Sinkholes Pathway Hike Route Map

The Route

Shoepac Lake

Shoepac Lake...next to where I parked

Sinkholes Pathway Trailhead

In the Right Place...

Sinkholes Pathway Trailhead

Hope I Can Get Out...I might regret not bringing the 4-wheel drive...

Sinkholes Pathway Trailhead

My book says 2 miles...

Sinkholes Pathway

Follow the Fence...

Sinkholes Pathway

Whoa!...That's Big!

Sinkholes Pathway

Stairs...In Snowshoes...Believe me, it's tricky...

Sinkholes Pathway

I'm Gonna Have to Climb Outta This...

Sinkhole #1

Looks to be over 100' deep...

Sinkhole #1

Heading Down...Carefully...

Sinkhole #1

Looking Back...and Up...

Sinkhole #1

Overgrown Trail...Did ya' know snow down the neck sucks?

Sinkhole #1

From the Bottom Looking Up...

Sinkholes Pathway

I Thought Getting Down In Snowshoes Was A Trick...

Sinkhole #1

These sinkholes were formed when underground streams created caverns which eventually caused the loose glacial till above to collapse...this is a VERY unique feature in Michigan.

Sinkholes Pathway

Another Overlook?

Sinkhole #2

Sinkhole #2...I'm not going down in this one.

Sinkhole #2

Sinkhole #2 Panorama

Sinkholes Pathway

The Frosted Woodland...

Sinkholes Pathway

Looking back to the second sinkhole...

Sinkholes Pathway

Coming Up On Another One...

Sinkhole #3

Sinkhole #3

Sinkhole #3

It doesn't look that deep but the fact that I'm at the same level as the tops of these large pines says otherwise.

Sinkholes Pathway

Someone Needs To Clean Up...

Sinkholes Pathway

I Just Thought This Was Pretty...

Sinkholes Pathway

Under the pines there was only a few inches, in clearings it was well over a foot deep.

Sinkhole #4

Sinkhole #4...The edges of this one were much more gradual.

Sinkholes Pathway

This One Looks Big...

Sinkholes Pathway

Danger Overhead...Watch the neck!

Sinkhole #5

Sinkhole #5...Saving the best for last...this one had to be a quarter mile across and the sides were steep enought in places to keep trees from growing.

Sinkholes Pathway

I Love This...

Sinkhole #5

#5...The Biggie...

Sinkholes Pathway

Among the Jackpines...

Sinkholes Pathway

Trail markers were far and few between through the Jackpine clearing...

Sinkholes Pathway

Winter Stillness...

Sinkholes Pathway

According to my guidebook this area was part of a 40,000 acre fire back in the 1930's. Jackpines are typically one of the first trees to recover after such a disaster.

Sinkholes Pathway

Always Look Up...

Sinkholes Pathway

Beauty All Around...

Sinkholes Pathway

Sinkholes Pathway

Winter Home...

Sinkholes Pathway

There weren't the views on the second half of the trail but the frosted woods were a great substitute.

Sinkholes Pathway

Who Needs Dramatic Views?

Sinkholes Pathway

Simple Beauty...

Sinkholes Pathway

The trail was a bit overgrown here...time to cover up...

Sinkholes Pathway

This is about as close as you get to the edge on the second half of the trail.

Sinkholes Pathway

The short loop rejoins the path...

Sinkholes Pathway

Old Logging Road...