Find the top rated hiking trails in Traverse City, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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We parked in Reed City at the Depot where White Pine intersects with Pere Marquette State Trail. Plenty of parking at the depot which is located behind Yoplait. Restrooms and picnic area as well as benches. Eateries in Reed City. The 12-13 mile section between Reed City and LeRoy was built in 2018, paved, and still in very good condition for 8 years old. It's a steady and gradual uphill climb on this stretch. Most of it is not shaded and the first about 6 miles follows US Hwy 131 and can be noisy. It's a great section but you have to stop and think: steady climb, not much shade, along a 4 lane highway! Once passed the interstate section it becomes more peaceful and quiet and even some sections of wooded areas. At one point it looks like a tunnel of trees but it's not for long. The high point of the trail is just before the short underpass tunnel then it's coasting the next few miles or so into LeRoy. Not much in LeRoy but did find a small grocery store and dollar store so we got some cold drinks at the grocery. Once in LeRoy it's 12 miles to Cadillac. We rode that section a few years ago. On the return trip, LeRoy back to Reed City, once you go uphill South about a mile, the remaining 12ish miles is all downhill and you can practically coast the entire return trip. Interesting old airport along the trail Nartron Field built in the 1950's. A few bumps and cracks along the trail just outside of Reed City. This is a great trail section would ride it again next time in the area. For September, signs of Fall with leaves changing and dropping already due to the very dry summer.
We bicycled from just outside of Traverse City to Suttons Bay and back. Had lunch in Suttons Bay. Uphill both ways! it seems the highest point is around mile markers 8-9ish. Beautiful scenery of many orchards and farmlands. Not much shade except for an occasional stretch of trees. Trail surface paved in very good condition. The volunteers were actually sealing cracks on this particular day. And for a weekday, the trail was very busy and traveled mostly a lot of many very beefy "e-Bikes". Some of them were literally like small motorcycles and looked very heavy and cumbersome. They weren't typical looking electric bicycles. As we struggled to pedal uphill at about 9mph, we were passed by many fast moving machines that didn't announce like the signs indicated at the Fouch Rd trailhead. Even when we were manually pedaling at 12-13 mph, we were passed as if we were standing still on this 15mph speed limit trail. Seems these group of "cyclists" of fast moving "machines" traveled in very large groups or packs. I am no Dick Tracy but some of these "bicycles" may have exceeded the ebike classes permitted on this trail unless this one is a free-for-all. Would probably not ride this trail again too many traveling at unsafe speeds.
I do not know why people are complaining about this trail. The trail from Stanwood south is brand new smooth as silk!!! It is beautiful the little town of Morey is cute with gas stations and a resturant.
An excellent trail with a great round trip, wonderful scenery (takes you through nature and urban), and a nice scent of pine in the air to round things off.
It's bit rough and downhill for the first segment by the ymca but becomes smooth afterwards and has some nice scenery.
Mostly excellent trail surface for a road bike - smooth, few bumps; slightly less smooth at the very start from depot in Reed City and then when entering Cadillac city (older paving surface). Plenty of shade, a few stretches out ‘in the open’, but mostly very pleasant. We had a great ride.
Chicagoland biker here who has done many trails in the Midwest (Paul Bunyan in Minnesota, I&M/Hennipan across Illinois, etc). This is a good trail, maybe even a great one. I just completed the entire 92.6 mile route. Couple things-- the trail is AMAZING if you like shade. And for the most part, it's relatively smooth (surface is more coarse/bumpy from Big Rapids north to Reed City). For that reason, a hybrid tire or thicker is probably your best bet. Could be a challenge for road bike enthusiasts. That said, a road bike would be amazing from Cadillac to Reed City, then Big Rapids to Grand Rapids. Also...reminder that you gain elevation going south to north. A better ride, especially if you catch a good northern wind at your back, would be going Cadillac to Grand Rapids. Still, a great experience!
We got on the trail at the Fouch Road trailhead and rode north to Suttons Bay. It was an easy 12 miles up and back. The trail is well maintained with slight elevation changes. You pass by many corn fields and cherry tree orchards. The shade from tree canopies is great. There is one spot you think you are about to enter a tunnel but it is just thick trees. There are many humorous signs along the way so look out for them. We saw a couple of trail signs pointing out where you can grab a bite but we didn’t stop. If we had more time I would have stayed in Suttons Bay to eat and view Travis Bay.
10/10 for getting back to nature. 1/10 for road surface. The roads in Michigan are horrible, so I'm not sure why I thought the paths would be better.
We went camping in Benzonia along the River. Road our bikes and got on the trail in Beulah. We headed West towards Frankfort. The ride past Crystal Lake was beautiful. We stopped on our way back to cool off in the water. There is public access near when you cross 115.
Rode this trail for the first time and loved it! Didn’t love all the crossings or that there were no warning blinkers to activate at busier crossings. BUT, the scenery and trail conditions were great. Visited The Hive Cafe and had a superb iced coffee. Then stopped at Shady Lane winery for a sampler flight of wines. All in all, an awesome afternoon!
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