The High Rollways on the Manistee River
Considered Michigan’s answer to Arizona’s famous Horseshoe Bend, the High Rollways above the Manistee River, in my opinion, is one of Northern Michigan’s hidden treasures.
A Trip to the High Rollways
I live in southeast Michigan, and face it, most of lower Michigan is flat. It’s not the billiard table flat of Kansas; there’s the occasional roll to the scene, but there are no mountains, and gorgeous overlooks are few and far between. This is why we travel “Up North.” The north is wilder, filled with high hills, dense forests, and rolling rivers.
I had seen photos of a horseshoe bend river vista in northern Michigan that seemed like a fantastic place to go and get some fall images. To me, it captured the grandeur of the north. A little research and I found it was called “The High Rollways Overlook” or the “Buckley High Roll-Away”, or “Highbanks Overlook” – lots of names for the same awesome spot. In any case, I started up Google Maps and made it ready to head out.
The Manistee River provides a great example of rustic, northern Michigan terrain. The river’s winding path cuts through one of the richest timber areas in Michigan. Lumbermen saw the high slopes along the river as nearly perfect for launching the cut logs into the water for transport to the mills downstream.
In the heyday of the state’s lumber era, 1.2 billion board feet of timber was harvested and floated down the river. The logs were sawn into lumber and shipped across Lake Michigan to help build the growing city of Chicago.
What is the “Rollway”
A logging rollway was a structure used in the timber industry to transport logs downhill to the sawmill. It was a cleared path covered with logs, typically situated on a steep slope. Workers would release the logs at the top and use tools to steer them down the path. Despite being a dangerous job, the rollway was a significant innovation that made it easier to move large quantities of timber.
But the logging days are part of history now, and the forests have been regrown. The banks of the river are now enjoyed by the bikers, hikers, and travelers that flock here. And with the regrown hardwood forests, one of the best seasons to explore these lands is autumn, with bright orange and gold highlights. It’s truly magical.
Planning and Timing
The High Rollways Overlook is one of those “secret spots” that few have discovered. Tucked off the main road and up a dirt lane, the overlook offers a gorgeous view of the river and valley. I hoped to be lucky enough to get there before the autumn colors dissipated.
One of the difficulties in visiting any autumnal vista is in the timing. With the vagary of nature’s swings in temperature and winds and the work-a-day world to contend with, finding just the right day to make a photography run up north is tricky. But you watch the weather reports and look at social media to monitor the conditions and make your plans. Then you pull the trigger, but you’ll often get there just one day too late.
This was my plan for this visit, but alas, a moderate storm had blown through the day before, knocking some of the best leaves off and leaving some branches bare. Still, I set out, hoping for enough color in the trees to capture lovely landscapes.
High Rollways Arrival
Upon arriving at the Rollways after a 3 1/2 hour drive, I found myself a little confused, most likely due to the fact that I hadn’t had my coffee yet. In fact, I missed the final turn that would lead me to the parking lot, and instead parked in a work crew’s lot. After grabbing my camera gear, I set out to find the trail that would take me to the overlook. At first, I followed an obvious trail, but it ended up leading to a logging operation. I had to backtrack a bit to find the actual trailhead. Finally, after a short and pleasant walk through the woods, I arrived at the overlook.
To reach the observation area of the overlook, you need to take a short hike up a gravel path from the parking area. The path leads to a well-maintained boardwalk along the cliff’s edge. Although it is relatively easy for most travelers to access, it may be difficult for wheelchairs.
I stood at the overlook and gazed down at the breathtaking view before me. A steep, sandy bank sloped down to the sparkling river below. The valley was filled with rich hues of green, gold, and rust that extended into the distance. The river curved and looped through the area below, forming the classic horseshoe shape. The scenery was simply amazing.
Window of Opportunity
So far the sun had not been very cooperative. It was playing hide and seek, mostly hiding. When I reached the overlook, the sun was hidden behind a dense cloud bank. This made the scene in front of me look very dull. There were no highlights or shadows, just good colors. I felt a little disappointed, but at least it wasn’t raining. I was standing on the observation deck, with my camera in hand, when I heard a gust of wind rushing through the trees behind me. It was quite loud, and I was sure that rain was going to follow.
As the gust blew by, it brought a flurry of leaves over my head, and the sun chose just that moment to come out from behind the clouds, beautifully lighting the valley below. Fortunately, my camera was out and ready to go. I captured the fantastic scenery as the leaves blew over my head and down into the valley.
I took a few more shots from the observation deck and then moved on along the clifftop to see what other views the High Rollways offered. The path followed the cliff edge with a fence to show where you should not go – and I almost always stayed behind the fence. There was one place where the fence took a zig, and, unknowingly, I took a zag and ended out beyond the safe zone. On a sandy ledge, 100+ feet above the river, it was not the best place to be, so I moved back over the fence to safety.
Departure
The scenes captured, and with more clouds moving in, I decided to wrap up my stop at the High Rollways and move on. After all, there’s a whole coastline of lighthouses nearby and the possibility of a storm moving in. With a few hours until sunset, it was time to head out.
On the way out, I stopped at a few more locations highlighting the area. The Manistee River valley is home to many beautiful rural vistas and is well worth the visit. So I leave you with these images showing you that you should also stop and look at the pandas while you come for the trees.
Where is The High Rollaways?
The High Rollways is located south of Traverse City, MI, near the town of Buckley. Head east from town for about 5 miles on W 4th Rd to get to the observation deck. There is a sign to a well-worn dirt road that leads about 2 miles out to the parking area. At the final fork, turn right instead of left to get to the parking lot (unless you want to meet some nice loggers).