Order of Visit: High Point #37
Date Visited: June 2, 2021
Route Taken: Arvon Hiking Trail to the summit and logging road back down to the trailhead – 3.6 miles round-trip
Type of Terrain: The trail is a single track trail through the woods from the trailhead parking to the summit. Although the trail isn’t steep, footing on the trail can be difficult in places. Follow the light blue blazes about 1.75 miles to the summit. There are a few small stream crossings on the trail, but there will be rocks or a log to walk on so you can keep your feet dry.
Elevation: 1,979 feet
Ancestral Lands: Anishinabewaki
What’s in a name?
There’s no easily discernible answer about how Mt. Arvon got it’s peculiar name. The peak resides within the geographic boundary of Arvon Township, Michigan, so it is highly probable that the township simply lent its name to the nearby mountain.
And why not? Michiganders didn’t even know this secluded mountain was the state’s highest peak until 40 years ago! That honorific was held by Mt. Curwood in L’Anse Township.
But then, the USGS completed a re-survey in the Upper Peninsula in 1982 and they discovered that Mt. Arvon was actually 11 inches taller than nearby Mt. Curwood (which was named after the American conservationist and prolific action-adventure writer James Oliver Curwood). And with that, Mt. Arvon was suddenly shoved out of its relative obscurity and into the books as the state’s high point.
So, if we accept the premise that Mt. Arvon’s name emanated from the township where it’s situated, the next logical question is: how did the town get its unique name?
That mystery is far easier to resolve. In 1872, deposits of slate were discovered within the township. This prompted local inhabitants to name the town after the Welsh district of Carnarfon (historically spelled as Carnarvon or Caernarvon), which was famous for its slate industry.
The name Carnarvon was shortened down to Arvon, and hence the origin of this strange name.
TRIP SUMMARY
Mt. Arvon was the first of five high points I was planning to nab on a solo Great Lakes trip in early June 2021. Like my spring break trip back in March, where I’d visited 6 state high points on a cross-country drive, I was looking to get some bang for my buck on this short summer adventure.
The driving force behind my visit to the Great Lake had more to do with Charles Mound (Illinois’ high point) than anything else. Illinois was still on my bucket list of uncompleted states. Most highpointers know that state’s high point is notoriously challenging to visit because it’s on private land and the homeowners only open access to it three or four times each year.
The weekend of 5-6 June, 2021, was one of the sole open access date for Charles Mound that I knew I could visit, so I booked a flight to Chicago with the full intention of finally grabbing Illinois’ high point.
After consulting my trusty map though, I decided I could probably grab my three other outstanding Great Lakes states in the process of visiting Charles Mound. I could rent a car and squeeze in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota while I was out there. Heck, if I was truly ambitious, I might even grab Iowa’s high point too.
And so, that’s how I ended up driving up to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – a bizarre land mass that seems like it should be an extension of Wisconsin, but somehow belongs to a state it doesn’t even physically touch. (Coincidentally, this little geography quirk is all thanks to an 19th century border dispute between Michigan and Ohio, where the “winner” got to claim Toledo, and Michigan ended up with the UP as a consolation prize.)
My only other visit to Michigan’s UP was back in the summer 2018, and it left me with some mixed feelings about the place. The landscape along Lake Superior was scenic, that’s for sure. But the insects were truly insane, and the people were, um, interesting… So, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as I made my way up there.
Almost everyone online recommended heading into L’Anse first. From there, you can easily follow Skanee Road east toward Arvon Township and hit a number of conspicuous landmarks to ensure you don’t take a wrong turn and end up lost on the network of logging roads and snow mobile trails in the area.
My first turn off the main road was at Roland Lake Road right near the giant white church conveniently sitting on the corner and marking the way.
From here I left the world of paved asphalt and ventured down gravel and dirt roads into the countryside.
Lucky for me, someone had the forethought to put some blue diamond-shaped signs along the route to build my confidence. Otherwise it would have been a bit unnerving to be driving deeper into the forest with no idea if I was headed in the correct direction – and with absolutely no cell signal to double-check I was still on track.
After three miles on Roland Lake Road, I hit a T-intersection where I could see Roland Lake through the trees. From there, I turned onto an even smaller dirt and gravel logging road named Ravine River Road and made my way around the lake and into the woods.
I didn’t see a single other car out there as I drove further and further south, and I knew an unexpected flat tire or car trouble meant I’d be walking all the way back to the church (or farther) for assistance.
After six miles on Ravine River Road, my road dead-ended once again and there was a sign indicating that I’d made it to the Eugene Ott Memorial Trail. For a moment, I hesitated. Was this the trail I was meant to hike to the summit of the high point?!?
