Courtesy Photo The Wagner Falls is seen in this photo provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

With each passing mile, the landscape reveals what we anticipated once we crossed the Mackinac Bridge and continued driving north: patches, then piles, of snow along the highway and in the woods; tree branches not yet bearing any buds; misty, frosty fields more brown than green.

Winter’s last chilly grasp is holding steady in the Upper Peninsula on this mid-spring morning, and we envision only more of the same as we navigate toward Munising and Marquette. But it won’t deter us from making the most of our planned trail hikes and waterfall visits – in fact, spring is right up there for me when it comes to outdoor exploring, especially in the U.P.

Big benefits to outdoor spring adventures? No bugs, fewer (if any) crowds, just-right temperatures (you won’t get too hot or too cold). And if you’re lucky, as we are later this first afternoon in the U.P., sunshine will push through the clouds, providing the perfect amount of warmth while wandering in the woods.

My Michigan Department of Natural Resources colleague David Merk, a trails analyst in our Parks and Recreation Division, agrees that after a long winter, getting outside to explore is a special treat here in Michigan. Whether in the U.P. or Lower Peninsula, being outdoors as nature awakens can be quite magical, Merk said.

“Whether you’re hiking or riding trails or checking out scenic spots like lake views or waterfalls, spring is a terrific time to be outside and witness nature’s seasonal changes,” Merk said.

A tradition in the making

This most recent spring trip to the U.P. involves more than taking to the trails and chasing waterwalls – it also is a road trip to visit Northern Michigan University in Marquette with my youngest son Alex.

An avid nature lover, Alex has been eyeing NMU for some time given its location alongside his favorite Great Lake, Lake Superior, and the ample outdoor recreation opportunities for students, year-round residents and visitors in this region. Having spent numerous family camping trips in the U.P. throughout his childhood, Alex is familiar with the area but has yet to tour the campus.

I realize, as we drive the more than four hours to Marquette from our home in Traverse City, that this springtime trip is reminiscent of another family excursion we’d taken several years ago – complete with waterfalls and hikes – to attend Alex’s older sister’s graduation from another U.P. university: Michigan Tech in Houghton.

Perhaps this will become a tradition of sorts – heading north, now to see Alex at NMU and attending his own spring graduation in a couple of years – and incorporating outdoor adventures as part of the experience.

Springtime recreation reminders

While we end up encountering more snow and slick boardwalks on some of our hikes in the U.P., muddy trails can also be common when outdoor exploring in Michigan this time of year. It’s important to take precautions when encountering this kind of trail terrain.

“If you encounter mud or water on the trails, be sure to go directly through it slowly so as to not widen the pathway,” Merk said.

And while it is a tad too early for us to see any wildflowers on the trails this far north, catching sight of springtime blooms such as white trillium, trout lilies, violets, Dutchman’s breeches and Carolina spring beauty, to name a few, is possible in April and May in different areas of the state.

I recommend using the Seek by iNaturalist app on your smartphone to help identify these forest perennials.

“It’s a great time to enjoy wildflowers – just remember to leave them be and take only photos of them,” Merk said.

Other trail etiquette reminders for nonmotorized trail users:

–Stay on marked trails and respect trail conditions and trail closures. (Find closures of state-managed trails, including those in the 12-county disaster area following this spring’s northern Lower Peninsula and eastern U.P. ice storm, at Michigan.gov/DNRTrails).

–Leave no trace: pack it in, pack it out. If you see litter, please pick it up.

–Yielding right-of-way to a fellow trail user does not always mean stopping or stepping off the trail, yet sometimes that’s the best way to ensure safe passing.

–The most important thing to remember when interacting with others on the trail is courteous communication is often the safest way to pass. For example, cyclists moving quickly and quietly can scare horses. Speak and communicate when encountering a horseback rider on the trail. The horseback rider will tell you the safest way to pass.