Best Hikes Around the Great Lakes According to Reviews

In North America, many people think there are three coasts: the Atlantic, Pacific, and Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are huge freshwater lakes in the middle of the continent, covering a vast area and holding a lot of the world’s freshwater. These lakes have diverse landscapes like oceans, with forests, cliffs, waterfalls, and big cities nearby. There are lots of trails around the lakes for hiking and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Starting at Flowerpot Island on Lake Huron in Ontario, you can see cool rock formations shaped like flowerpots. A trail there takes you past these formations and to places like Beachy Cove and a tall lighthouse.

In Toronto, there are the Toronto Islands, which are a group of islands in Lake Ontario. You can get there by ferry. These islands have beaches, an amusement park, and places to play sports, all with great views of the city.

Near Niagara Falls, there’s a trail along the Niagara Gorge that gives you amazing views of the river and the waterfalls. It passes through parks and ends at Goat Island, where you can see the falls up close.

On Mackinac Island in Lake Huron, there’s a trail that goes around the whole island. It takes you past beaches, a famous rock formation called Arch Rock, and a fancy hotel with a big porch.

In Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes, the Empire Bluff Trail goes up high above Lake Michigan. It’s a short walk through forests and sand dunes, with beautiful views of the lake.

In Chicago, the Lakefront Trail goes along Lake Michigan for 18 miles. It takes you past beaches, parks, and famous places like Millennium Park.

In Wisconsin, Cave Point County Park has cool sea caves along Lake Michigan. There’s a trail there that takes you along the shore, where you can see the caves and other natural wonders.

Farther west in Wisconsin, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has a trail along Lake Superior. This trail goes past cliffs, forests, and cool sea caves carved into the rock.

Finally, Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior is a big group of islands with no cars. There’s a trail there that goes around one of the islands, with great views of the lake and the wilderness.

These trails show how beautiful the Great Lakes are, with lots of different landscapes and things to do outside.

Re-reported from the article originally published in EXPLORE.