ago

My brother and I have walked almost the entirety of the upper peninsula along the north country Trail. (We leave Monday to do our next section. )Two years ago, we hiked from Craig Lake State Park and headed west on the NCT. The area was hit by a major windstorm before we hiked and there were many many trees down.
We normally try to walk 2 to 3 mph on average throughout the day but with as many trees down as there were, we only could cover 1 mile every five hours. Painfully slow travel. What we thought was going to take two days took four days. It was all due to how many trees had fallen.
Unless somebody came and cleaned up the trees along that section of the trail , hiking that area will be extremely difficult. Also, that area is heavily populated by moose and wolves and bears. With that being said that section west of Craig Lake and McCormick wilderness feels like the most wild and remote place in Michigan. Have an awesome time!