Michigan · Hiking

The Dragon Trail - Segment #8

1.7 mi
round trip
609 ft
climb
848 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is The Dragon Trail - Segment #8 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 Dragon Trail - Segment #8 is an easy, out-and-back hike of about 3.3 miles in the White Cloud Ranger District of the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Michigan. The trail rises from a low point of 825 feet to a high of 848 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 20 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.5 miles in, where the grade reaches 10 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Big Rapids show July highs around 81°F with lows near 57°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. The trail sits within the Forest Service's White Cloud Ranger District. The Dragon Trail's other segments are close by, with Segment #1 and Segment #3 each about a mile and a half away. Big Bend Township Park offers camping about 1.3 miles off, and the Muskegon River, a fishing spot, is about 1.2 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit The Dragon Trail - Segment #8

    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° / 13°

      16 wet

    2. Feb

      31° / 12°

      13 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 20°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      55° / 31°

      13 wet

    5. May

      68° / 43°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      77° / 53°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 57°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 55°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 47°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 36°

      14 wet

    11. Nov

      44° / 28°

      14 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 19°

      15 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Rapids Wtp, MI, 14.1 mi away at 898 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

The Dragon Trail - Segment #1Photo: Larry Pieniazek, Lar (commons) or User:Lar (wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Dragon Trail - Segment #1

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The Dragon Trail - Segment #10Photo: Larry Pieniazek, Lar (commons) or User:Lar (wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Dragon Trail - Segment #10

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The Dragon Trail - Segment #4

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5.60-mile out-and-back hike on The Dragon Trail in Michigan with 992 ft gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors