Hiking trails

Lost Lake and Island Loop Trail shows off some of Ludington State Park's best scenery.

Five hiking trails you must hit this fall

BY ROBERT MYERS VENTURE STAFF WRITER

Summer may have ended, but that doesn't mean there aren't opportunities to get outside and enjoy the great scenery that Benzie, Mason and Manistee counties offer.

The days may be numbered on Lake Michigan for swimming, as are those when the mercury crosses the 70-degree mark, however, for many local hiking trails, fall and winter provide unique and excellent experiences, often without the summer crowds.

Check out a few of these local hiking destinations you don't want to miss: 1. Baldy Dune Trail (Arcadia Dunes C.S. Mott Nature Preserve)

A great all-seasons trail located near the border of Benzie and Manistee counties, Baldy Dune Trail can be found in the Arcadia Dunes C.S. Mott Nature Preserve just north of Arcadia on M-22.

The preserve features several trails, but not to miss is the one-mile trail leading from the parking lot to Baldy Dune overlooking Lake Michigan. The park also has a universally accessible trail to an overlook than is only a one-mile round trip.

Either location is perfect for a Lake Michigan sunset, and is also a great hike during color season, and even in the winter months when snowshoeing is a popular activity on the trail. 2. Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve Trail (Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve)

The preserve may be relatively small and the trail loop less than two-miles long, but Green Point Dunes gets an A for scenery and is always a great spot to take a picture for that empty spot on the wall. 4

The trailhead can be found just a few miles south of Elberta, just off M-22, and from there a walk through the forest takes hikers to a pair of stunning overlooks, one surveying lower Herring Lake and Lake Michigan to the south and another on a bluff surveying Lake Michigan and its shoreline. If the conditions are right you can even spot a submerged shipwreck just offshore.

So whether you have the greens of summer; the reds, oranges and yellows of fall; or the white snow and ice flows of winter, you can't find a hike much more picturesque than Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve Trail.

3. Lost Lake and Island Loop Trail (Ludington State Park)

This 2.1-mile loop trail is a must hike if you're in the area. It is stunningly beautiful as you cross bridges, hike through the woods and a walk along a boardwalk, amidst stunning greens and blues.

The trail features mixed forests, so expect reds, oranges and yellows to be added to the pallet if you're heading out during color season. The loop circles Lost Lake, crossing several bridges where it flows into lower Hamlin Lake, which borders the eastern half of the trail. There, you can look out and see islands in the lake.

There are also beautiful marshland habitats to gaze at. With the exception of one incline and decline on the northwest side of the lake, the trail is flat, making it one that the whole family can enjoy. Just don't forget the camera! 4. Manistee River Loop Trail Loop (Manistee National Forest)

This trail is especially popular among backpackers, but sections can also be walked for a day hike. The complete loop is roughly 30 miles, following the Manistee River Trail on the east side of the river and the North Country Trail on the west side of the river, with crossings at Red Bridge as well as a suspension bridge just south of Hodenpyl Dam.

The east side of the loop is especially scenic as the Manistee River Trail follows closely along the the Manistee River, providing many access points and overlooks. This section of the trail features a number of sites for overnight camps, and several creeks and small cascades. The changing leaves of fall will only add to this impressive scenery. 5. Nordhouse Dunes Trail (Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area)

Nordhouse Dunes may be a wilderness area, but the word has definitely gotten out about this scenic location.

The main trailhead for the wilderness area can be found on the west end of Nurnberg Road, between Manistee and Ludington. There are several ways to get to the beach, but the main Nordhouse Dunes Trail is easy to follow and will take hikers 1.5 miles through the woods and past several ponds to a dune overlooking Lake Michigan. From there, the excitement only begins.

Hikers can head north along the beach toward Lake Michigan Recreation Area or south, where an expanse of rolling dunes will open up heading inland more than a mile from the beach. These dunes a perfect place to find seclusion and enjoy the beauty of the barren landscape. The area is quite popular among backpackers and during busy weekends in the summer cars can be found parked more than a half a mile down Nurnberg Road when the parking lot has filled up.