It didn’t seem right. There wasn’t any parking here and there’s was another blue sign for Mt. Arvon pointing to my right. So I kept driving. Within a mile I found the actual trailhead and these signs left me in no doubt I’d finally found my mark.
There was only room for maybe 2-3 cars to park in the narrow pullout on the side of the road. But that seemed to be more than enough today. After all, I was the only one out there.
I knew the bugs can be insane in the UP during the summer, so I grabbed a lightweight jacket and my mosquito headnet and set off down the trail.
The Mt. Arvon trail followed a stream to some short waterfalls, which was pretty nice. But, as I continued to follow the light blue blazes on the single track trail, the mosquitoes seemed to get thicker and thicker. Thank goodness I’d come prepared!
The hiking trail went directly to the summit, while the nearby dirt road I’d been driving on had to weave its way up back and forth up the mountain.
Consequently, there were several times when the hiking trail emerged from woods and briefly crossed over the road, and then re-entered the forest on its way up. In addition to the road crossings, I also had to make my way across a few small streams. So I was grateful there were a few strategically placed rocks to help me to the other side without getting my shoes wet.
After 35 minutes, I spotted another blue sign indicating the high point was just 1/8 of a mile ahead. The final steps of my trip would be back on the dirt road once again.
At the top of the hill, there was ample parking for at least 10 cars. There was far more room than what I’d seen back down at the trailhead where I parked.
It seemed pretty clear to me that most people probably just drive to the summit instead of taking the hiking path up. But, that’s not my style. I prefer to approach my high points on foot, whenever possible. It gives me a better sense of the landscape around me.
Though I have to admit, driving all the way up to the parking lot at the summit of Mt. Arvon probably would have been one way to avoid the droves of mosquitoes!
Once I made to to the top, I was still completely alone, with nothing but the chirping of the birds in the trees and a few nearby squirrels.
I made my way on a nice wide path from the parking area to the actual high point, where a bench, guest register and the official high point marker all sat waiting for me.
I signed my name to the guest register and noted I was the only visitor for the day. Yep, that seems about right.
Then, as the mosquitoes buzzed around me, I quickly ripped my headnet off so I could take an unobstructed photo with the high point sign. I’m sure I got at least half a dozen bites on my ears and net in those brief moments, but it was still (mostly) worth it.
With that task complete, I followed a side path another 100 yards to a clearing that had been cut into the thick forest. The tree-covered summit might not have any views of the surrounding area, but there was an overlook with a bench not too terribly far away.
It was even clear enough that I could even see the edge of Lake Superior nearly 10 miles to my north.
After taking in everything there was to see from Michigan’s apex, I decided to return to my car via the dirt road instead of the hiking trail. I was hoping that walking on the airy open road would mean fewer mosquitoes plaguing me than another hiker through the dense forest.
Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out. The road back down to my rental car still had hordes of bloodsuckers in the air and I only succeeded in stretching out my return on the extra quarter mile of switchbacks.
Back inside the safety of my car, I chugged some Powerade and was feeling the pride of snagging my 37th state high point. But the day wasn’t over yet. I still had to drive 190 miles south. I was heading back into northern Wisconsin to make my way to Timm’s Hill before the end of the day!
DETAILS
When to Visit: This hike is recommended in the between June-September. The Upper Peninsula averages 300 inches of snow each year, and the logging roads to the summit are often impassible during the rainy season and when the melting snow turns to mud each spring. Visitors can attempt Mt. Arvon in the winter, but should expect to snowshoe or cross-country ski the final 8 miles in from Roland Lake.
Getting There: Mt. Arvon is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, approximately 185 miles north of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Baraga County Visitor’s Bureau provides a detailed description of how to get to the Mt. Arvon from the nearby town of L’Anse (HERE). Visitors have the option of driving all the way up to high point’s summit or taking a 1.75 mile hike for the final ascent.
Entrance Fees: None. Mt. Arvon is on land owned by Mead Westvaco paper company, but public access is allowed.
Parking: There is two parking areas. One is near the summit, while the other is at the trailhead for the Mt. Arvon Trail. Prior visitors indicated that a 4WD vehicle may be needed to drive all the way to the summit parking lot during rainy or muddy conditions.
Accessibility: Because this high point has drive up and hike up options, it is accessibly to virtually anyone.
Bonus: Once you are up on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, you should absolutely take the time to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Michigan. This turquoise water and sandstone cliffs are truly remarkable.
Resources:
- An Overview of Mt. Arvon (Summit Post)
- Detailed Driving Directions (Baraga County Visitor Center)
