Mount Baldy (Keweenaw)
The hike to the top of Mount Baldy takes the cake as my favorite hike in the Keweenaw Peninsula and rivals Hogback Mountain as one of my favorite hikes in Michigan. Starting from the parking area just outside of Eagle Harbor, the terrain starts sandy as you climb a large sand dune that quickly turns into dirt and rock. The trail is extremely easy to follow and crosses a creek on its way to the top of the mountain. When you reach the metal poles that stop ATVs from going any further, you are about halfway up the mountain. About ¾ of the way up, you will come to a clearing that fools some folks as the top of the mountain. Continue on your journey, and you will reach the actual top, complete with the bald cliff face that lends the mountain its name. Views of Lake Bailey, Lake Superior, Mount Bohemia, the fault in the trees where Cedar Creek cuts underneath the ridge, and many more are what draw people to hike Mount Baldy. The hike is billed as 6 miles round trip but with all of the extracurricular walking we did atop the mountain; we ended up hiking 6.7 miles, climbing 1,089 feet, and spending a little over 3 hours hiking, enjoying the views, and talking to other folks atop the mountain. Although a nearly 7-mile hike may seem daunting, it is well worth the views that this journey offers!
