Cheyboygan State Park in Cheboygan, Michigan

August 2024, weekdays, 4 nights, campsite 15

View of Duncan Bay behind campsite 15 in Cheboygan State Park

Reservations and arrival

This campground is located on Duncan Bay in Lake Huron. It is over two miles off the main road, and the road turns to dirt after the first mile. This was our first visit, and we had originally reserved campsite 30. When we made our reservation, there were no photos on the DNR reservation site, and we'd had a difficult time choosing a campsite. The staff member when we arrived was very helpful, and we ended up switching to campsite 15.

Campsite 15 in Cheboygan State Park

Campsites

Our 25' trailer would have fit on campsite 30, although the space would have been a bit tight. Campsite 30 is also mostly dirt, rather than grass. 

Campsite 15 in Cheboygan State Park

Campsite 15 is a larger and grassier site with better access to the water than site 30. Campsite 15, as well as a few others, are non-reservable sites. We did not realize this, because we had missed this information, which is in the individual campsite details on the DNR reservation site.

Above: campsite 9 in Cheboygan State Park
Below: campsite 23 in Cheboygan State Park

We took a few photos of other campsites, and I have included a couple of those in this post, as well. 

Hiking trails in Cheboygan State Park

Northern Michigan Color and Brew Tour: West Branch, Harrisville, Alpena, Mackinaw City, Cheboygan, Afton

 October 2021, three days, weekday - weekend

View of Pigeon River
Bridge in the distance goes to Andreae Cabin and Nature Preserve parking lot

We decided to combine our HopPassports with a northern Michigan color and hiking tour. Although we visited a bit past peak colors, this was still a great trip! I am sharing info about some of the places we visited. See my two posts before this one for lodging information.

Hiking, trails, parks, rivers, colors...

We recently learned about Nature Megaphone in Boyd B. Banwell Nature Preserve in Afton, Michigan. This is a structure designed to magnify the sounds of nature. Unfortunately, it was raining lightly when we visited, and there was not much activity in the forest. It was still very cool! The rain in the video above sounds louder than it actually was. There is a bird chirping about 14 seconds in that is also magnified. We did not see any birds during our entire hike, and I am not sure how far away this bird was. I suggest playing the video on full screen with the volume up.

Nature Megaphone

The structure is about 5½' tall at the widest point. I am 5'2" tall, and I could easily stand up inside. The hike from Agnes S. Andreae Nature Preserve parking lot at the end of Riverwoods Trail was under 2 miles round-trip, and it was pretty easy. The only hill was on the way back up to the parking lot after crossing the river, and there are a couple of small hills, if you take the longer path along the river.

View from inside Nature Megaphone above
Trail map in parking lot below

The hike from Boyd B. Banwell Family Nature Preserve parking lot on M-68 is a longer hike. We would have hiked from this area, if the weather had been better, because the roads back to Agnes S. Andreae Nature Preserve are dirt.

Downtown Cheboygan above
Thunder Bay River looking toward Rotary Island Mill Park in Alpena below

In Alpena and Cheboygan, there are riverwalk trails along Thunder Bay River and Cheboygan River, parks, locks in Cheboygan, preserves, and more. In Alpena, you can get to Lake Huron walking most of the way along the river, and in Cheboygan the route has more sidewalk/town walking. 

Tawas Bay

The bay was beautiful the day we drove by Tawas Bay! There are great trails in Tawas Bay that we biked when we camped at the state park here a few years ago.

Entrance door into Alocona Brew Haus below

Breweries and dining

Our favorite brewery this trip was Alcona Brew Haus in Harrisville, MI. I was impressed with the building preservation from the moment we entered. We got a building tour from the owner, and I took way more photos than I am able to post here. I am sharing a couple more below.

Cheboygan, Michigan: Best Western River Terrace

October 2021, weekend, one-night, king guestroom 229

Arrival and check-in 

Check-in was very efficient and quick. I was using gift cards for part of our stay cost, so the agent provided an email address for me to forward the cards to. When I checked out the next day, the card values had not yet been applied. Staff took care of it and emailed my receipt.

View from guestroom 229 in Best Western River Terrace in Cheboygan, Michigan

Guestroom 229

This guestroom is on the top floor near the center of the hotel. It has a private balcony overlooking the river. The room was nice, other than the building is somewhat old, and the room had a sightly damp odor. At least the window and balcony door both had a screen so we could let the fresh air in.

Guestroom 229 in Best Western River Terrace in Cheboygan, Michigan

The bedding, pillows, and mattress were all merely okay. Nothing special, and nothing to really complain about either. I thought the mattress was too hard, although my husband did not think that was a problem.

Refreshment center in guestroom 229 in
Best Western River Terrace in Cheboygan, Michigan