Michigan Trails

Biking, hiking, and walking trails 2019 & 2020

I am sharing a brief overview of some of the beautiful hiking and biking trails in Michigan that we have been on. If you want to visit trails inside Michigan state parks, the Recreation Passport entrance fee is currently being waived. The state of Michigan news release says that the $12 annual fee will be waived "For the duration of the COVID-19 situation."

I told my husband last year that we needed to set a goal to travel a portion of every trail in Michigan. He thinks I am nuts! I think we have many beautiful trails in this great state, and we are fortunate to be able to enjoy them.

Leelanau Trail between Suttons Bay and Traverse City

Northern Michigan

The paved trail between Suttons Bay and Traverse City (Leelanau Trail) is hilly in both directions. The distance is about 17 miles one-way. This is a beautiful trail, and it is often busy.

Stop on Leelanau Trail near DeYoung Natural Area

Bus service, which accommodates transporting bicycles, is available between Traverse City and Suttons Bay, if you do not want to bicycle both ways. You can also connect to TART Trail from Leelanau Trail in Traverse City. That trail is also paved, and passes by the state park. Boardman Lake Trail downtown Traverse City, is an easy walk or bike ride of about 2 miles. It does not go around the southwest corner of the lake.

View of Harbor Springs before heading down to town

A couple of our favorite trails in Petoskey are easily accessible from the state park: Little Traverse Wheelway and Petoskey to Mackinaw Trail. We have bicycled these trails as far as West Park, Harbor Springs, and north of Alanson. It is only a tad hilly, except for the section between Petoskey State Park and Harbor Springs; that section is very hilly! There are many stopping points along all sections of the trails in this area: nature preserves, benches with views, picnic areas, parks, and businesses. The water and waves in Lake Michigan have been high this past year, and sadly, a large section of Little Traverse Wheelway, between East Park and Magnus Campground, has collapsed into the lake.

View of Crystal Lake from Railroad Point Natural Area in Benzie County

Newaygo, Michigan / State Park on Hardy Pond during Hot Boat Weekend

September 2018, Weeknight-weekend, 3 nights, Campsite 85

Watching boats on the river from Newaygo State Park during Hot
Boat weekend. Photo credit goes to a camping friend of mine.

Advance reservations and check-in

We made a reservation on the Michigan DNR website as soon as possible, because we wanted sites overlooking the water. The campsite photo on the state website is accurate for site 85. The photo shown for site 84 is still incorrect. The photo on their website for site 84 is actually a picture of site 85. See my previous post about this park for further details.

Watching boats on the river from Newaygo State Park 
during Hot Boat weekend 

The rate is $17 a night, and the reservation fee is $8. Although this is a state of Michigan campground, it is rustic like a state forest campground. The office was closed when we arrived Thursday evening, so we did not need to stop and check-in. Details for incoming campers with reservations were posted on the window.

View of site 85 from bank looking toward road

Newaygo, Michigan / State Campground, Hardy Pond

October 2017, Weekday-weekend, 2-nights, Campsite 84

View of Hardy Pond from campground

Reservations and check-in

The last time we had camped in Newaygo State Park was almost 40 years ago, and I did not recall much from that stay. This campground is primitive like the state forest campgrounds, and the rate is the same; $13 a night. Since it is a state park, rather than a state forest campground, you can make a reservation and choose your campsite prior to arrival. The online information was not very detailed, and we wanted to wait until we arrived to get a better look at the sites. After I learned the office is not staffed this time of year, we decided to make a reservation online. The campground is quite a distance from the self-registration kiosk and phone. If we had not made a reservation, we would have had to drive through the campground, choose a site, drive back to the registration booth, and then go back to set up. Not a fun thing to do while towing a fifth wheel! And, it would have added 20 to 30 minutes to our check-in time.

Close quarters on site 84, if you have a large RV with slides

Campsite 84

This campsite says it can accommodate a camper up to 40', and that the site is lakefront. It is not lakefront (it is across the street), and the picture on the website for this site is not accurate at the time of this post. If you have a large RV, be aware of the following: