A Running Hike on South Manitou Island

Sometime last summer, Tony and I created a list of things we wanted to do before the weather turned. Having the list helped focus some of our free time, but we didn’t cross all our items off, and so they popped back up on this year’s list. After living in northern Michigan through four summers, we finally ventured over to the Manitou Islands…specifically a day trip to South Manitou.

It’s a popular place, but only one ferry undertakes the voyage (about 15 miles direct…which is definitely not how we traveled), so it never gets too crowded. Or so I imagine. We did just make our first trip on the last day they do daytrips, so I could be making this up. But it stands to reason.

The boat ride lasts about an hour and a half, and while accommodations are Spartan, they’re also pretty comfortable. We faced into the wind for the majority of the trip, so incoming waves pounded the boat, eventually dousing the semi-interior carpets in a constant stream. It didn’t feel dangerous or daring – just amusing.

North Manitou Shoal Lighthouse – getting close to our destination

This sweet lady (in her 70’s) stood here the entire journey – thoroughly enjoying the crashing waters

The lighthouse greeted us from afar, and soon we were within the calmer waters of the bay.

The lighthouse was high on our sight-seeing priority list, on the way to other list items, and close to where we disembarked, we headed there first. It is a lovely structure in beautiful condition, built in the mid 1800’s. Maybe next time we’ll climb inside.

We didn’t linger. With time slipping quickly by, we hopped onto the trail to the (by our reckoning) main attraction.

Canopied trail – typical of the island’s trails

One hour later, we arrived at the high bluffs overlooking the Francisco Morazan shipwreck. Carrying a motley cargo lineup, she ran ashore of the shoal November 29, 1960. All the crew escaped, and eventually some of the cargo was salvaged.

Zoomed-in panorama; click for more detail

Though the remains of the wreckage were supremely cool, they were also buffeted by large waves…and were also waaaay down a sandy bluff with no elevator back to the top. So, again we shouldered our packs, and rejoined the main trail continuing west to the perched sand dunes. Checking the time, we picked up the pace to avoid an accidental overnight stay.

The trail narrowed and then finally took an upward turn as we began the sandy ascent up the dunes. At the top of the first rise, we quickly decided it was imperative to keep climbing, but we were in a serious hurry. We tossed our packs down – gearless except for my trusty camera – and ran the rest of the way. Sweating, muscles burning, and out of breath, we marveled at the sights: 360-degrees of Lake Michigan along with a ghost forest and commanding views of the Sleeping Bear Dunes (back on the mainland), North Manitou Island, and the entirety of South Manitou.

Atop the perched dunes – North Island visible in the top photo, SBD in the bottom (click to embiggen)


I’ll take a picture of you if you take a picture of me 😉

Vanity photos snapped, we recommenced our run. Truth be told, we quite enjoyed the descent.

Another time check revealed that we had about an hour and forty minutes to cover the trail that had taken us two hours on our way in. So of course, we forked off the main path to explore the old growth cedars. Once again, we found ourselves jogging up a steep rise. At least this time it was packed turf instead of shifting sands. The diversion was again worth the sweat. The cedars were Jurassic beasts.

With no remaining checklist-sights to divert our attention, we made good time back en route to the dock – arriving early enough to enjoy some of the trail mix we had been packing.

While we had been gallivanting, the winds had kicked up and the lake was a mess of six-foot rolling swells. Again, not dangerous, but definitely a seasick concern. (We packed stomach-settling mint gum: crises averted!) Somewhere in the middle of the passage, we came across a tallship, bucking in the waves. I think even a tub of gum would have been ineffectual.

I definitely recommend checking out larger versions of the right two images

And as we neared the mainland, we savored the last views of some of our favorite hiking destinations – places we visit so that we can look out to where we were currently sitting 🙂

Different views of Pyramid Point

Back on land, we were exhausted (and gross), but eminently glad we had (finally) made the journey. Perhaps we won’t wait four summers to get back over there. And assuming that’s the case, perhaps we’ll even budget our time better!

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