Trail to Taproom: Where to Take a Hike and Grab a Pint Across Michigan
Are you a Michigander who ‘Will Hike for Beer’? Us too.
Some folks hike for the scenery. Others stroll for the solitude. But a unique crop of outdoor lovers hike their hearts out for what’s waiting at the end of the adventure: a cold pint of beer. If you’re a Michigander or Great Lakes visitor who prefers a pint to cool down after a day on the trail, we’ve curated a roundup of our favorite trails across the state that have great taprooms nearby.
Here are six local-curated itineraries for where to take a hike and enjoy a drink at a brewery, taproom or tasting room afterward. Hoppy trails!
Frankfort
Nature Area: C.S. Mott Nature Preserve
Trail: Dry Hills Trail Loop – 9 miles
Taproom: Stormcloud Brewing Company
More than 15 miles of interconnected trail wind through C.S. Mott Nature Preserve in the Arcadia Dunes natural area. But we recommend hiking the 9-mile Dry Hills Trail Loop. This 3,800-acre protected natural area is managed by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and bursts with native wildflowers like bright white large-flowered trillium, purple-blue wild blue phlox, and yellow celandine poppy starting mid-May.
After the hike, head to Stormcloud Brewing Company in downtown Frankfort to sip Belgian-inspired beers. Make sure to take advantage of their beautiful outdoor patio which hosts live music and in warmer months. If dive bars are more your style, you can also swing by Villa Marine Bar & Grill, a local dive bar with a canoe hanging from the ceiling and a mix of local Michigan beers on draft. Test your pool game on the well-loved table in the center pub or sing your heart out during weekly Friday night karaoke in the summertime.
Detroit
Nature Area: Belle Isle Park
Trail: Blue Heron Lagoon Loop – 2 miles
Taproom: Brewery Faisan
Belle Isle Park is a crown jewel of natural beauty in the heart of Detroit. The 985-acre island park sits in the middle of the Detroit River and overflows with an abundance of native plant life, historical and cultural attractions (don’t miss the Belle Isle Aquarium, America’s oldest original aquarium) and stunning trails. The 2-mile Blue Heron Lagoon Loop wraps around the northeast corner of the park, passing by the William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse with stunning views of the Detroit River and the mouth of Lake St. Clair the entire route.
Post-hike, hit up Brewery Faisan in the Islandview neighborhood of Detroit. This simple, no-frills brewery pours delicious pints of flavorful and creative beers. Popular brews always on tap — loved by locals and visitors alike — include the Belgian-style Saison Détroit and the Land Fowl, a hoppy Kölsch.
St. Joseph
Nature Area: Sarett Nature Center
Trail: Center Loop Trails – 8 miles
Taproom: St. Joe Community Taproom
If you’re into non-crowded trails and community-centered beer, here’s your pairing: a hike at the Sarette Nature Center followed by a beer at St. Joe Community Taproom. This taproom supports Southwest Michigan's diverse agriculture and culinary uniqueness. Inside you’ll find an indoor market setting featuring local farmers, food vendors and makers, as well as a 16-tap tasting room with beers, wine, cider and draft cocktails from local breweries, wineries and distilleries.
Hike over 8 miles of trail beforehand in the Sarette Nature Center in Benton Harbor. The Center Loop Trails are known for their secluded and serene environment, showing off the best of Michigan fauna and flora — from Peregrine falcon and whitetail deer to swamp forest and upland meadows. Stop by the Butterfly House too, where you can view chrysalises and interact with dozens of butterfly species up close.
Grayling
Nature Area: Hartwick Pines State Park
Trail: Au Sable River Trail – 3 miles
Taproom: Paddle Hard Brewing
Take a stroll through old-growth forest in Hartwick Pines State Park before heading to Paddle Hard Brewing in Grayling for artisan eats and cold craft beer. The adventure begins as you walk below towering white pines, red pines and eastern hemlock trees within the largest state park in the lower peninsula and the fifth-largest park in the entire state of Michigan. Campers can stay within the park at modern or rustic wooded sites, or you can book a bed and breakfast, hotel or cabin stay in and around Grayling.
A brewery born out of the love of paddling, and more specifically, the grueling and inspiring AuSable River Canoe Marathon, this local taproom pours paddling-themed pints of beer from the crushable Canoe Camp session cream ale to the Iron Paddler Ale, a strong American IPA.
Lansing
Nature Area: Lansing River Trail
Trail: Lansing River Trail – 23.5 miles
Taproom: Ellison Brewery
If biking is more your style, roll out on the Lansing River Trail. This 23.5-mile paved bike path stretches from Waverly Road to Old Town. Start your journey in Turner Dodge Park in Old Town Lansing and continue south along the Grand River to the Red Cedar River before heading east through the tree-filled Michigan State University campus. Soak in views of local hardwood forests and riverside trail along the way. You can also flip-flop your route and end with lunch or dinner in Old Town at favorites like Meat BBQ and Zoobie's Old Town Tavern.
Grab a beer after your biking adventure at Ellison Brewery, just east of Hagadorn Road on the east side of Michigan State’s campus. This taproom serves up craft beer and craft cocktails too. Owner and brewer, Aaron Hanson, has finessed flavors that have caught the attention of spirit and beer enthusiasts worldwide. All of Ellison Brewery’s spirits (whiskey, vodka, gin and rum) and beers (seasonally rotating) are brewed, distilled and bottled to perfection in-house.
Houghton
Nature Area: Pilgrim River Watershed Alliance Trails
Trail: Pilgrim River Community Forest Trail - 5 miles
Taproom: Keweenaw Brewing + Pilgrim River Watershed Alliance Trails
Head to the Upper Peninsula for a more remote and rugged adventure from trail to taproom. The community-led Pilgrim River Watershed Alliance has protected over 1,600 acres and 3.5 miles of the Keweenaw Peninsula’s pristine Pilgrim River corridor through conservation efforts, including the 5-mile Pilgrim River Community Forest Trail. Best of all: You can make your escape here year-round. The hallmark pathway through the Pilgrim River Community Forest runs wild with lush greenery in warmer months and a fluffy blanket of snow come winter.
After your hike visit Keweenaw Brewing, locals belly up to the bar and all pints are $3. You can soak in an amazing view of “Michigan's Copper Country” from the rooftop patio out back. Fall colors especially pop from your aerial vantage point here in early October, covering the surrounding hills that flank The Keweenaw Waterway with hues of golden yellow, fiery red and vibrant orange. Popular pours include the Widow Maker Black Ale, Pick Axe Blonde Ale and Point Trail Rye IPA — each with its own unique power-packed punch of flavor in every pint.
About the Author: Erica Zazo is a Chicago-based freelance writer who loves to write about adventure travel in her home state of Michigan and beyond. Follow her adventures on Instagram.