When hikers ask which trails in Michigan are worth a full day — or several — the conversation always circles back to the same handful of routes. Below we've ranked the ten longest hiking trails in Michigan by total mapped distance, drawing from the 20,751 trails OutsideAtlas currently tracks in the state. Each entry includes the distance, what makes the route distinctive, and an honest note on who should actually attempt it.
Michigan is two distinct halves — a glacially flat Lower Peninsula and the rugged Porcupine Mountains, Hurons, and Pictured Rocks shoreline of the Upper Peninsula. The NCT through-mileage, Isle Royale's Greenstone Ridge, and the Superior Hiking Trail-adjacent UP routes carry the long-distance crown. May-October is the practical window; winters are severe in the UP; spring brings blackflies in the north.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 20,751 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Michigan — but the data has limits worth being honest about. OpenStreetMap distance tags are crowd-sourced and inconsistent. A route may appear longer or shorter than the official measurement, especially when long-distance trails (like state and national scenic trails) are tagged in segments rather than as a single relation.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Yankee Boy Loop / Mesnard Loop /Old Gull Trail / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop
Yankee Boy Loop / Mesnard Loop /Old Gull Trail / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop earns the #1 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect asphalt surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Yankee Boy Loop / Mesnard Loop /Old Gull Trail / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. OBT-2
At 0.20 mi, OBT-2 lands at #2 — a route built for hikers who plan in days, not hours. Expect 0.20 mi on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the OBT-2 trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. OBT-3
At 0.20 mi, OBT-3 lands at #3 — a route built for hikers who plan in days, not hours. Expect 0.20 mi on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the OBT-3 trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Mesnard Loop / Old Gull Trail / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop
Mesnard Loop / Old Gull Trail / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop earns the #4 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect asphalt surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Michigan, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mesnard Loop / Old Gull Trail / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Ma Maki (hiking)
Ma Maki (hiking) earns the #5 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect 46 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Ma Maki (hiking) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Yankee Boy Loop / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop
Yankee Boy Loop / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop earns the #6 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect asphalt surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Yankee Boy Loop / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss earns the #7 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Tagged easy in OpenStreetMap. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Yankee Boy Loop / Old Gull Trail / Whitetail Trail / Prairie Wolf Loop
Yankee Boy Loop / Old Gull Trail / Whitetail Trail / Prairie Wolf Loop earns the #8 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect grass surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Yankee Boy Loop / Old Gull Trail / Whitetail Trail / Prairie Wolf Loop trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Mesnard Loop / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop
Mesnard Loop / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop earns the #9 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect asphalt surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Michigan, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mesnard Loop / Whitetail Trail / Jack Schoen Loop / Prairie Wolf Loop trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Ice Age Trail - Chaffee Creek Segment at Pleasant Lake (loop spur)
Ice Age Trail - Chaffee Creek Segment at Pleasant Lake (loop spur) earns the #10 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect dirt surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Ice Age Trail - Chaffee Creek Segment at Pleasant Lake (loop spur) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Michigan trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Michigan. May-October is the practical window; winters are severe in the UP; spring brings blackflies in the north. Wolves and bears in the UP wilderness, brutal Great Lakes shoreline weather, and ticks/blackflies seasonally.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Michigan hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Michigan coverage continues below.
- Steepest trails in Michigan — Hikes with the most elevation gain in the state.
- Best beginner hikes in Michigan — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Michigan — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Michigan — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Michigan — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Michigan — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Michigan — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Michigan last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
