Tom Funke: Michigan islands can be worth the visit

Michigan is blessed with thousands of miles of shoreline, more than any other state but Alaska. Yet, we are constantly left out of any "Top 10" lists for the best beaches and shoreline attractions. This may be a good thing, keeping these special places to ourselves.

We tend to forget that many of these miles are found on the hundreds of islands that dot the four of the five Great Lakes Michigan has jurisdiction over. Although most of these islands are small and hard to access, there are many that have regular, public transit to and a few of which you can paddle to, if properly trained and equipped.

The largest of all island national parks, Isle Royale (www.nps.gov/isro), is the only national park that closes for the winter. Famed for its moose (which swam to the island) and wolves (which walked across the ice), humans access the island via boat or air. The island is 45 miles long by nine miles at its widest point. There are hundreds of small islands to explore by taking the concession's boat ride or by sea kayak or canoe. Although most people spend multiple nights on the island, you can make a day trip out of your visit, although it will be only several hours and confined to Rock Harbor.

North and South Manitou Islands, part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, are two undeveloped islands popular with backpackers. South Manitou, although smaller, is more biologically diverse than North Manitou, which is overrun with an introduced deer population. You can make a day trip out of visiting South Manitou but North Manitou, you do not have this option and must spend the night. There are organized campgrounds on both islands but you can camp anywhere away from trails and water if you practice Leave No Trace principles.

A newly accessible island day trippers and overnighters can visit is Grand Island (grandislandup.com). Declared a National Recreation in the Hiawatha National Forest in 1990, the island now has regular ferry service, bicycle and hiking trails and many campsites. Day trippers can spend about five hours on the island and overnighters have 19 campsites to choose from along with the opportunity to camp off trail if using Leave No Trace principles.

An island that does not have ferry service, but one you can paddle to with relative ease (and under ideal conditions) is Temperance Island at Wilderness State Park. This wild island is only 0.5 miles from Waugoshance Point, the tip of the mainland. You'll need to park at the end of the park service road and lug your gear and vessel to the shore, put in, paddle two miles along the shore to the point, then make a break for it as you paddle 0.5 miles across the shallow strait. Of course, this is best done on calm days with little wave action. There is a modest current that flows between the point and island so be prepared to adjust your course.