Backpacking the Jordan River Pathway Loop in Michigan

Winter 2024 was one for the record books for Northern Michigan. And before you ask, no, it wasn’t because we got a lot of snow. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Total snowfall for our area, which routinely sees over 200 inches of snow a season, barely eclipsed half of that. From a historical context, I’m not sure where it ranks as least snowy, but from talking with my neighbors and friends who’ve lived in the Upper Peninsula their entire lives, they recall that this winter was one of the mildest they’ve ever experienced.

I’m not complaining. Far from it. Getting a break from snow-removal 3-4 times a week was a major relief! Several times during the winter I even saw my lawn. Low precipitation coupled with several periods of warm temperatures and rain limited the snow pack several times. Sure, we had a few storms here and there, and 100 inches still isn’t a trivial amount. But oh boy was it great from a personal vantage point! Businesses didn’t share in my enthusiasm. The snowmobile season was virtually non-existent and the number of tourists was likely the weakest it’s been in years. Hopefully next winter will return to normal after a very unusual el-Niño.

Over the first weekend in March I noticed a particularly enticing weather window. Temperatures were predicted to hit the 60s in Upper Lower Michigan. This, coupled with a non-existent snowpack, presented an opportunity to get out on the North Country Trail and do a short backpacking trip that had been on our Michigan to-do-list for a few years now: the Jordan River Pathway Loop.

Where is the Jordan River Pathway Loop?

The Jordan River Pathway loop is part of the North Country Trail just to the west of the city of Gaylord. Half the trail is on the NCT, and the other half on trails with in the Mackinaw State Forest. The trail is an 18 mile loop that meanders along the hills both east and west of the Jordan river. Several views of the valley can be enjoyed along the route and generally it is a pleasant, meandering trail through scenic beach and maple hardwood forest.

The trail begins at Deadman’s Hill Overlook pictured below.

I suppose you can hike the trail in either direction, since it is a loop, but we decided to hike the loop in a clockwise direction. I don’t think it makes much of a difference which direction you take although the south segment is a little longer. The trail is 18 miles (according to Michigan DNR, but GPS suggests it is more like 19.5 miles), and at the half-way point there is a primitive campground called the Pinney Bridge State Campground. There are 15 first-come first-serve sites which cost $20 for the night. Camping is prohibited outside of this camping area, so it makes a convenient lay-over for a 2-day trip. There is a hand operated water pump as well as pit toilets. Each site has a fire ring. It’s a nice little spot close to a bridge that spans the Jordan River.

Resources for hiking the trail

The official site from the Michigan DNR can be located here.

The official site of the North Country Trail can be located here (consider becoming a member or volunteering – it’s fun!)

The loop is pretty easy to follow and is marked with blue blazes along the way. You will follow the NCT on the north side of the loop, which diverges a few miles south of the river crossing on the south side. There are trail maps along the way with numbered posts showing your location. For convenience, here is the GPS track of the route.