Well Sylvania is a nice place but its hard to get a decent loop out of it for hiking. You generally have to involve Clark Lake to loop back. However most of the sites are excellent for hanging. You might think about the porcupine mountains right up the road. They are a much better backpacking experience. I'd save Sylvania for a canoe trip.
I've been there a couple of times. Both times I camped in the sites that are on the shores of Clark Lake. The trail that encompasses the lake is only about 9 miles long, but branches off all over the place. Any site would be fine for hammocks. If you get a site between Clark and Loon you might be able to hear Loons singing almost all day and night. Beautiful area.
"The trees were like lace where the star-beams could chase, each leaf was a jewel agleam.
The soft white hush lapped the Northland and wrapped us round in a crystalline dream."
Robert Service
Was at Sylvania twice this year and both trips were awesome. I was canoeing both times, if i was going hiking i would probably go to the porcupines. Dont get me wrong the trails are beautiful at Sylvania but the loops are a little weird.
True, hiking is better in the Porkies. The Sylvania trails don't have the "wow" factor that Pictured Rocks or the Porkies, have. If you just want a nice weekend of hanging out and canoeing, though, it is wonderful. I took my younger son there last summer to break him gently into more rugged camping. We only had to haul our packs a few miles, and lots of easy, but beautiful, trails.
"The trees were like lace where the star-beams could chase, each leaf was a jewel agleam.
The soft white hush lapped the Northland and wrapped us round in a crystalline dream."
Robert Service
Wow factor has Pictured Rocks written all over it.
Porkies is neat and some nice views
Sylvania is neat, but small in comparison
Thanks for the ideas! Both pictured rocks and porkies sound like they might be better for us. I've ice climbed in Munising, so I sort of know that area.
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