Find the top rated walking trails in Traverse City, whether you're looking for an easy short walking trail or a long walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
_133554_st.jpg){kind=spacer}
_133554_sc.jpg){kind=spacer}
The 13-mile Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trail provides trail users with extended waterfront access in Traverse City, the self-proclaimed Cherry Capital of the World, brushing by...
The 17-mile Leelanau Trail runs up a Lake Michigan peninsula that is known for its abundance of cherry orchards and Riesling grape vineyards. Located in northern Michigan, the paved trail connects the...
The 62-mile North Central State Trail offers a multiuse trail adventure into the hills, agricultural areas, woods, and waterways of Michigan, with connections to well-established tourist towns at both...
The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park connects a bustling Grand Rapids community to the forests, farmlands, and friendly towns of Northern Lower Michigan. At nearly 93 miles, it is the state’s...
The Clam River Greenway represents a citizen-led effort to create a safe and beautiful recreational asset in what had been a neglected space. Today, the trail connects Bob Meyer Jr. Park in the north...
When completed, the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail will wind for 27 miles through the stunning Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan in the northwest corner of Michigan’s Lower...
Though the plan for a trail along the former Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena Railroad has existed since at least 2000, it took two decades to see the trail come to fruition. Thanks to the persistent...
The Boardman Lake Trail connects Traverse City neighborhoods, businesses, two parks and the district's library on a scenic route along the eastern shoreline of a large natural lake. One day, it's...
Closure notice: As of April 2020, dangerous conditions due to erosion of the trail have necessitated the closure of portions of this trail. Visit the trail manager's website for closure details as...
Located in Grayling, Michigan, the Grayling Bicycle Turnpike runs from the north side of the Grayling downtown area at North Down River Road all the way out to the entrance of Hartwick Pines State...
Remoteness and solitude describe a trip along the 22-mile Betsie Valley Trail in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula. Starting at the old logging town of Thompsonville, the trail slopes gently...
Closure notice: As of April 2020, dangerous conditions due to erosion of the trail have necessitated the closure of portions of this trail. Visit the trail manager's website for closure details as...
When completed, the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail will wind for 27 miles through the stunning Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan in the northwest corner of Michigan’s Lower...
Remoteness and solitude describe a trip along the 22-mile Betsie Valley Trail in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula. Starting at the old logging town of Thompsonville, the trail slopes gently...
The Grass River Natural Area has a system of six trails through wetlands and woodland, a beautiful retreat south of Lake Bellaire in northern Michigan. The preserve's rail-trail provides just over 2...
The 13-mile Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trail provides trail users with extended waterfront access in Traverse City, the self-proclaimed Cherry Capital of the World, brushing by...
The Big M Trail in Manistee National Forest is suitable for cross-country skiing, trail mountain biking, and hiking. There are actually four segments, each with varying levels of difficulty, from...
The 17-mile Leelanau Trail runs up a Lake Michigan peninsula that is known for its abundance of cherry orchards and Riesling grape vineyards. Located in northern Michigan, the paved trail connects the...
Though the plan for a trail along the former Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena Railroad has existed since at least 2000, it took two decades to see the trail come to fruition. Thanks to the persistent...
The Wellston Area Tourist Association maintains about 64 miles of groomed trails for snowmobiling in the Manistee–Huron National Forest. For more information and maps, contact the Tourist...
The Clam River Greenway represents a citizen-led effort to create a safe and beautiful recreational asset in what had been a neglected space. Today, the trail connects Bob Meyer Jr. Park in the north...
The Irons Area Tourist Association maintains 60 miles of groomed trails for snowmobiles and ATVs in the Manistee National Forest. For more information, contact the tourist association or the national...
The 5-mile Spring Brook Trail crosses flat to hilly terrain in Mackinaw State Forest. The trail accommodates hikers, mountain bikers and cross-country skiers. The trail meanders along a wooded creek...
The 62-mile North Central State Trail offers a multiuse trail adventure into the hills, agricultural areas, woods, and waterways of Michigan, with connections to well-established tourist towns at both...
