North Manitou Northern Loop

North Manitou Northern Loop is a roughly 14.2-mile circuit across the island trail network, woodland, beach and Lake Michigan shore. Its named itinerary is usually spread over three days and two nights: from the village dock to Cresent, north across the Old Grade toward John Maleski, then south back to the village. One hiker logged eight hours of walking, but that is not the multi-day schedule; pack weight, ferry timing and conditions change the pace. Most grades are gentle, with one moderate climb.

From the village dock, head south toward the cemetery. After about 1.1 miles, turn west for a roughly four-mile wooded crossing. Descend to the junction and follow the sandy trail north about 0.6 mile to Cresent City Beach. The company town operated from 1906 to 1915; its buildings are gone, while old dock pilings remain along the shore. The itinerary places its first night in this area, subject to current camping rules and site conditions.

Return to the junction and continue north on the Old Grade, a former railroad corridor. Its 1.5-mile climb averages a reported 5–6 percent and is the route’s main pull. The path bends east past the north end of Lake Manitou and crosses a small stream at Pole Bridge. Beyond it, the trail opens into fields of the former John Maleski homestead before reaching a steep bluff over Lake Michigan. No homestead buildings are reported at the site.

The third day follows the Lake Michigan edge south for about three miles, passes the island campground and returns to the village dock. The route is a wilderness walk rather than a loop with road access, so keep the mapped line and the dock return in mind at each junction. The island map advises hikers to trust their compass; carry a paper map and navigation backup, especially where older paths meet the main trail network.

People have used North and South Manitou for at least 3,000 years. Later island settlement was shaped by lumbering and farming; fields and old rail grades remain in the landscape. Cresent grew around a sawmill and dock, while the Maleski stretch passes former farm fields. The shore pilings are the clearest visible trace of Cresent’s working waterfront.

Reach the island by private boat or passenger ferry from Leland; passage is weather dependent, so plan and confirm the return crossing. There is no food service, store or medical center on the island, and hikers carry their own food and gear. Potable water is limited to the village; carry at least two liters per person and treat all other water. A backcountry-use permit is required. Follow the 300-foot camping buffers, keep groups to ten or fewer, and expect outhouses only near the village and campground. Pets and wheeled vehicles are prohibited; mosquitoes, flies and ticks are common in summer and fall.