What are the best easy hikes and things to see in the dark red area? Also open to the yellow area, and theoretically the YOUP, but it seems like the dunes west of Traverse City have the most nice stuff to see, and I recall /out/ years ago telling me to go to Sleeping Bear dunes, and it does look nice, found something called "pyramid point" that seems worth doing.
Everything in red in generally too civilized because of Traverse city but you could try Leelanau State park right above Northport. I’ve never been though so I’m not sure what you would expect.Wilderness State park in the yellow there is incredible, especially if you walk along the beach that stretches out west into Lake Michigan. You can even get close enough to swim or kayak to Temperance Island if you got the right gear.
>>2873919I don't care too much about beaches, I prefer bluffs overlooking water or hills if possible. I kinda took a quick look at the water, looks unsafe to swim in plus I can only imagine how polluted it is.
>>2873769Just park at 44.88247, -86.04207 and go wild. So many paths in all directions. Sleeping Bear Dunes was easily the most epic trip I've taken in the 2020s (with Red River Gorge KY being a distant second). Pyramid Point is cool but won't give you a full day experience.
>>2873967>44.88247, -86.04207hmm seems like there's another parking to the north that isn't much further and avoids a hill climb but that could be wrongalso maybe I don't really want to walk through sand dunes that sounds exhausting
>>2873975>hill climbThat "Dune Climb" is super tame and family-friendly compared to the big one next to Lake Michigan. It takes less than a minute to go up and then you have a network of trails beyond that. >walk through sand dunes that sounds exhaustingIt's not that bad. The only thing I wish I did differently is wear sandals instead of shoes. So much sand got inside my shoes and it was a bitch getting it all out.
>>2873977I would just take my shoes off. why even bother with footwear on sand?
>>2873987t. hungry sandfliesis there um a place with a boardwalk so I don't have to walk on sand? steps are ok just please no sand walkingalso curious about adjacent things to see and eat lil museums, restaurants, shops, short trails, old growth trees?, unique landforms in general
>>2873769is there a big rivalry between cheboygan and sheboygan?
Also curious about the YOUP. How bad is the mosquito situation this time of year?
>>2873769What the fuck happens in Gaylord? lmao
>>2873769Tourists out of my hometown
>>2874368I was near Crystal Falls in August last yearDeer flies were swarming my car so badly when I parked to go for a hike that I didn't even care to open the door. I said fuck it and just drove around for a while before going to a pizza place.
>>2874650jeez I hope its not too bad I brought repellent hoping it won't be so bad near the coast
>>2874670Deer flies hunt by sight so smell-based repellents don't work on them Only effective way to stop them is blocking access to your skin