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Little Traverse Wheelway:
Michigan
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Description:
The 26-mile Little Traverse Wheelway provides exciting changes of scenery-including many views over sparkling Lake Michigan-as it winds from Charlevoix to the northern outskirts of Petoskey and eventually to Harbor Springs. Most of the route is paved, with several sections on boardwalk, sidewalks, and area roads. If you park at the trailhead at Charlevoix Township Hall, your journey begins with a half mile on Waller Road with light traffic. Once you reach the trail, you begin a 7-mile breezy ride sandwiched between Lake Michigan and US Route 31. A lightly wooded buffer helps to shield you from the fast-moving traffic along the highway, and the trail is entirely paved except for a 0.6-mile wooden boardwalk across a quiet wetland between the Charlevoix Country Club and Big Rock Road. A magnificent view of the lake awaits you at the Adams Rest Area, offering a chance to lunch at one of many picnic tables. Following that is Nine Mile Point, a particularly lovely strip of land along Little Traverse Bay. The shop- and restaurant-studded village of Bay Harbor lies 2 miles ahead, followed later by a 1.2-mile temporary detour that takes you along the shoulder of US Route 31. This section is rather precarious and noisy, and is not recommended for families with children. Fortunately the main trail is expected to reopen once paving and landscaping are completed (expected summer 2008, but check the website for updates). Back on the trail, you soon curve through woods and descend into Magnus Park on the lakeshore. You are now in Petoskey, and the city-owned public campground offers rustic tent sites as well as RV hookups. Just after Magnus is Bayfront Park, where history comes alive. This portion of the Little Traverse Wheelway dates from the late 1880s when it was a bikeway. This purpose actually predates the railroad which was completed in 1892. Three arches (also called gates), which say NO TEAMING OR DRIVING, are replicas of a gate that once stood where the third arch stands now; they refer to the time when trail users were prohibited from bringing horses or horse-drawn carriages on the trail. Bicycles were the recreation rage for a couple decades prior to 1900, and they also served as inexpensive transportation. This bicycle history is commemorated in the Little Traverse History Museum, located on Depot Court, just off Lake Street near City Hall, and is symbolized by a sculpture of an antique "boneshaker" bicycle within Bayfront Park. Other Bayfront Park destinations include the Midway and Lime Kiln Pond. The Midway was once the shopping area on lower Lake Street that ran from today's business district down to the dockside area at the waterfront. It was Petoskey's cosmopolitan shopping center and included three "Persian Bazaars" run by Armenian families dealing in rugs, spices and other Oriental products popular in late Victorian America. On summer nights residents and visitors could listen to concerts performed by brass bands on shore or the many large boats docked in the harbor. As a growing commercial and tourist center, Petoskey was kind of an "emporium of the upper lakes." The Midway has since been bisected by the relocation of US Highway 31; the park is now accessible through an underpass near the foot of Bay Street. Lime Kiln Pond was the heart of Petoskey pioneer Hiram Rose's quarry operation that dated from 1874 and greatly altered the appearance of the waterfront. The kilns "cooked" the limestone as the first step of the process of making lime. At one time it was one of Petoskey's most important industries, employing 30 to 40 workers, and sent lime used in fertilizer, cement, and a variety of other industrial applications throughout the Great Lakes region. Today the pond, created by the quarry operation, is stocked with pan fish and is a popular spot for parents to teach their children how to fish. The pond maintains a water level several feet above that of Little Traverse Bay only a few steps away. The exposed cobble on the bay is a good place to look for Petoskey stones, organic matter from the ancient past fossilized in the limestone. Upon leaving the park, salmon-colored sidewalks signal your entry into the historic Bay View neighborhood. This elite community, dominated by charming Victorian homes, has long been a summer getaway for prominent Michiganians. At the east end of Bay View is the Fettis-McCue Overlook, a covered wooden gazebo with benches offering a particularly pleasant view of the Bay and a mural on the back of a grocery store depicting a historical timeline of