Fisherman’s Hike: A Short Backwoods Trail to the Carp River

At only about a third of a mile, Fisherman's Hike sounds like it should be a quick little walk through the woods.

And technically, it is.

But don't let that third of a mile fool you.

This isn't a paved path or a manicured nature trail.

It's a narrow little backwoods trail through Hiawatha National Forest, with muddy spots, a stream crossing, some questionable homemade bridges, and one heck of a payoff waiting at the end.

The Carp River.

And as I found out, there's a pretty good reason this little trail is called Fisherman's Hike.

A Trail Made Popular by Fishermen

Fisherman's Hike is an official Hiawatha National Forest trail running about 0.35 mile one way to the Carp River. Hike out and back, and you're looking at roughly 0.7 mile total.

But the name is what caught my attention.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, the trail became popular with fishermen heading toward the Carp River during the spring fishing runs. Smelt and steelhead helped draw fishermen here, and the little path eventually became known as Fisherman's Hike.

So no, somebody didn't just slap a fishing name on a trail through the woods.

Fishing is actually part of its story.

And once you see where the trail ends, that makes a whole lot of sense.

Getting to the Trail

Getting here feels a little different from pulling into a developed hiking area.

I followed a gravel Forest Service road all the way to the end, where there was enough room for a couple of vehicles to park.

Nothing fancy.

Then you see the sign:

FISHERMAN'S HIKE
CARP RIVER 1/3

And that's pretty much your invitation into the woods.

There aren't a bunch of facilities or a big developed trailhead waiting for you. You park at the end of a gravel road, find the sign and start walking.

Within a few steps, it already feels like you're heading into the backwoods.

Which is exactly what I was hoping for.

Short Doesn't Mean Easy

I wouldn't call Fisherman's Hike difficult.

But I definitely wouldn't call it an easy little nature walk either.

Most of the trail wasn't bad when I visited. It's narrow and natural, with some muddy and overgrown sections and a few downed branches to work around.

Nothing terrible.

Then you get to the stream crossing.

And... well...

Apparently, people have tried to make things easier over the years by throwing down old pallets, boards and even ladders.

Yep. Ladders.

I'm not sure they're helping anymore.

Some of it seemed more in the way than anything else.

This is also where conditions are really going to matter. Hit the trail during a dry stretch and you might walk through without much trouble at all.

Go after some rain or during a wetter part of the year?

You're probably going to be pretty happy you wore boots.

I'd throw some bug spray in the pack during warmer weather too. This is the U.P., you're in the woods, and the bugs don't care that the hike is only a third of a mile.

The best way I can describe Fisherman's Hike is:

Short, but rough around the edges.

And honestly?

I kind of like it that way.

Then You See the River

This was easily my favorite part of the hike.

After working your way through the woods, you eventually catch a little glimpse of water through the trees.

There it is.

You're almost there.

Keep going just a little farther and suddenly the whole thing opens up.

The Carp River is right in front of you.

And this is where that little third-of-a-mile hike pays off.

I could see a pier across the river, and after spending the hike tucked into the woods, stepping out to that open water felt like a much bigger payoff than you'd expect from such a short trail.

That's the moment that made this hike for me.

One minute you're picking your way around mud, branches and somebody's old pallet bridge.

A few minutes later, you're standing at the Carp River.

Not bad for a third of a mile.

There's More to the Carp River

And the river you're standing beside is part of something much bigger.

A 27.8-mile section of the Carp River was added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1992, with portions classified as Wild, Scenic and Recreational.

The larger river corridor runs through forests and wetlands, and part of it passes through the Mackinac Wilderness.

There's also an interesting connection between the river and the trail's fishing history. The Carp has long attracted anglers, with steelhead, smelt, trout and salmon all associated with different seasons along the river.

You don't need to carry a fishing rod to enjoy Fisherman's Hike.

I didn't.

But once you know that fishermen were using this little path to reach the Carp during the spring runs, the name suddenly makes perfect sense.

They were headed to the river.

You're basically following in their footsteps.

What I'd Bring

You definitely don't need to pack for an expedition.

I mean, we're still talking about a 0.7-mile round trip here.

But I'd wear decent footwear.

Most of the year, boots are probably the better choice. You're walking through wet country, and that stream crossing alone has the potential to get messy.

During a dry stretch, you may not need them at all.

I'd also bring bug spray during warmer weather.

Other than that, keep it simple.

Just remember that this is a natural trail. Mud, vegetation, downed branches and those makeshift crossings can all change between visits.

And I definitely wouldn't put too much faith in an old ladder lying across a creek.

Yooper Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5 out of 5 Yooper Stars.

And no, I'm not giving it five stars because Fisherman's Hike is perfectly maintained.

It isn't.

I'm not giving it five because it's some huge, spectacular hike either.

It definitely isn't that.

I'm giving this one five stars because of everything it manages to squeeze into such a short trail.

You've got a rough little walk through the woods. You've got a trail with a history tied directly to U.P. fishing. You've got mud, a stream crossing and some of the most questionable homemade trail engineering I've seen in a while.

Then you get that first little glimpse through the trees.

Keep walking.

The woods open up.

And there's the Carp River.

It's only about a third of a mile in.

But when you reach the river, it feels like you actually went somewhere.

For a little backwoods trail at the end of a gravel road, that's one heck of a payoff.

And that's exactly the kind of hike I like finding in the U.P.