It is a short, 1.7-mile walk to the Lake Byron campsites, ideal if you’re driving up after work on Friday. Most backpackers can be at the sites with their tents set up in less than an hour. 

You’ll find a vault toilet and a large information board at the western trailhead and a trail that departs east into a forest of mixed pines and hardwoods. Blue diamonds will keep you on track and in less than a half mile you’ll climb a small hill and gently descend to the first junction, marked by post No. 6.

Head south (right) and through the trees you’ll spot Carp Lake on the east side of the trail. You pass the small, roundish lake from above and then swing east to arrive at post No. 8, marking where a hand pump was once located. You continue east, with the trail passing through a stand of predominantly maple that is magnificent in the fall, and then climb a ridge to gain more than 60 feet in elevation and top out in paper birch.

From the stand of paper birch, you begin a long but gradual descent back into hardwoods, finally bottoming out at post No. 9 reached at Mile 1.7 near the north end of Byron Lake. One of the largest lakes in the area, Byron has panfish, perch, and a population of smallmouth bass but is tough to fish from the shoreline. Since it’s not an easy portage for hauling in a canoe, some anglers attempt to fish the lake in waders, while others hike in with a float tube strapped to their backpacks.

An unmarked path follows the west bank, while the main trail climbs away from the north end of the lake to quickly arrive at post No. 10. To the north (left) the trail heads for post No. 11 while to the east (right) the path is marked with a “Campsites” sign and quickly leads to three official campsites, many unofficial ones and two wilderness privies. One campsite is on the bluff above the lake and along with a fire ring and a bench features a long stairway down to the water. This is one of the best spots to pitch a tent in the entire Lower Peninsula, a place where you can spend an evening gazing out on Byron Lake and the forested ridges behind it.

The trail continues to follow the ridge along the east shore, passing views of Byron Lake below. Eventually you descend past an old two-track, climb away from the lake, descend again, and then begin climbing once more. This time it’s a long haul up but at Mile 2.3 you top off at 1,140 feet where a short spur leads right to the edge of the ridge. At one time this spot was a clearing with a 180-degree view of the rugged terrain leading to the Au Sable River. But Mother Nature has since taken over and now trees full of foliage block the view from late spring to late fall.

The main trail skirts the top of the hill as it makes a sharp turn, then begins a half-mile descent off it. You bottom out at a clearing, where you skirt a marsh with a pond, a good place to search for beavers and other wildlife. You then follow a level route to post No. 12, reached at Mile 3.7. The post marks a junction where the trail to the north (left) heads for No-Name Lake, the trail to the east (right) leads to post No. 13 and the Hoist Lakes.

Head north (left) for No-Name Lake. The shallow lake is quickly reached and if it's a dry summer there will be not water at its north end, but an extensive mud flat. You leave the lake with no name, climb 60 feet and reach post No. 11 at Mile 4.3.

Head south (left) to pick up the easy cutoff spur to Byron Lake. To the north (right) is the trail to post No. 5, 0.8 mile away, and the longer – 7.6 miles – loop to the western trailhead. The cutoff spur passes a couple of small ponds and wetlands where there are signs of beaver activity all around, particularly gnawed tree stumps. 

Within a half mile you return to post No. 10 and the Byron Lake walk-in campsites. Pack your gear and backtrack the 1.7 miles to the western trailhead if your schedule is so demanding you can’t stay for another night.