Michigan · Hiking

Channels Trail

11.5 mi
round trip
251 ft
climb
852 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Channels Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Tawas Ranger District. It doesn't name Channels Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Tawas Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Channels Trail is an easy, 11.5-mile out-and-back hike in the Tawas Ranger District of the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Michigan. The trail is a low-elevation route, with a high point of 852 feet and a low of 834 feet, and it gains only about 10 feet of elevation over the course of the trip. The trail is natural-surfaced and open year-round, and it is not an accessible trail. Bikes are allowed on the route, so it works for hikers and riders alike. The trail is not a short outing, so plan on a full day. The steepest stretch comes at about 4.1 miles in, with a grade of about 4 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Hale Loud Dam weather station show July highs around 81°F and lows near 57°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. Rollways Campground is about 4.6 miles away, and Towerline Spur is about 3.8 miles away. Round Lake campground is about 5.9 miles off, and Sawmill Point Boat Launch is about 8.8 miles away.