Back in Michigan: Hiking the Manistee River Loop in the Rain
After more than ten years away from Michigan, I finally made the trip back this October—and I knew I had to hit the trail. My friend Stephen reached out with a perfect plan, and the moment I heard “hike,” I was absolutely in. Fall in Michigan is magical, and the idea of doing the Manistee River Loop felt like the perfect adventure.
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About the Trail
Official name: Manistee River Loop Trail
Distance: 19.2 miles
Elevation gain: 1,824ft
Type: Loop
Weather: Rainy all day, 80%+ humidity, and around 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit
Camp Setup… in the Dark
We started the drive out to Manistee around 6:30 pm and rolled into the Red Bridge River Access campsite around 7:40 pm. Darkness made camp setup tricky: Stephen had a brand-new tent (his second time setting it up), and my headlamp died five minutes in. (Note to self: always charge your gear!) I also struggled to inflate my sleeping pad — turned out the battery in my Zero Pump was upside down. When I realized my pump wasn’t working, I started rethinking my gear because I could not blow up my entire Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite sleeping pad without it, and sleeping on the ground just seemed like a miserable idea.
Eventually, we both had our tents set up and decided to just crawl in and call it an early night. Around 2:00 am, a group of campers showed up at the campground and were very loud. They were happy and having a great time, but their mini-party at 2:00 am was not ideal for those of us trying to sleep. Thankfully, they were only up and around for about 40 minutes, and I was able to fall right back asleep.
A couple of hours later, the rain really began to come down. I love camping in the rain, but there is always a little fear of something not working correctly and everything getting soaked. I got up and did a quick tent sweep to ensure nothing was leaking and that my shoes outside the tent (in the covered area) weren’t getting wet. Once I noticed everything was dry and I had no leaks, I fell back to sleep for the rest of the night.
Despite the neighbors’ noise and the rain, I slept surprisingly well.
Morning Rain & The Start Line
At 6:30 am, I heard Stephen get up and start moving around. I was warm and comfy, and it was still pouring rain, so I stayed cozy in my sleeping bag for another 30 minutes. By 7:00 am, I dragged myself out, used the pit toilet, packed up my gear, and to my delight, everything stayed completely dry overnight. Shout-out to my beloved REI Half Dome 2 tent—spacious, easy to set up, and it’s now proven through heat, cold, and heavy rain.
Packing up a soaking wet tent into the pack was not fun, but our attitudes stayed high despite the soaking wet gear. With rain suits on and good spirits, Stephen and I hit the trail around 8:00 am.
First Steps & Gorgeous Fall Views
From the Red Bridge trailhead we crossed the bridge and dipped into the woods on the left side of the road. Right away I was too hot, so I took off my rain pants; shortly after I ditched my sweatshirt too and stuffed both in my pack.
The beginning of our hike on the Manistee River Loop was beautiful. Fall has fully arrived. Everywhere I looked: oranges, reds, and yellows. The rain made the trees, leaves, and even the ground glisten.
Stephen and I hadn’t seen each other in years, so we had plenty to talk about on our hike. We both grew up in the same area and spent a lot of time outdoors, but no time really getting out and hiking. Now that we’re older, we’ve really started to see Michigan with new eyes and appreciate all the beautiful scenery it has to offer. We were both so thankful to have the opportunity to be out there.
Trail Terrain & Navigation
The first half of the Manistee River Loop was fairly sheltered under a canopy of trees, which saved us from the rain. We were also blessed with continuous views of the river from the edge of the cliffs. We took multiple breaks just to stand at the edge and appreciate the views.
There are some insanely great camp spots along this first part of the trail! I would have loved to have camped at some of these if we had been able to get out here before dark. Most of the campsites along the way have fire rings and flat, well-trodden spots for tents. We were surprised at the number of tents we saw at these sites while we were passing through. We didn’t expect to see too many people on this hike, as the weather forecast was less than favorable, but it was great to see so many people out enjoying the trail.
The trail is well marked along the loop with blue blazes and signage. We got off trail twice, but pulled out the AllTrails app to get back on track quickly once we noticed we were off trail. I always try to download an offline map before heading out on a hike to save me in situations like that, even if there’s no phone service.
Around lunch time, we reached the awaited suspension bridge! The bridge is officially called “Little Mac Bridge”. It is 245 ft long and pedestrian only. This bridge allows hikers, like myself, to cross over the river and make this hike an official loop.
