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## Minnesota
You might not think of the upper Midwest as a hotbed of wilderness, but Superior National Forest is one of the most beloved tracts of public land in the U.S., a hot-spot for kayaking, canoeing, hiking, fishing and skiing. The [Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness][27], carved by ancient glaciers along the border with Canada, is a 1 million-acre paradise of rugged cliffs and crags, gentle hills, canyon walls, rocky shores and sandy beaches, dotted with lakes of every conceivable size. Stands of pine, fir and spruce exemplify this deep green refuge.
Superior National Forest harbors some truly special wildlife, including gray wolves—[Northern Minnesota is one of the species' last bastions][28] in the continental U.S.—moose, lynx and black bear. It is also a popular area for birding, with [hundreds of species reported in the area][29].
[27]: http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/wildView?WID=70
[28]: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/superior/about-forest/?cid=fsm91_049837
[29]: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/superior/about-forest/?cid=fsm91_049587
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### Sunrise Coast Birding Trail
Michigan's Sunrise Coast from the AuSable River to the Mackinac Bridge. http://www.us23heritageroute.org/sunrise_birding.asp?ait=jv&jid=79
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During the height of the fur trade, French Canadian voyageurs transported furs by canoe from the Canadian interior to commercial merchants in Montreal. The crux of the journey was an 8.5-mile portage connecting the lake country of southwest Ontario to Lake Superior, where loads were transferred to larger canoes for the trip across the Great Lakes. Relive history by hiking the Grand Portage Trail from Superior to historic Fort Charlotte.
<http://www.backpacker.com/destinations-stories/the-16-best-non-park-national-parks/#bp=0/img10>
## Wisconsin
The Horicon Marsh
The largest freshwater cattail marsh isn't in Florida or Louisiana, it's actually in Wisconsin. The Horicon Marsh is an important habitat for redheaded ducks, Canadian geese and great blue herons. Over 268 different species of birds have been sighted in the area. Source: [Adkotin][9]
The marshland remained unchanged until the arrival of European settlers, who modified it through draining and hunting. However, after it was deemed a wildlife refuge in 1927, water levels returned and it's once again wild. Source: [Birding is Fun][10]
### Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Wisconsin (Madeline Island)
https://www.nps.gov/apis/index.htm
## Michigan
You don’t need an ocean for stunning beachside hiking. The North Country Trail runs for 42 visually stunning miles along the Lake Superior shoreline through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
<http://www.backpacker.com/destinations-stories/the-16-best-non-park-national-parks/#bp=0/img5>
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<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_Island_%28Michigan%29>
Rabbit Island (also known as Traverse Island) is a 91-acre (37 ha) island in Lake Superior located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. The island is largely uninhabited and protected by a conservation easement which prevents future development. The island is home to the Rabbit Island Residency, which sponsors a number of artists to live on the island during the summer months.[1][2]
[1]: http://rabbitisland.org/
[2]: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/08/garden/an-island-for-one-with-room-to-share.html
## Ohio
Hocking Hills State Park
Picturesque waterfalls and rocky outcroppings aren't normally associated with Ohio, but they're definitely there. Hocking Hills State Park houses unique geographical features. Source: [Business Insider][7]
Formed by glacial torrents, the park's rock formations also include deep gorges, a rock shelter and a "devil's bathtub," which is a cool way to describe a creepy hole with water in it. Source: [Bourbon Ridge Retreat][8]
## Kansas
One of the nation’s newest NPS sites, this unique park preserves some of the last remaining tallgrass prairie in North America—and the bison that once roamed the area in the millions. Although backcountry camping is prohibited, dayhikers may still experience the park’s tranquility on over 40 miles of maintained trail.
<http://www.backpacker.com/destinations-stories/the-16-best-non-park-national-parks/#bp=0/img7>
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