HOUGHTON - While the Copper Country is more noted for its abundance of snowmobile and cross country skiing trails, in the summertime there are enough trails for hiking and backpacking to keep even the most diehard trekker happy. All of them offer pleasing scenery, and most have various forms of wildlife for viewing.

There are limitless possibilities for hiking and backpacking in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties, ranging from a quick hour-long hike to extended trips that could last weeks.

In Baraga County, day hiking can be found in the Silver Mountain area as well as Prickett Dam on Prickett Lake. Trails are marked on the United States Geological Survey topographic maps.

Day-hiking trails exist in parts of the Sturgeon River Gorge in both Houghton and Baraga counties.

Other day-hike trail areas include Montreal Falls in Keweenaw County near Bete Gris and Hungarian Falls near Lake Linden in Houghton County. At Montreal Falls is the Bear Bluff Trail which, although it's only 2 or 3 miles long, offers some dramatic vistas.

If it's a backwoods experience one is after, the four-county area has plenty to offer including two of Michigan's most expansive parks, the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Ontonagon County and Isle Royale National Park, which is located within the large confines of Keweenaw County.

Both parks require hikers to register at the park entrance, paying by the day and then users are allowed to go out on their own.

For Isle Royale, this takes quite a bit of planning and a boat ride as the park is located in the middle of Lake Superior. A three-hour boat ride out of Houghton or Copper Harbor will get you to the island, and once there one will be in one of the most pristine and primitive wilderness locations in the United States.

Backpackers can explore nature that hasn't been affected by humans, finding wildlife that is largely unchanged since the 1800s as well as the worlds longest running predator-prey study between wolves and moose.

For those who don't want to cross Lake Superior there is the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The Porkies has over 90 miles of interconnected trails that are all marked and kept clear of brush allowing hikers from novice to experienced trails that will fit their abilities.

The park also offers back-country camping anywhere inside of the park. The only rules, according to Sandy Richardson, administrative support at the park, are no camping within a quarter-mile of a trailhead, scenic areas or buildings and that no open fires area allowed.

The park provides over 60 established metal fire rings for people to have fires on.

Hikers will get to see a wide array of wildlife that can include bears, deer, wolves and numerous raptors. Richardson said it's especially neat in the spring when many of the raptors are nesting.

Also within the parks are several waterfalls.

"Waterfalls are a big part of the experience," Richardson said. "Of the 150 or so waterfalls in the U.P., the Porkies has over 90 waterfalls in the park."

Some of the key areas to check out are the Lake of the Clouds, Big Carp River trail, Summit Peak Observation Tower, Presque Isle River Waterfalls and the 18 miles of the Lake Superior Trail.

Richardson also mentioned that it's very easy to get set up and into the park.

"Here at the facility, we make it very simple for our guests," she said. "Upon arrival, once you've registered and paid, you're entitled to go into the back country and set up your camp where ever you want."

In Keweenaw County the Copper Harbor Trails Club maintains about 25 miles of trails which are used for both mountain biking and hiking. The trails are on several pieces of private property, but they are connected.

"Most of them aren't flag, but they are relatively gradual," Vice President of the Copper Harbor Trails Club Sam Raymond said. "Especially up by the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge.

"There are about 4 miles of loops up there that are easy to intermediate."

Trailheads are located at the lodge as well as directly behind the Copper Harbor Welcome Center. Most hikers, as well as bikers, will begin their trips in one of these two locations.

There are trails at Manganese Falls, Manganese Lake and Lake Fanny Hoe, which connects with Fort Wilkins near Copper Harbor.

"Our designated trails are pretty well marked," Raymond said. "The club is in the process of producing a new map for 2009, which should be done real soon."

Other trails are at the James Dorian Rooks Nature Preserve and the Estevant Pines. Both of these trails are open only to foot traffic, and Raymond said the Estevant Pines is a premier place for hikers to go.

Great scenery including views of Lake Superior, inland lakes and streams and sections of old growth forest are all a part of the attraction in Keweenaw County. When arriving in the area, stopping by the welcoming center or Keweenaw Adventure Company will yield maps and advice for the area.

In Houghton, the Michigan Technological University Nordic Ski Trails can be used for hiking.

There are about 22 miles of rolling terrain that is not too difficult to walk.

Several miles of trails of the City of Houghton's Nara Nature Park on the south side of U.S. 41 were added to the system.

There is a fee to use the trails. Both annual and day passes can be purchased at the MTU central ticket office.

The North Country Trail - 4,600 miles stretched across seven states linking communities from New York to North Dakota, winds its way through the Western U.P. as well. This system allows hikers to remain busy for as long, or as short, of a hike as they would like.

Part of the North Country Trail runs through Ontonagon, Houghton and Baraga counties and can be used for both day hiking and backpacking.

According to Raymond, a successful hiking trip will rely heavily on preparation. Have a map, and make sure to have sufficient gear and supplies for any weather. Hikers should also remember to stay on the trail and respect private property.

Also never forget the old adage of taking only pictures and leaving only footprints.