Drummond Island Maxton Plains Wildlife Loop

Drummond Island’s Maxton Plains trail cuts through rare Great Lakes alvar — exposed limestone prairie that looks more like moonscape than Michigan. This 12-mile loop accesses abandoned limestone quarries, seasonal wetlands, and the island’s interior grasslands where elk roam freely. The route follows old quarry roads and two-tracks past Sturgeon Bay overlooks and through stands of ancient white cedar that somehow took root in cracks of bedrock.

Easy to moderate difficulty with a few rocky sections where limestone bedrock creates natural steps. Any stock SUV handles it, though clearance helps in the wetter sections near Duck Lake. Best from May through October when ferry service runs regularly — you’ll need to haul everything over on the ferry from DeTour Village. No permits needed, but dispersed camping requires landowner permission. The payoff is solitude on one of the Great Lakes’ most unique ecosystems, plus some of the clearest night skies in the lower peninsula.