Fox River Pathway
Upper Peninsula, central · Michigan DNR (state forest)
Twenty-seven miles up the river Hemingway made famous and then renamed, from Seney toward the old logging ghost country. Brook trout water, pine plains, and almost nobody. The two campgrounds on the route take the fee pipe; everywhere else, hang your card and pick a bend.
From above. USDA NAIP, public domain.The vibe
Works for hammock, tent. Measured dark skies, a real one for stargazing.
Hanging a hammock?
Depends whose trees they are. The DNR makes the rules, and wilderness areas can have their own take on hammocks, so check before you count on a hang. Wherever you hang: wide tree-friendly straps, no nails or wire, and don't tear the bark. We can't see the trunks from here, so eyeball it on arrival.
The rules
Dispersed camping along the pathway under the state-forest rule: free, post a camp registration card (PR4134), 1+ mile from the state forest campgrounds on the route, off posted ground.
Southern trailhead at Seney; ~4.5 hr from Grand Rapids.
Thicket is not the managing agency and not affiliated with it. The vibe read is our estimate from open data (OpenStreetMap, USGS elevation, NASA Black Marble nighttime light); the rules, permits, and access can change. Confirm with the agency before you go, and leave no trace.