Huron National Forest McKinley Trail Historic Logging Circuit

The McKinley Trail follows ghost roads carved by loggers who stripped this country bare in the 1880s. Starting near Mio, the 18-mile loop drops into the Au Sable River valley through deep sand that’ll test your momentum and tire pressure. Old railroad grades, rusted camp machinery, and cemetery markers tell the story of Michigan’s timber rush. The trail crosses Comins Creek multiple times and climbs through jack pine barrens that replaced the original white pine forests.

Difficult rating due to the sand—you’ll need aggressive tread, low air pressure, and momentum to punch through the soft stuff. High-clearance 4WD mandatory, with recovery gear recommended for solo runs. Late spring through early fall offers the best conditions, though the sand stays challenging year-round. Dispersed camping available, but water sources are unreliable. This trail shows you the bones of what Michigan’s north woods used to be, before the saws came through.