Michigan · Hiking

Bluff

1.4 mi
round trip
380 ft
climb
1,346 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Bluff open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Ottawa National Forest. It doesn't name Bluff, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Ottawa National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Bluff is a short, easy hike in the Bergland Ranger District of Michigan's Ottawa National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 1.4 miles long and rises roughly 188 feet one way, with the high point at 1,346 feet. It is an out-and-back route, and the climb is steepest near the start, with a 23% grade at about 0.08 miles. The trail is natural-surfaced and open to both horses and bikes. It is not an accessible trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Bergland Dam weather station run from highs around 74°F in June to about 77°F in July, with lows in the low 50s. Winters are cold, with January highs near 21°F. The trip takes about half an hour, and the trail is open year-round. Cascade Falls sits just 0.1 mile away, and the Multiple Use trail is about 0.6 mile off. Paddlers can reach the West Branch Ontonagon River about 2.6 miles away, and climbers will find Norwich Ledge about 2.9 miles away.