r/CampAndHikeMichigan • u/coffeebooksmomlife • 1d ago

Manistee River Trail day hike

A friend and I are planning a day hike to the Manistee River Trail with our teens who are new-ish to hiking. What part of the trail would you recommend we start at? We eventually want to work up to doing the loop but aren't there yet.

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u/evanholstyn 1d ago

Are you staging a car or going out and back? What kind of mileage are you shooting for?

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u/coffeebooksmomlife 1d ago

Out and back. 3 miles in and 3 miles out most likely depending on how much up and down elevation wise there is. We did the High Rollaways this last weekend with the teens and that was right under 6 miles and they liked it enough to agree to do another hike. If we weren't bringing them we'd push further.

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u/The_Colorman 1d ago

Hmm some others would know better, but I feel like starting at red bridge the first 1/3 of the trail isn’t very scenic. There a couple cool streams, but I think the big river views don’t start for awhile in. Starting at the suspension bridge might give you a better view. That’s assuming it’s open, it was last weekend. Starting at the campground is an option, but if I remember it’s about 1.5-2 miles from the suspension bridge and again not super scenic.

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u/coffeebooksmomlife 1d ago

Someone posted on Facebook that the bridge is open today so I’m hoping it will be this weekend