White Trail (Arowhon Pines)

This is a roughly 4.7-mile round-trip out-and-back from Arowhon Pines to the stone chimneys of Camp Minnesing. Allow four to five hours for the full hike. The route follows the Yellow Trail approach, continues on white markers along Baby Joe Lake, reaches the Burnt Island Lake dam, then rises around to the old camp site. The mapped route includes the walk from the lodge; the shorter canoe-assisted itinerary is a different experience.

The Yellow approach winds through hardwood forest around Little Joe Lake bay, with a small creek crossing and a view back toward the lodge at the lake edge. White markers begin just beyond a creek. The route to a second creek at Baby Joe Lake’s south end is the shorter turnaround; from there, the full trail follows the shore to the dam and on to the chimneys. The level section is followed by a more demanding stretch through the forest; Arowhon describes its trails as somewhat harder than the park’s usual walks.

The destination is the stone chimneys left from Camp Minnesing, a lakeside resort that operated from 1913 to 1937. They are the main reason to take the longer route; the historic structures stand among the forest rather than at a developed visitor site.

The trail starts from Arowhon Pines, but permission for day visitors who are not lodge guests and their parking arrangements are not clearly stated. Confirm access with the lodge before setting out. The lodge asks hikers to notify its office of their plans and carry its trail map. Stay with the markers: moose and deer tracks can look like paths in the forest. Pet rules for non-guests are also unconfirmed.