Trip Report | Published October 4, 2026
Fife Lake NCT Hiking & Kayaking Adventure
Two days on the North Country Trail, one fast day on the Boardman River, and a lot of campfire time in between.
Three days. Miles of trail. Kayaking. Campfires. New friendships. A little rain. Live music. And finally, a stunning paddle down the Boardman River.
Our Fife Lake NCT Hiking & Kayaking Adventure took us through some of Northern Michigan's finest forests, along the North Country Trail, beside the Manistee River, and finally onto the fast-moving waters of the Boardman River.
This is the story of our three-day adventure.
Into the North Country
Once our cars were packed, we headed north on US-131 to Old 131 Campground, where we met up with our friend Elizabeth and the rest of the West Michigan Kayaking Club crew before hitting the North Country Trail toward Spring Lake State Forest Campground.
About 11 miles of winding trail lay ahead of us.
We hiked through classic Northern Michigan forest, following the Manistee River for several miles and soaking in the scenery along the way. Around mile six, we caught up with our friend Nicole, who had started ahead of us, and she joined us for the rest of the journey.
When we reached Spring Lake, we met several club members who had arrived before us, set up camp, and settled in for the evening. Others who had started the hike later in the day were still on their way, and several more members drove in that evening to join the adventure.
Great trails. Great people. New friendships.
And tomorrow… more miles.
Miles, Miles & More Miles
Early morning. Breakfast. Break down camp. Back to the trail.
We continued the Fife Lake North Country Trail Loop, making our way back toward Old 131 Campground, where our journey began.
This section was a little less scenic than the day before, but that didn't slow us down. There was plenty of elevation, a small marsh, and a whole lot of miles ahead.
Our group held an impressive 3½-mile-per-hour pace as we worked our way toward the finish.
At our lunch break, we discovered several wild apple trees. Of course, we had to pick a few and try them. They were quite sour, but still good enough to eat!
Along the trail, we also saw lots of wildflowers, deer, and several beaver dams.
Once off the trail, we headed to Manton for the evening, and the adventure shifted from hiking to hanging around the campfire.
We stayed at Manton Trails Campground, and if you're ever in the area, we highly recommend it. It's a very nice campground, the owners are great guys, and they even have live music.
We cooked dinner, shared stories, and got to know some of the club's newer members. Then we found out the live music was happening that night, so naturally… we had to go check it out.
Tomorrow, we trade our hiking boots for kayaks.
The Boardman River awaits.
From Boots to Boats
After two days of hiking, it was finally time to hit the water.
We woke to a little rain, packed up camp, loaded the kayaks, and headed for the Boardman River.
Our plan was roughly 18 miles from Forks Road State Forest Campground to the Shumsky Road Boat Launch.
Forks Road has a very nice, easily accessible canoe and kayak launch, along with a bathroom and plenty of good parking. The drive to the Shumsky Road Boat Launch is about 25 to 27 minutes, making it a convenient shuttle.
Recent rain had the river moving fast, and the Boardman was absolutely gorgeous.
Clear water. Fast current. Pine forests. Cedar swamps. And wildlife everywhere.
Along the way, we spotted herons, eagles, and plenty of other wildlife as the river carried us through Northern Michigan.
With two days of hiking behind us, the miles on the water flew by. We finished the paddle in about four hours.
If you've never kayaked the Boardman River, we highly recommend it. It's easily one of our top three rivers in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
There are also hiking trails in the area that we didn't have time to explore, but we've heard they're very nice and definitely worth checking out.
More Than the Miles
And just like that… three days of adventure came to an end.
- Three days, two nights camping
- About 11 miles of trail on day one
- A 3½ mph pace on day two
- Roughly 18 miles on the Boardman
- One river paddled in about four hours
- And countless memories
Three days of trails, rivers, campfires, rain, laughter, new friendships, and memories.
We're always a little sad when an adventure ends. But the next one is already waiting.
Next stop: the Manistee River.
More Than Just a Kayaking Club
West Michigan Kayaking Club is an active Michigan outdoor adventure community focused on kayaking, hiking, camping, river exploration, and unforgettable adventures across the state.
Trips like this one show what we're about: we don't stop at the water's edge. Sometimes the adventure starts on a trail, continues around a campfire, and finishes on a river.
Follow along for upcoming adventures, trip reports, hiking expeditions, Michigan kayaking destinations, and opportunities to explore Michigan's wild places with an incredible community of outdoor enthusiasts.