A great day for my first 2017 Manistee River Trail hike & paddle, 10 miles each way from Red Bridge to Woodpecker Creek & back. There were lots of wildflowers, hikers, backpackers & mothers along the trail, nesting Canada geese, mergansers & a snake along the river. Diane, Dirk & Merry joined me for the 4 hr hike, with lunch at my favorite horseshoe bend. Then, Diane, Dirk, John & Jeni joined me for a fast 2 hr paddle on the Manistee River back to my van. Report & photos by Trip Leader, Sara Cockrell