Masonville Township near Rapid River in Delta County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Indian Trail

Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 4, 2024

1. Indian Trail Marker

Inscription. The trail that begins here was one of the most important in the Upper Peninsula. The Noquets, an Algonquian tribe, lived in this area and used the trail in their frequent travels between Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. In places the trail is deeply work from centuries of use. Beginning in the early 1800’s, the Northwest Fur Company and the American Fur Company established posts at Grand Island, near the Lake Superior end of the trail. Traders. lumbermen, and others continued to use this route until a county road was built. The U.S. Forest Service has reconstructed the trail, and maintains it for hiking and riding.

Erected 1968 by Michigan Historical Commission. Registered State Site. (Marker Number 281.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1760.

Location. 45° 55.891′ N, 86° 55.122′ W. Marker is near Rapid River, Michigan, in Delta County. It is in Masonville Township. It can be reached from Y Road (County Route 509) 1.8 miles east of U.S. 2, on the left when traveling

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north. It is at the Bay De Noc Grand Island National Recreation Trail South Trailhead. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Co Rd 509, Rapid River MI 49878, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Great North Woods,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bay Shore Drive (approx. 6.2 miles away); 726 Delta Avenue (approx. 7½ miles away); 801 Delta Avenue (approx. 7.6 miles away); 812 Delta Avenue (approx. 7.6 miles away); 810 Delta Avenue (approx. 7.6 miles away); 816 Delta Avenue (approx. 7.6 miles away); 814 Delta Avenue (approx. 7.6 miles away); 706 Wisconsin Avenue (approx. 7.6 miles away).

Regarding Indian Trail. The Forest Service describes the trail as follows.

The Bay de Noc/Grand Island Trail parallels the Whitefish
Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 4, 2024

2. Indian Trail Marker
River, starting from 1/2 to 2 miles east of the river. The trail follows the approximate location of an ancient Chippewa Indian portage route used to carry canoes and supplies between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Following the river bluff for a considerable distance, it offers hikers, bikers and horse riders many extended views to the west across the Whitefish River Valley. ...

The southern ¼ of the trail winds along through jack pine, red pine, and aspen timber, interspersed with grassy openings. The terrain is fairly level, broken only by an occasional stream crossing. As the trail stretches northward through the maple, paper birch, and beech forest, the user encounters the typical glacial terrain characterized by short rounded hills scattered in random fashion. These hilly stretches are occasionally separated by one to five mile stretches of flat land supporting a pine and aspen forest.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 4, 2024

3. Indian Trail Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 619 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 17, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.