A Cold Introduction to Estivant Pines

Posted on February 14th, 2025

Editor’s Note: The newest map from MichiganTrailMaps.com is Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary, a popular place with hikers in the summer and fall and quite the adventure in the winter, writes Jim DuFresne. Click on the new map below to view a larger version or to downloaded it for a future outin… read more

Heritage Trail: Cottage Owners Vs Us

Posted on November 23rd, 2024

Editor’s Note: Sleeping Bear Dunes Superintendent Scott Tucker put a pause last week on the continuation of Segment 9 of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, the last section of the 27-mile pathway to be built. Jim DuFresne writes that this is nothing more than a battle between a small group of co… read more

My Dream Vacation at Isle Royale

Posted on September 25th, 2024

Editor’s Note: This summer, Jim DuFresne visited Isle Royale to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his guidebook. He was there only four days, but it was one of his best trips ever. Interested in an autographed copy of Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails and Water Routes? They are available … read more

End of the Trail for Our Author

Posted on October 10th, 2023

Editor’s Note: This winter Jim DuFresne’s Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes will celebrate its 40th year of continuous publication. Our favorite author is celebrating that amazing achievement and the end of his guidebook writing career with a farewell spea… read more

Preserving A Lofty Slice of Michigan

Posted on June 30th, 2023

There is a movement to preserve easement rights to Michigan’s highest point, Mount Arvon. The proposed 73,000-acre Michigamme Highlands would also include 37 miles of rivers, 220 miles of perennial streams, 96 lakes and ponds, more than 13,600 acres of wetlands, and habitat for fed… read more

Isle Royale: Do You Mind If I Camp With you?

Posted on April 8th, 2022

Isle Royale National Park officially opens up next week after setting an attendance record last year. Now the Lake Superior wilderness is struggling with how to solve the problem of overcrowded campsites in its backcountry. Jim DuFresne, author of Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Wat… read more

Hustling Books at the Expo’s Author Table

Posted on March 4th, 2022

Metro Detroit’s largest and longest-running fly fishing show is back. After a two-year absence due to the pandemic, the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 12-13, at The Macomb Community College Sports and Expo Center in Warren. This 61,000 square foot venue w… read more

When You Go Rustic Camping; Go Rustic

Posted on April 22nd, 2021

As part of its Project Rustic this summer, the Michigan DNR is promoting its system of small rustic campgrounds with Paige Lackey visiting 77 of Michigan’s 145 state forest campgrounds. She’s going to pull up in a 33-foot-long Class C motorhome that features two slideouts, sleeps up to sev… read more

Mask up! A Covid Summer on the Island

Posted on March 31st, 2021

Isle Royale, the only national park that officially closes during the winter, will open for the season on April 15. In the middle of this pandemic summer, backpackers, paddlers and boaters will be in the backcountry looking for a Covid escape. Will they find it? In his latest Trail Talk blog for Michi… read more

It must be Muskrat Love!

Posted on February 27th, 2021

It’s Lent so our main Trail Talk blogger has a hankering for muskrat. People eat that swamp rodent you ask? Jim DuFresne says they do and they relish it. The new second edition of our bestseller, The Trails of M-22, has finally arrived from the printers. It covers 48 trails along that beautiful h… read more

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