Michigan · Hiking

Manistee River Trail

19.0 mi
round trip
2,344 ft
climb
869 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 12 h ago

Is Manistee River Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Huron-Manistee National Forest.

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

The Manistee River Trail is a 19-mile out-and-back route in the Cadillac Ranger District of the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Michigan. The trail climbs to 869 feet, with a total gain of 2,344 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.77 miles in, where the grade reaches 20 percent. The trail lies entirely on natural surface and is not accessible. Bikes and horses are not allowed. The Forest Service manages the land. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 81°F with lows near 54°F, while January highs average only 28°F. The trip takes about 7.5 hours, and the trail is open year-round. Red Bridge River Access Site sits just 0.1 mile away, and Government Landing Access is 1.7 miles off. Paddlers can head to Bear Creek, about 9.7 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Manistee River Trail

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      28° / 12°

      18 wet

    2. Feb

      31° / 12°

      14 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 19°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      55° / 29°

      13 wet

    5. May

      68° / 40°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      77° / 50°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 54°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 53°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 46°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 36°

      16 wet

    11. Nov

      44° / 26°

      15 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 18°

      17 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Wellston 1n, MI, 6.1 mi away at 773 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Safety Awareness for Upper Manistee River Levels, Wednesday Oct. 7, 2026

      Huron-Manistee National Forest · Order dated October 5, 2026; seen Oct 5, 2026 → lifted Oct 22, 2026 · Forest Service

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