Does anyone know Manistee National Forest?

My buddy and I are planning a quick overnight trip to Manistee NF but it seems extremely difficult to lock down any certain trail maps. Even their website isn't very specific. We are coming from Northwest Indiana (Valparaiso) and I'm looking to hit either the Southwest or Southeast portion of the forest. This is almost more of a scouting trip to see possibilities of a longer through hike at another time.

My questions is: does anyone know the area well? Or have any recommended spots? I would like to stay within a travel time of 3 hours which puts us in those two regions.

I appreciate any input!

look into the NCT. It runs S-N through the forest. Should be a NCT trail map available online.

Have you checked here?

http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/hmnf/maps-pubs

or here:

http://www.michigan.org/hot-spots/ma...FeRxOgod52sAOg

THIS AREA is quite nice there is a group doing an unofficial MI hang there this weekend, SEE THIS THREAD, it has some maps etc in some of the posts. The Manistee Nat'l Forest is fairly huge, I think Nordhouse Dunes is technically within the Manistee Nat'l Forest, and I can highly recommend that area as well.

If you want to really try your luck, drive up to Lowell, MI. That is NCT headquarters and they sell maps on-site. The maps will show you campsites as well. Make that a stop on the drive up.

I bought one of their maps for the NCT/Manistee river. Its nice!

We just hiked this loop 2 weekends ago. I have the .gpx file if you wish. It can be opened in Garmin Basecamp and other free softwares. PM me your email and I can send you the file, I cant seem to attach it here.

Try Backpacking Michigan by Jim DuFresne, this is one of the best guide books out there for Michigan, upper and lower. He has all the info and where to get your permits, maps and shuttles if needed. The Manistee river trail is very nice and you can make a loop with the NCT or just out and back very nice. I have used his books for years and they are the best. I just wish he would hit all the states. LOL also if your looking for a quick get away try Allegen state park, free roam from fall to spring but restricted during peak time and i bet is only 1-2 hours from you.

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Originally Posted by HEAD

Try Backpacking Michigan by Jim DuFresne, this is one of the best guide books out there for Michigan, upper and lower. He has all the info and where to get your permits, maps and shuttles if needed. The Manistee river trail is very nice and you can make a loop with the NCT or just out and back very nice. I have used his books for years and they are the best. I just wish he would hit all the states. LOL also if your looking for a quick get away try Allegen state park, free roam from fall to spring but restricted during peak time and i bet is only 1-2 hours from you.

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That's a nice book to have. My wife got it for my birthday a couple years ago. Some outdated info, but you'll get what you need. The fs.usda.gov sites are actually worse. I can't tell you how many times they say $3 for parking but it's often $5.

Just as a side note, the NCT runs from Hwy 131 just north of Manton MI to the Hodenpyle Dam, Mesick area and to the MRT loop on the north side of the river, nice stretch.

I have hiked it once, paddled it a dozen times a year for 25 years now, know it well by river. http://chippewalanding.com will provide spotting service, talk with Rick Walsh. Great guy to work with. Have no idea of prices. He has a rustic and full service (showers) campground near the trail as part of his livery business. This stretch of trail is the only area I ever encountered a bear on the Manistee.

This area is part of the Pere Marquette State Forest and further down into the Manistee National Forest.