Supporting Your Trails Voluntarily

Posted on November 27th, 2020

November has been nice to us with a surplus of mild days to continue enjoying hikes in the woods and bike rides on paved paths. In this pandemic era of COVID-19 that has been a welcomed gift. Whatever else you say about this year, the popularity of trails has been undisputable. In the latest Trail Talk bl… read more

A True Wilderness Experience on Isle Royale

Posted on June 2nd, 2020

In this coronavirus summer, Isle Royale National Park will either be closed or partially closed with no ferry transportation to it. In this Trail Talk blog from MichiganTrailMaps.com Jim DuFresne writes about the impact of whatever decision the National Park Service makes in regards to this spec… read more

Drive-in or Walk-in? In Michigan We Need Both

Posted on February 14th, 2020

Walk-in or drive-in? In Michigan there is a need for both types of access but not on the same lake. That’s the debate they’re having in the Upper Peninsula over the future of Silver Lake Basin. The latest Trail Talk blog looks at the issue and how a proposal to change access to walk-in would alter the… read more

Hard to Delete a Trail Like Valley View

Posted on March 14th, 2019

In a park known for great beaches, spectacular views and towering sand dunes, the Valley View Trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore had none of those. Yet when the decision was made not to reopen this short, obscure trail after the 2015 wind storms, we lost a lot. Read the latest Michiga… read more

Funding Our Natural Gems – Users or Society?

Posted on January 15th, 2019

Cross-country skiing on a snowy winter day in a Michigan State Park. The “opt-out” bills for the Recreation Passport didn’t survive the lame-duck session in Lansing last month despite all the support for them. But in this latest Trail Talk blog for MichiganTrailMaps.com Jim DuFresne argue… read more

#OptingOut of the #OptOutside Movement

Posted on November 23rd, 2018

The #OptOutside movement is full of good intentions but do they have to hold it today? Jim DuFresne our main blogger at MichiganTrailMaps.com, wonders if there isn’t a worse day than the final Friday of November to encourage people to go outdoors in Michigan. What this day is great for is plannin… read more

If Not Us, Then Who Pays?

Posted on June 20th, 2018

As the traditional outdoor sports of hunting and fishing decline in participation, there is concern about who is going to pay for the upkeep of our woods, waters and wildlife. Jim DuFresne looks into that issue in the latest Trail Talk blog from MichiganTrailMaps.com and concludes it has to be the re… read more

Running on the Island

Posted on September 28th, 2017

Summer has come to a close and Jim DuFresne, the main blogger at MichiganTrailMaps.com, has some thoughts before we move into that short but sweet hiking season known as Fall in Michigan. Get out there because before you know it, winter will be here. For tips and suggestions on where to go in October ch… read more

Timeless In The Porkies & Loving It

Posted on October 16th, 2016

Hey buddy do you know what time it is? Jim DuFresne didn’t. The main Trail Talk blogger for MichiganTrailMaps.com didn’t know the time for five days while backpacking in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. And it was so unusual he almost didn’t want to emerge from those rugged ridges w… read more

A hiker crossing the old boardwalk along the Jordan River Pathway.

Shaving a Mile Off a Day’s Hike

Posted on June 8th, 2016

The new Manistee River Trail and Hoist Lake Foot Travel Area maps from MichiganTrailMaps.com In our latest Trail Mix e-Newsletter, Jim DuFresne pondered how far he’s willing to go to shave a mile from a day’s hike (with a backpack on no less). It drew considerable response so we’… read more

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