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  1. #1
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    Default Midwestern Trails

    Anyone have ideas for trails in the Midwest that I could take a week or so to hike? I was thinking about the River to River trail in Illinois, but if anyone has any ideas about any good trails they know of, let me know.

    Thanks a lot,
    Aaron

  2. #2
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    Default Knobstone Trail - The "Little AT"

    Look for the Knobstone Trail in Southern Indiana...about 60 miles long, as I recall, incredibly beautiful, and referred to for not only the beauty but the wonderful (!) PUDs as "The Little AT". It runs generally north/south, starting (or finishing) about 60 miles north of Louisville, KY. Topos are online; Google it and you'll find all you want. HIGHLY recommended.

    The Weasel
    "Thank God! there is always a Land of Beyond, For us who are true to the trail..." --- Robert Service

  3. #3
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    Default Other Good Midwestern Trails

    1) Isle Royale National Park. The best wild place in the midwest. Bar none. Least used Natl Pk in the Continental US. Wolves. Meese. Eagles. Trout. No people.

    2) Bruce Trail (Ontario). The last 100 miles runs up the east short of Georgian Bay. Cliff cedars are a UN Ecological Preserve...the oldest living plants east of the Rockies. Cliffs 200 feet above the Bay; diving from rocks. Pure water. Canadian beer. Ahhhhhhhhh.

    3) Pictured Rocks National Seashore. Further off than The Bruce. Wolves, no meese, beauty, trout.

    4) Superior Trail. Like Isle Royale without the meese. Well marked. Not heavily used.

    5) My personal favorite: North Manito Island, part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore (near Traverse City, MI). 8 miles long, 3 miles wide, ALL wilderness, VERY unused, you can wander AND bushwhack to your hearts content to interior lakes, huge 400 foot high blowout dunes, beach hikes, fishing (interior lakes!!), watch deer. Go at the end of August and pick your own fruit from the abandoned apple, cherry, peach, pear orchards. Oh yeah...30 miles of yellow sand beach surrounding every inch. You can even wear a swimsuit, if you feel like it.

    The Weasel

    The Weasel
    "Thank God! there is always a Land of Beyond, For us who are true to the trail..." --- Robert Service

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  6. #6
    Peakbagger Extraordinaire The Solemates's Avatar
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    Default

    The Ozark Trail is the closest one to St Louis. Ive done the Taum Sauk section, which is nice.

    The Ozark Highlands Trail is in Arkansas not far from St Louis. Also the Buffalo Natl Scenic River area in AR. In fact, there is tons of hiking in Arkansas, which is your best bet.

    The Land Between the Lakes Trail on the western KY/TN line isnt too far from St Louis as well.

    Just do a search on google for links to these trails. Tons pop up.
    The only thing better than mountains, is mountains where you haven't been.

    amongnature.blogspot.com

  7. #7
    AT 2008 was awesome! Iron Mnt Gap to Watauga Lake! fatmatt's Avatar
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    Default

    The North/South Trail in Kentucky/Tennessee is fairly nice. And if you request info about it at their website, they send you a bunch of free stuff!
    Remember: You don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than the slowest person running from the bear. :D

  8. #8
    Geezer
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    Default Hey Admins

    Any chance of moving this thread to OTHER TRAILS? That way the archives will be logical and new members looking for info about OTHER TRAIL can find this good stuff.
    Frosty

  9. #9
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    Default Wisconsin!

    The Ice Age Trail up in Wisconsin has some excellent hiking opportunities. It is kinda patchy in places, but you can thru-hike it if you don't mind walking roads to connect the actual trail. Over 1000 miles, and only in one state! I thru-hiked it in '03 and had a great time. Only saw one other hiker the entire trip! Just don't go in the summer, unless you carry alot of DEET and netting. Check out their website for map info.

  10. #10
    Registered User The Will's Avatar
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    Default

    The Ozark Highlands Trail is approximately 193 miles in length, located in northwestern to north central Arkansas.

    The Buffalo river Trail is around 70 miles long, though those are not continuous miles...there is a eastern and western section. It is located in north-central Arkansas.



    The Ouchita Trail's western terminus in S.E. Oklahoma. The trail runs east into Arkansas and is about 160 miles in length.



    There is a long trail in southern Missouri. I don't know the name but the grand plan is to eventually connect it to the Buffalo River Trail and Ozark Highlands Trail. The resulting network would be around 1400 miles.



    As previous post mentioned Isle Royal Nat'l Park. This is a great destination as is one of the least visited Nat'l Parks. It is more expensive than most backpacking destinations since there is a park fee, a per day fee and ferry access from various points in Michigan and Wisconsin.

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