transportation along the corridor. Soon after that, you arrive in Petoskey State Park with its sweeping sand dunes and fine swimming beach. After the park the trail continues 2.5 miles on an off-road path along busy State Route M-119 before cutting away to follow the northeast edge of the Harbor Springs Airport. The trail currently ends at Pleasant View Lane, just 4 miles short of Harbor Springs. Future plans are to connect the trail to this quaint resort settlement in 2009, but your best bet for now is to backtrack toward the main entrance of the state park and turn off on Beach Road for a 4-mile trip into the heart of downtown Harbor Springs. Use caution on Beach Road as sight lines on this twisting and densely forested road are limited. Turn right on Bay Street and follow it into town
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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the northernmost trailhead at the Harbor Springs Airport, go north from the city of Petoskey on US Highway 31 to State Route M-119. Turn left on State Route M-119 and follow it until you see the Harbor Springs Airport on your left and State Hwy. 81. Just beyond the airport on your left is the trail parking lot, near the trail's end at Pleasant View Lane. To reach the Charlevoix trailhead, go north from the town of Charlevoix, on US highway 31 for about 3 miles to Waller Road. Turn left and proceed for a half mile to Charlevoix Township Park on your right. The next trailhead is at Resort Township's West Park, just several hundred yards north of the trail and U.S. Hwy. 31. on Townline Rd. , offering parking and restrooms; however, there is an additional parking area located right next to the trail.
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Update on Temporary 1.2 Mile Detour and Great Fall Colors
By cpetiprin on October 19, 2009
We arrived at the Inn at Bay Harbor on October 6th in hopes of enjoying the beautiful fall colors while riding along the bike trail. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate as we encountered mid-forty degree temps, 38 mph winds and rain during our stay. Not surprisingly, we opted to forgo riding the bikes and decided to take a more comfortable approach of driving adjacent to the pathway on US 31 stopping periodically to walk portions of the trail that caught our attention.
One of our first stops was at the Resort Township East Park. This park provides not only wonderful scenic views but also nice facilities including plenty of parking for motor vehicles, clean rest rooms, picnic tables and waste bins.
From what we could ascertain, the temporary 1.2 mile detour (just after Bay Harbor) that previously took you along the shoulder of US Route 31 is no longer necessary. The path appears to have been completed between East Park and Petoskey and provides some wonderful views and fall color. Due to the inclement weather we were unable to confirm that this segment is completely finished but it appeared to be from what we were able to observe. After this portion of the trail, the path ends up coming in behind Northern Michigan Hospital where it begins to incorporate the City of Petoskey‘s sidewalks for some distance. Follow the bike route signs for directions.
Further along after Petoskey (along M 119) we observed considerable construction of a compacted gravel bed being put down for what we assumed to be a future meandering asphalt pathway to Harbor Springs. Considering the weather, I think that construction of this portion will soon have to be delayed till spring.
Horse Droppings
By Tom D'Ambrosio on September 17, 2004
"I rode this trail for the second time yesterday. It is nice, however, the side cants to the asphalt go from one tilt to the opposite tilt every couple hundred feet. It caused me to contantly compensate my handcycle wheels for this flaw. They could have made this trail flatter and more consitant. But the real problem was all the fresh HORSIE all over the place. These rich folks from the cement plant/Bay Harbor are riding thier horses right down the asphalt path and allowing them to make a discusting mess of the path. Maybe they just can't read the trail usage signs? Anyway, if this continues to happen this is just another Michigan trail that will be destroyed in a couple of years."
Off and on trail
By Judy White on August 28, 2004
"Coming north from Charlevoix, the trail parallels busy U.S. 31, but there is usually a buffer. When it reaches East Park (aka Resort Township Park) just south of Petoskey city limits, the trail ends. From there you must use U.S. 31 and sidewalks to get into Petoskey. In Charlevoix, a good place to park is at Waller Rd. at Route 31, on the north side of town."