The SkyBridge at Boyne Mountain ski resort is the largest timbered suspension bridge. Maybe you have already experienced it, or it is out of your budget for your family, but you want to walk across some amazing foot bridges. There are a few other bridges in Michigan that are free to explore. They may not be as impressive as the SkyBridge but they are still fun to walk across.
The Little Mac Footbridge
The Little Mac Foot Bridge crosses the Manistee River near the Hodenpyl Dam a few miles from Mesick. The wooden suspension bridge is 245 feet long. It is on the Manistee River Trail which is also part of the 4600 mile North Country Trail from Vermont to North Dakota. You don’t have to hike halfway across the country to visit this bridge, a parking area is on the west side of the river near the bridge. You can access it with your vehicle from Hodenpyl Dam road. You can see it on Google Maps HERE
Pigeon River Footbridge
This foot bridge crosses over the Pigeon River in the Agnes S. Andreae Nature Preserve near Indian River. The preserve has five miles of hiking trails that wind their way along the river. It is also home to the Nature Megaphone that you can read about in my post HERE You can find it on Google Maps HERE
Two Hearted River Bridge
Way up north of Newberry the Two Hearted River flows into Lake Superior. A one of a kind suspension bridge with wood planking spans the river for hikers to cross over it. The bridge located in the state forest campground and leads over to a sandy beach with rocks along the shoreline. It is a strange feeling walking over the bridge as it bounces and sways, or maybe I just need to lose some weight. If you are ever up that way, It is a long trip down dirt roads but it is a unique experience to walk across the bridge. You can see it on Google Maps HERE
Black River Footbridge
The Black River in the western side of the Upper Peninsula empties into Lake Superior not far from the Wisconsin Border. At the mouth of the river is the Black River Harbor managed by the National Forest Service. The 210 foot suspension bridge was built in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It was reconstructed in 1967 and refurbished in 2009. The bridge is part of the North Country Scenic Trail and allows hikers to cross the Black River wit a spectacular view as it bounces and sways as you cross it. You can find it on Google Maps HERE
Presque Isle Suspension Bridge
The Presque Isle River flows through the western side of the Porcupine Mountains State Park. Manabezho Falls, Manido Falls, and Nawadaha Falls are falls along the river that can be viewed in the park. Near the mouth of the river is a campground and a wooden suspension bridge for hikers to cross over the river and into ninety miles of trails through the vast park’s wilderness. The location can be seen on Google Maps HERE
Croswell Swinging Bridge
The small town of Croswell is located in the Thumb along the Black River. ( a different Black River than the one in the U.P. ) The historic bridge was built in 1905 by the Michigan Sugar Company for their workers to cross the river to get to work. The original bridge had just two cables which were used to support the planks, I can’t imagine walking across it without anything to hold onto, my clumsy self would fall in for sure. I am thinking the origins of the signs ” Be good to your Mother In Law” and “love Ye One Another” that was at the other end is an attempt to keep mischievous people from swinging the bridge. Eventually, Two more cables were added to provide a handhold. You can see the location on Google Maps HERE
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