We’ve been to Grand Island twice now. During our first visit over Labor Day weekend in 2020, we hiked to a scenic point past mile marker 4 and random camped for one night in the woods opposite Mather Beach Overlook. When we visited a second time over Memorial Day weekend in 2021, we backpacked the entire 21 mile loop starting at Williams Landing and going counter clockwise. We camped two nights on the island at Road’s End campsite and Preservation Point campsite. The writing that follows is based on these two experiences I’ve had on Grand Island, Michigan.
1. Scenery:
- The first 11 miles of the trail, going clockwise, is the most scenic section. So I’d recommend spending the bulk of your time on this section of the island. I’d even consider hiking until mile marker 11 and then hiking back instead of doing the loop.
- I find the west side of the island more beautiful with picturesque pebbled beaches that give way to cliffs beyond mile marker 4, hardwood forests with intermittent stretches of pines forests, views of Lake Superior and the mainland.
- On the east side of the island you have cliffs all the way until you get close to mile marker 18 going clockwise. You can catch views of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the distance from this side of the island. The vegetation is denser with hardwood trees and thick undergrowth of ferns and other shrubs. During the high bug season, there are far more mosquitoes, black flies and stable flies on the east side. There are a number of muddy creeks; the water didn’t look safe for drinking—we also figured that the scourge of mosquitoes might be breeding in those waters.
Cliffs between mile marker 8 and 9 | Photo by @thomasjohn115
2. Trail:
- Trail rating: Moderate (considering the 21 mile distance and short stretches of elevation gain)
- Though you encounter steeper sections of the trail going clockwise, I think it is worth it given that you get a better view of the beaches and bluffs. I wonder if that might be the reason why the trail is also marked that way. However, keep in mind that this would also mean that you complete the best parts of the trail (first 11 miles) right up front and you have the less interesting, bug infested (depending on the season) sections towards the end if you are hiking the entire 21 mile loop.
- Trail surface: Sections of gravel, dirt and sand
3. Water source:
- We didn’t find a good water source between mile marker 4 and mile marker 10 and then again between mile marker 11 and mile marker 17. So these are the two stretches that you need to plan for. The rest of the trail should not be a problem with access to drinking water hand pumps or beach access points.
- Hand pump / drinking water access:
- Williams Landing
- Mile marker 3
- Couple of hand pumps between mile marker 18 and Williams Landing
4. Beach:
- My top recommendations are Waterfall Beach and Mather Beach on the west side, North Light Beach at the north end and Trout Bay Beach on the east side.
- Beach access points:
- Merchandise Beach near mile marker 1 (closest beach from Williams Landing)
- Waterfall Beach a little further past mile marker 3 (Note: Beach access is via stairs. Sometimes access could be closed if the stairs are wanting repair.)
- Intermittent access points between mile marker 3 and mile marker 4
- Mather Beach near mile marker 4 (Note: Beach access is via stairs. Sometimes access could be closed if the stairs are wanting repair.)
- North Light Beach past mile marker 10
- Trout Bay Beach past mile marker 17 towards Little Duck campsite
- Intermittent access points between mile marker 17 and Williams Landing
5. Bug alert:
- Mid-May to Mid-July is supposed to be the peak bug season however, it can vary radically from day to day based on weather—temperature, humidity, wind, etc. So it would do well to be prepared. We didn’t face any bug menace when we visited in September and stayed on the west side of the island, but we were in for a terrible time when we visited end of May. It is the worst on the east side of the island, so much so that we had to keep moving and couldn’t stop hiking for a break or a photo opp.
- Carry plenty of insect repellent. The mosquitoes on Grand Island can be particularly vicious. Our insect repellent which was supposed to last 6 hours per application barely lasted half an hour before we had to smother ourselves in it again.
- Loose fitting long sleeves and pants would work well against the flies as they don’t seem to bite as much through clothes. The repellents don’t offer much of a protection against them. I’d also highly recommend head nets. It is no fun to have them buzzing around your head, relentless.
6. Bear alert:
- There are black bears on the island. We didn’t run into any during either of our visits but you want to be prepared.
- The campsites have bear poles or bear proof storage containers (bear boxes).
- If you are random camping, carry necessary gear to bear proof all scented items.
7. Ferry schedule:
- The schedule varies by seasons. So be sure to check the website for the latest ferry schedule. http://www.grandislandup.com.
- A five minute ferry ride will get you across to the 13,500 acre island which is just half a mile from Munising.
8. Campsite:
- My top recommendations:
- West side: Campsites between Waterfall Beach and Mather Beach (Hardwood, Hemlock or Gamefence) for excellent beach access, Preservation Point for great sunset views
- North end: Shelter Ridge for beach access and Freighter View for cliff views
- East side: Little Duck, Driftwood for excellent beach access
- The campsites that we stayed at were nicely laid out and had a fire ring, picnic table, two benches, bear pole and a pit toilet. I believe similar amenities are available at most other campsites on the island.
- Campfires are allowed only within the provided fire ring.
- Reservations:
- Reservations are required for camping on Grand Island between Memorial Day through Columbus Day with the exception of Cobble Cove, Flat Rock, and Muskrat Point campsites that remain first-come, first-served. Walk-ins are allowed during non-peak season and when the site is not reserved.
- Our arrival checklist from recreation.gov also carried the following notice: Your campsite must be occupied by 7:00 p.m. the day of your reservation and may not be left unattended over 24 hours thereafter. If you have not arrived by 7:00 p.m. the day of your reservation, your reservation will be canceled and the site made available.
Preservation Point campsite
Road’s End campsite | Photo by @thomasjohn115
9. Random backcountry camping:
- Random camping is permitted on Grand Island if a camper is at least 100 feet from a body of water, cliff edge, trails, other campsites, private property and other establishments.
- No campfires are allowed when random camping.
10. Firewood:
- We had no trouble finding enough firewood at either of the sites that we stayed at. There was plenty of dead pieces of wood lying around that made for good firewood.
- There are a few firewood stations near the campsites towards Willliams Landing but not at the far end of the island.
Photo by @thomasjohn115
11. Supplies:
- It is recommended that you carry enough supplies for an additional night on the island to account for Lake Superior’s capricious weather.
- There are no stores on the island. So be sure to carry whatever you might need for your trip from the mainland. The Grand Island Ferry Service Gift Shop on the mainland offers a lot of gear and souvenirs.
12. Activities:
- Hiking, backpacking, beach hopping or beachcombing, mountain biking, birding, wildlife viewing, fishing.
In summary, we’ve loved our visits to Grand Island and will probably be heading back for more. A little bit of preparedness to deal with the bugs, weather and water supply would set you up well to have a memorable trip.
If you’ve been to Grand Island, Michigan before, I’d love to hear about your experiences and any recommendations that you might have by way of a comment.
Lisa, I just want to thank you for providing so much useful practical information for someone planning to spend one or more nights backpacking the loop. Scenery, campsites, water sources, bugs — so much more helpful than typical reviews of hiking trails.
Hey just wanted to give you a brief heads up and
let you know a few of the images aren’t loading correctly.
I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two
different web browsers and both show the same results.