Grab the Yaktrax for This Hike in Michigan That’s 100% Worth Braving the Cold

There are many breathtaking and beautiful hikes in the Great Lakes State, from the Escarpment Trail at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - and all the many parks and trails in between. One hike that I think is particularly well-suited for year-round enjoyment, though, is the Upper Tahquamenon Falls Loop at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Beautiful in every season, this trail is particularly stunning in the winter, which is why I think its a Michigan hike worth braving the cold to do.

The hike is an easy, relatively level, 1.5-mile loop on a paved trail and boardwalks. A few stairs result in 183 feet of elevation gain, but nothing too bad. A hike this short is manageable even when the weather dips close to - or even below - zero (assuming you're dressed appropriately).

After a fresh snowfall or two, the forested walk to the falls feels like a proverbial winter wonderland, with pine boughs dusted in white and your feet crunching with every step.

And the falls - at 200 feet across, the largest in Michigan and one of the biggest east of the Mississippi River - are absolutely stunning in winter. I mean, they are so jaw-droppingly beautiful, you'll stand there with your face freezing and icicles forming on your eyelashes just to keep gazing upon them. I seriously did not want to leave.

All the things that make the trail relatively easy in warmer weather - a wide, paved surface with occasional wooden boardwalks and stairs - render it rather hazardous when covered in snow or ice. That's why I make sure to bring my Yaktrax whenever I head out on a winter hike. They're easy to slip on and off, plus they're more forgiving and "all terrain" than microspikes (you won't ruin or bend them if you inadvertently walk across a patch of pavement with them strapped to your feet). If I'm not sure what the conditions will be - clear at the trailhead but maybe icy in the shade of the woods, for example - they easily fit in my jacket pocket or daypack.

With traction devices on your feet, this short and sweet hike with a dramatic payoff is perfect for any winter day. And if you'd like to spend a few days in the area, this massive state park is open for year-round camping, as well. Have you hiked the Upper Tahquamenon Falls Loop in winter? Tell us about your favorite Michigan hike worth braving the cold to do..