Michigan Rapids
- 4.0 mi
- round trip
- 383 ft
- climb
- 1,430 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Michigan Rapids open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Lakewood-Laona Ranger District. It doesn't name Michigan Rapids, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).
Emergency Closure Order 09-13-04-26-04
Agency closure covering Lakewood-Laona Ranger District · Order 09-13-04-26-04 · USFS · Lakewood-Laona Ranger District
Trail work and picnic area improvements at Morgan Falls/St. Peter's Dome Recreation Area this fall
Agency closure covering Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest · USFS · Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Forest Order 09-13-25-02 General Occupancy and Use Restrictions
Agency closure covering Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest · Order 09-13-25-02 · USFS · Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Lakewood-Laona Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Michigan Rapids is a 4-mile out-and-back hike in the Lakewood-Laona Ranger District of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of 116 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about the 1-mile mark, where the grade reaches 15%. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows bikes, but horses are not permitted. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 77°F in July and 73°F in June, with lows in the mid-40s. Burnt Bridge Hwt lies less than a mile away, and Goose Lake Hwt is about 1.5 miles off. Halley Creek Bird Trail and Bear Lake campground are both within about 3.7 miles.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Michigan Rapids
Best months: May–October. 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.
Jan
23° / 5°
Feb
28° / 7°
Mar
39° / 17°
Apr
52° / 29°
May
66° / 39°
Jun
73° / 49°
Jul
77° / 54°
Aug
75° / 53°
Sep
67° / 46°
Oct
55° / 35°
Nov
40° / 23°
Dec
28° / 11°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Goodman Sanitary Dist, WI, 7.8 mi away at 1,448 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Burnt Bridge Hwt
~2 min drive
6-mile out-and-back Wisconsin trail through woodland terrain.
HIKE
Goose Lake Hwt
~3 min drive
9.2-mile out-and-back Wisconsin trail to Goose Lake with woodland scenery.
HIKE
Colburn Creek Hwt
~11 min drive
A 5.2-mile out-and-back creek-side hike through Wisconsin woodland.
HIKE
Halley Creek Bird Trail
~5 min drive
2.00-mile loop with 165 ft elevation gain in Wisconsin.
HIKE
Catwillow Creek Hwt
~5 min drive
9.8-mile out-and-back creek-side hike through Wisconsin woodland.
HIKE
Laura Lake Nature Trail
~17 min drive
4.93-mile loop trail in Wisconsin with 417 ft gain and 482 ft loss.
HIKE
Bear Lake-Kufner Road Hwt
~9 min drive
7-mile out-and-back woodland trail near Bear Lake in northern Wisconsin.
HIKE
SNOWMOIBLE TRAIL LKLN FOREST
~6 min drive
12.64-mile out-and-back trail in Wisconsin with 2,124 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Long Lake
~36 min drive
4.84-mile out-and-back trail at Long Lake in Wisconsin with 319 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Knowles Creek Interpretive Tra
~17 min drive
0.53-mile out-and-back trail in Wisconsin with 49 ft of elevation gain.