Lunch & Realizations
We stopped for lunch at Woodpecker Creek Access on the boat dock. Rain + no dreamy riverside sitting spot = we made do. Stephen had a Mountain House meal, and I had my Kodiak maple & brown sugar oatmeal cup, a tuna packet, and a peanut butter/chocolate rice-crispy treat (random combo, but it worked).
It felt so good to stop and take our packs off. By this point, I was starting to get pretty tired and needed some calories in me. After eating, I did some quick stretches before we packed up and hit the trail again.
Immediately after hitting the trail post-lunch, we took a wrong turn and ended up 0.5 miles off trail. Unfortunately, we couldn’t fix our error by crossing through the woods, so we had to backtrack the 0.5 miles and start back on trail in the right spot. Thankfully, Alltrails helped us find the trail in this situation as well.
The Real Challenge Begins
After getting back on trail, I started getting a sharp pain on my right foot around my pinky toe. As any hiker knows, as soon as you start to feel something like that, you need to stop and investigate. I took my shoe and sock off and didn’t see anything at all that could be irritating my toe so I put everything back on and took off again. Unfortunately, the pain persisted, so I stopped again, still nothing. I decided to just keep pushing, and eventually, the pain went away – later I found out it went away because it had formed into a large blister.
The second half of the trail didn’t have the sweeping river views, but it was pretty in its own way. The ground was completely covered in leaves, and the canopy of trees decorated the trail nicely. Continuous small inclines on this half made it more challenging than the eastern side of the trail.
Stephen and I were really feeling the weight of our packs when we had about 7 miles left, and I started slowing my pace and needing to take more breaks. The hike became less fun and more of a challenge near the end as my body was quickly deteriorating. My knees swelled, my shoulders and back were sore, my feet were hurting, and my energy was very low. When we realized we had just 5 miles left, I was in a mental grind, pushing myself to the end.
The Finish & Celebration
When we looked at the map and realized we had just 5 miles to go it felt tough, but manageable. We hit the 5-mile mark, opened the map again and found out we actually still had another 1.5 miles to go. Cue internal tears haha. Darkness had set in, which made the trail tougher as I didn’t have a headlamp with me and I made more misteps than I would have in the daylight. Since my body was already so beat up, each misstep hurt a lot more than it would have normally.
Those last 1.5 miles were the toughest I’ve ever pushed both my body and my brain. I was fatigued. I was fighting for the finish, and FINALLY – we hit pavement.
We saw the road, we made it to camp, and I felt a huge sense of relief. It felt like we had just finished a marathon. I was elated, proud, achy, and ready to sit down.
Post-Hike Plans & Recovery
Back at the car, I pulled out the tent—still drenched and muddy from the night before. Rather than set camp again, we chose to pack up and head home for a hot shower and a real bed. I do not regret that decision at all.
Post-hike, day 1: I confirmed there was a blister on my right pinky toe. My knees were still very swollen. My feet and back felt better almost immediately. I was very stiff and couldn’t walk normally most of the day.
Post hike, day 2: Blister still there, but doesn’t hurt at all. My knees finally went back to normal and everything else was fine. I did a lot of stretching and worked on recovery.
Post hike, day 3: Full recovery. This is when I started to really feel accomplished with the hike. I am so glad we went, I’m glad I pushed myself and it feels good to have set a new personal record!
We logged somewhere around 22 miles (detours included) and about 12 hours total with breaks—though my watch stayed in the car (due to heavy rain + lack of waterproofing).
Gear Snapshot
Here are some of the essentials I carried for the Manistee River Loop:
- Tent: REI Half Dome 2
- Sleeping Bag: Nemo Disco 30
- Backpack (rain cover included) – Gregory Jade 63L
- Pack phone case attachment: Gossamer Gear Shoulder Strap Pocket
- Hiking pants: Baleaf Hiking Pants
- Socks: Darn Tough Hiker Socks
- Trail shoes: Altra Lone Peak 9 + Superfeet insoles
- Snacks: Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars, Chocolate/Peanut Butter Rice Crispies, Nerd Clusters
More Gear Info: Posts about my Backpacking Gear, or visit my Amazon Backpacking List
Final Thoughts & Tips
If you’re considering the Manistee River Loop, here are a few of my takeaways:
- Perfect one-day target only if you’re an experienced hiker with a light daypack. Otherwise, consider overnighting to break it up.
- Be sure to check the weather: around this time of the year, you could experience rain, wind, snow, and cold temperatures.
- Download offline maps. Trail marking is good, but detours happen. Alltrails can help!
- Protect your feet. Wet feet can cause blisters. Wear good shoes, socks, and take care of your feet.
- Fall foliage + wet leaves = stunning visuals. However, the ground can get pretty slick. If I did it again, I’d bring trekking poles.
Considering hiking the trail? Pin this post to help you plan!
Katelynn is a Texas-based writer and travel enthusiast who makes the most of her time exploring new destinations while balancing a full-time 9-5 job. She has visited 12 countries and 27 U.S. states. She describes herself as a weekend warrior and shares her passion for travel, outdoor adventures, and solo journeys on her blog, KatelynnOutLoud.
None Right Now.
Wreck - Catherine Newman
Ahh that is a gnarly blister!! I can relate to the feeling of thinking the hike is over and then checking and realizing you have several more miles to go…. that’s too real haha. I’m glad you’re recovered and doing well! It looks like a beautiful fall hike.
I wish that feeling on no one hahaha. I don’t know how I read the map wrong, but finding out you still have multiple miles after thinking your long, strenuous hike was over is tough! Something about a challenging trail that kicks your butt makes you more appreciative of the experience a few days later though! Thanks for reading!
This looks like a gorgeous hike. I may add this to my itinerary when I go to Michigan next year. I’m glad you stayed dry with the rain!
Michigan has incredible trails all over, but I love a good loop trail! I hope you do get to visit at some point!
That is a long day in the rain! And your poor pinky toe. Still, it looks beautiful and hopefully you can go back in better weather and spend more time there.
Surprisingly that was one of the biggest and LEAST painful blisters I’ve ever gotten! Idk how that worked out but I’m thankful haha. I would love to go back and hike it again in better weather conditions and even to stay a night. The campsites out there were spectacular.
Looks like it was a gorgeous hike and well worth the effort! Long hikes like that are definitely both mentally and physically challenging, I definitely would have had to break it up. Also, that blister looked BRUTAL. I’ve definitely been there while hiking and it is not a pleasant feeling.
Sometimes I like a really challenging hike, and sometimes I like to slowly stroll. This trail would honestly be perfect for both!
Thankfully, the blister didn’t hurt too bad and healed VERY quickly. When it was just starting to form, I definitely felt it, but honestly, once it was formed, I think it added some cushion to the area that was hurting and I got through the rest of my hike without pain. It’s the only blister I’ve ever gotten that I didn’t actually pop and let it just run it’s course!
Great hike of the Manistee river loop in the rain! The fall colors of Michigan look awesome. Challenging hike indeed! Take care of that blister!:-)
It was one of my favorites I’ve done all year! Thankfully the blister never popped, it just sort of went away after 3 days with no pain at all! I’d very very happy to come back and do this loop again, but making it a two-day trek with a night in the woods and a campfire!
Autumn photos are so stunning! Great hiking trail to feel the real autumn mood!
I absolutely agree! We don’t get colors like this down in Texas where I live now.
The Manistee River Loop looks absolutely beautiful in the rain — those colors and river views are stunning. Thanks for the inspiration and great tips!
The rain really added an extra moody vibe and a glisten to the hike (:
Looks like a beautiful hike despite the rain. I’d prefer to do this as a 2 day hike, adding an overnight to break it up a bit.
It would absolutely be much more enjoyable as a two day hike. Then you can casually saunter about and not have to rush at any points, like we were at the end there! It’s such a beautiful trail and I was surprised at how many visitors there were even when it was rainy!
Loved how you turned a rainy 20+-mile trek on the Manistee River Loop into a story of grit and gorgeous autumn scenery — it really showed both the challenge and the reward of that trail.
I’m so glad! I wanted to romanticize it, because this time of the year it is stunningly beautiful, but I also don’t want to encourage everyone to go attempt this hike in one day! I have a lot of backpacking experience and this was challenging for me so I wanted to be honest about that (: If I were to go back, I now know where all the great camping spots are so I’d be happy to stay a night or two out there!
What an awesome read! I haven’t hiked the Manistee River Loop yet, but your story really brought it to life — I could almost feel the damp air and see those glowing fall colors along the river. The detail about camping at Red Bridge and waking up to steady rain made it feel so real (and relatable — I’ve had my share of gear mishaps in the dark too!). Sounds like a perfect Michigan fall adventure despite the weather — or maybe even better because of it.
Thank you for reading! Mid-Michigan and northern Michigan are absolutely stunning in the fall and this hike really allowed me to take it all in and appreciate the colors. Since it wasn’t cold or windy, I didn’t mind the rain at all. It gave the hike even more shine!