wanderingswithsarahIn Michigan and looking for a trip to take this summer? Look no further than this Michigan weekend trip in East Jordan, Michigan. This trip is perfect to take solo, with your significant other, or with your best friend. This trip is also a great one for the spring or fall.
Table of Contents
- Book Your Stay at Retreat North
- Packing List for This Michigan Weekend Trip
- Friday: Check into Retreat North
- Saturday: Hike and Paddle
- Sunday: Check out of Retreat North and Adventure Home
Book Your Stay at Retreat North (hosted)
Retreat North offers a cabin getaway with everything you could want for a Michigan weekend trip away. At each cabin you’ll find a hot tub, outdoor seating, firepit, free firewood and kindling, king size bed, kitchenette stocked with cookware and dinnerware, fridge, stove, and full bathroom. Other amenities you’ll find inside include a sound machine, shampoo and conditioner, headlamps, and towels. There’s also a selection of books and games at each cabin, a community sauna and cold plunge tub, and hiking trail onsite down to the creek.
I stayed at the Retreat North #2 – Bellaire cabin (hosted) and enjoyed the easy access to the sauna and cold plunge tub and beautiful sunrise views over the valley. This cabin was the perfect fit for a solo trip.
Book your stay now!
- Retreat North #1 – Torch
- Retreat North #2 – Bellaire
- Retreat North #3 – Elk
- Retreat North #4 – Skekemog
Packing List for This Michigan Weekend Trip
Michigan Weekend Trip Packing List and Recommendations
- Sling Bag (I use this one here* from Kavu)
- 10 HikingEssentials (list linked here)
- Hiking/Camp Sandals (Check out these here* from Chaco)
- Swimsuit and Beach Towel
- S’mores ingredients and roasting stick
Optional Gear
- Inflatable paddleboard or kayak (Check out this paddleboard from Skatinger and this kayak from Intex)
- Life jacket
Friday: Check into Retreat North
After finishing up at work on Friday, hit the road and plug in Retreat North into your GPS.
Spend Friday night relaxing at the cabin. Roast some marshmallows over the fire and relax in the hot tub while watching the sunset glow fill the valley. Cook your dinner on the stove inside and enjoy a night of peace and quiet at this great cabin getaway.
Saturday: Hike and Paddle
Hike
On Saturday, wake up and head out on a hike. I opted to hike at Grass River Natural Area and Glacial Hills Pathway and Natural Area. There are a wide variety of different hiking trails in the area to choose from.
- Kayak access and rentals
- Park includes 7.5 miles of trails
- Wheelchair-friendly trail options
- 1.5 mile boardwalk along Grass River
Glacial Hills Pathway and Natural Area
- Natural area inclues 31.5 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking
- 3 trailheads to access the trails
- Wooded trails with incline
Other Hiking Trail Ideas:
- Torch Lake Nature Preserve: 1.5 mile wooded trail near Torch Lake
- Avalanche Preserve: 2.6 miles, wooded trail with lookout of Lake Charlevoix
- Hill Nature Trail: 2.3 miles, trail is a mix of woods, old apple orchard, and meadow with a lookout of Lake Charlevoix
- Jordan Valley Pathway: 18.7 miles of wooded trails with scenic overlooks, part of the North Country Scenic Trail
- Fisherman’s Island State Park: 10+ miles of hiking trails through forests, dunes, and along the Lake Michigan shoreline
Paddle
After hiking in the morning, get out on the water. East Jordan is near the Chain of Lakes region of Michigan, so there are endless places to get out on the water. Both Torch Lake and Jordan River are a couple of great options with rentals available.
Torch Lake
Torch Lake is a popular lake in northern Michigan, known for its unique turquoise-colored water. It also has a large sandbar that’s popular for social gatherings and anchoring boats.
I opted to take my inflatable SUP out on the water, using Torch Lake Beach and Boat Ramp as an access point for the northern and less busy end of the lake.
If you don’t have your own SUP or kayak, you can also rent from one of the different companies in the area. Here are a a few options to check out:
Jordan River
The Jordan River is a great route to float, kayak, or paddleboard. Check out this paddle map for guidance on where to start if you have your own equipment. If you need to rent, check out Jordan Valley Outfitters.
Lavender Hill Farm
For a unique stop after getting out on the water, check out Lavender Hill Farm. The farm is open from May to October, with the lavender blooming from late June through August. Peak time to see the lavender is mid-July. There’s a store with lavender everything (and I mean everything). You can get fresh lavender coffee or lemonade while you’re there. Since I went later in the day, I opted for a Lavender Fizz Lemonade. It was refreshing and still worth a try if you’re unsure about the lavender element.
There are tours available, but you can also walk around the grounds for free. If this doesn’t sound like your thing, Charlevoix is also close by, with plenty of shopping and a pier to walk.
Dinner + Relax
After a long day hiking and out on the water, head into Boyne City and grab a bite to eat at Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen. Stiggs has seating inside, at the bar, or outside. I opted to order take out and head to Peninsula Beach. This was a great little park to sit by the water and enjoy a delicious dinner from Stiggs. If you like seafood, I would highly recommend the fish and chips! The 2 piece was more than enough and their House Fries had the perfect blend of spices.
Once I got back to Retreat North, I started up the sauna. Since it takes 45 minutes to heat up, I used this time to hike down to Cokirs Creek on the property. This would be the perfect place to set up a hammock. Then I filled up the cold plunge tub, which takes at least another 10 minutes. The guidebook at each cabin advises that the best experience is to start with the sauna for 10 to 20 minutes, then cold plunge for 30 seconds to 2 minutes. All directions can be found in your guidebook.
After enjoying the sauna and cold plunge tub, enjoy the hot tub or firepit (or both) and stargaze to finish out the evening.
Sunday: Check out of Retreat North and Adventure Home
Check out of Retreat North by 11am and then head to Skybridge Michigan to check out the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge. This bridge opened in 2022 and is located at Boyne Mountain. The cost for adults is $25 if you buy your tickets online here. Your ticket will cover a chairlift ride to and from the bridge and allow you to walk across the bridge. This would be a great place to visit in the fall, but it’s beautiful year-round.
I was driving back to Grand Rapids, so it was right on my way to make a couple of stops along the Jordan Valley Pathway to finish off this Michigan weekend trip. I stopped at the following overlooks to take a short hike and check out the views before making my way home.
- Deadmans Hill: Trail access point and overlook. A 2.7 mile loop option accessible here starting from the overlook and ending back by the parking area.
- Landslide Overlook: Trail access point and short trail to overlook. There is a long section of dirt road to get here; it’s well-maintained, but narrow enough that you’ll need to yield to any oncoming traffic.
If you’re headed in a different direction, other great stops might include Hartwick Pines State Park, Ocqueoc Falls, or Wilderness State Park. Check these out to see what might work for your route!
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