Mt. Harvard Traverse

Frenchman Creek Trail to Harvard Summit and descent on Mt. Harvard trail through Horn Fork Basin to N. Cottonwood Creek trail.
Start Elevation: 9,414 ft.

Summit Elevation: 14,420 ft.

Finish Elevation: 9,892 ft.
Distance: 14.30 mi. (my Forerunner 235)
Elevation Gain: 5300 ft. (my Forerunner 235)
Start Time: 5:37am
End Time: 1:46pm


Trip Report:
I've had my eye on a return trip to Harvard in recent years. I first climbed it in 2010 with my friend Matt when we did the Harvard-Columbia traverse from our campsite in Horn Fork Basin. I instantly fell in love with the area. I wanted to change the route up slightly this time. I had read good things about the Frenchman Creek approach and decided to make a scenic up-and-over route on Harvard to keep things fresh. With all of this being relatively close to my folks place in the BV area we had an easy way to get vehicles in place for the two trailheads we'd be using.

Harvard Lakes Backpacking - And a Missing Hiker

Three Elk trail to Colorado Trail
Lower Trailhead Elevation: 8,831 ft.

Upper Trailhead Elevation: 9,302 ft.

Harvard Lakes Elevation: 10,246 ft.

Hike In
Start Time: 4:57pm
End Time: 6:07pm (6:59pm)

Distance: 1.91mi. (4.18 w/ search)

Elevation Gain: 1082 ft. (1309 w/ search)

Hike Out

Start Time: 8:40am

End Time: 9:55am

Distance: 2.77mi. (to lower TH)

Elevation Gain: 116 ft.

Trip Report:
This summer was the first time my whole family and my brother's whole family would be together in Colorado and staying at my parent's house. This meant wonderful amounts of family time and opportunities to give the kids new experiences in the backcountry. I knew immediately I wanted to find a way to take out all the young cousins backpacking. My boys have had a few short experiences already and the chance to get my brother's kids out to enjoy the same was enticing. We weighed through a number of options and places of how to accomplish this. One of the times I've taken my boys out was merely hiking a half mile up the North Cottonwood Creek trail and picking a spot. A short excursion like that is necessary with new young backpackers as they likely won't be carrying much of their gear. The adults in the gear get overloaded packs with extra sleeping bags and tents.

Munising Falls and North Country Trail Run

Munising Falls Trail and an out-and-back trail run on the North Country Trail from Munising Falls TH.
Trailhead Elevation: 662 ft.

Munising Falls Hike
Distance: 0.45 mi. (likely longer, started a little late)
Elevation Gain: 179 ft. (my Forerunner 235)
Time: 4:48pm - 5:03pm

NCT Trail Run
Distance: 4.01 mi. (my Forerunner 235)
Elevation Gain: 322 ft. (my Forerunner 235)
Time: 6:30am - 7:24am


Trip Report:
If you make it to Munising in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan then it is well worth making the short journey to see Munising Falls. In fact there are at least a dozen different waterfalls to see up in this area and this might be one of the best of them. The trail starts at a visitors center for Pictured Rocks just east of the town of Munising.

Au Sable Lightstation (Pictured Rocks NL)

North Country Trail from Hurricane River to the Lightstation

Trailhead Elevation: 626 ft.
Distance: 3.43 mi. (my Forerunner 235)
Elevation Gain: 51 ft. (my Forerunner 235)
Start Time: 12:47pm
End Time: 2:24pm

Trip Report:
When it comes to the nuts and bolts of this hike there isn't a lot to say. It is a straightforward easy hike to follow and to complete. It leaves either from the day-use area at Hurricane River or from the west end of the lower campground. It follows a double-track gravel road out to the edge of the Lightstation complex. Once at the Lightstation there are several buildings to walk around and beautiful fields of wildflowers. Since our hike was during the coronavirus pandemic the buildings were all closed and the usual tour not offered. At the west end of the Lightstation complex the North Country Trail continues eastward toward Grand Marais.

Miner's Beach (Pictured Rocks NL)

Miner's Castle

Trailhead Elevation: 771 ft.

Beach Elevation: 606 ft.
Distance: 3.06 mi. (my Forerunner 235)
Elevation Gain: 433 ft. (my Forerunner 235)
Start Time: 12:56pm
End Time: 2:35pm

Trip Report:
The Miner's Castle area is a great place to take in some of the best that Pictured Rocks has to offer when you're stuck on land. For most, taking the Pictured Rocks boat cruises to see the amazing cliffs up close from the water will really be the most jaw-dropping way to go. Our family did this cruise back in 2016 on a trip to Michigan's UP and loved it. This year on a return trip we decided to try something different and check things out from the land. It didn't disappoint.