The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park connects a bustling Grand Rapids community to the forests, farmlands, and friendly towns of Northern Lower Michigan. At nearly 93 miles, it is the state’s...
The Boardman Lake Trail connects Traverse City neighborhoods, businesses, two parks and the district's library on a scenic route along the eastern shoreline of a large natural lake. One day, it's...
Located in Grayling, Michigan, the Grayling Bicycle Turnpike runs from the north side of the Grayling downtown area at North Down River Road all the way out to the entrance of Hartwick Pines State...
The Boardman Lake Trail connects Traverse City neighborhoods, businesses, two parks and the district's library on a scenic route along the eastern shoreline of a large natural lake. One day, it's...
Closure notice: As of April 2020, dangerous conditions due to erosion of the trail have necessitated the closure of portions of this trail. Visit the trail manager's website for closure details as...
The Wellston Area Tourist Association maintains about 64 miles of groomed trails for snowmobiling in the Manistee–Huron National Forest. For more information and maps, contact the Tourist...
The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park connects a bustling Grand Rapids community to the forests, farmlands, and friendly towns of Northern Lower Michigan. At nearly 93 miles, it is the state’s...
When completed, the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail will wind for 27 miles through the stunning Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan in the northwest corner of Michigan’s Lower...
The Grass River Natural Area has a system of six trails through wetlands and woodland, a beautiful retreat south of Lake Bellaire in northern Michigan. The preserve's rail-trail provides just over 2...
The 17-mile Leelanau Trail runs up a Lake Michigan peninsula that is known for its abundance of cherry orchards and Riesling grape vineyards. Located in northern Michigan, the paved trail connects the...
Though the plan for a trail along the former Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena Railroad has existed since at least 2000, it took two decades to see the trail come to fruition. Thanks to the persistent...
The Clam River Greenway represents a citizen-led effort to create a safe and beautiful recreational asset in what had been a neglected space. Today, the trail connects Bob Meyer Jr. Park in the north...
The 13-mile Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trail provides trail users with extended waterfront access in Traverse City, the self-proclaimed Cherry Capital of the World, brushing by...
The Big M Trail in Manistee National Forest is suitable for cross-country skiing, trail mountain biking, and hiking. There are actually four segments, each with varying levels of difficulty, from...
Located in Grayling, Michigan, the Grayling Bicycle Turnpike runs from the north side of the Grayling downtown area at North Down River Road all the way out to the entrance of Hartwick Pines State...
The 5-mile Spring Brook Trail crosses flat to hilly terrain in Mackinaw State Forest. The trail accommodates hikers, mountain bikers and cross-country skiers. The trail meanders along a wooded creek...
Remoteness and solitude describe a trip along the 22-mile Betsie Valley Trail in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula. Starting at the old logging town of Thompsonville, the trail slopes gently...
The Irons Area Tourist Association maintains 60 miles of groomed trails for snowmobiles and ATVs in the Manistee National Forest. For more information, contact the tourist association or the national...
The 62-mile North Central State Trail offers a multiuse trail adventure into the hills, agricultural areas, woods, and waterways of Michigan, with connections to well-established tourist towns at both...
I just discovered this trail thanks to this app. Looks like most people are exploring it towards the Lake Michigan loop. If you’re taking it over the Manistee river in Mesick, know that the bridge is an ancient railroad bridge that is closed off. It’s high above the river with just separated wood beams to walk on. No guard rails at all. It would be dangerous to try it. You’d be better served avoiding this stretch by biking the roads in this area to cross the river.
The ride from Comstock Park to Rockford and back again last Thursday was positively delightful, including an outstanding lunch, until about the final 500 yards when one of our six-person party collided with a green cement post meant to keep the automated vehicles off the bike path. The post won. Short of publicizing her gruesome photo a day after the accident, the facts are that she suffered a gouge in her forehead (yes, she was wearing a helmet!), two black eyes, scraped upper lip, a torn fingernail and a wrenched knee. After spending a couple of hours waiting in urgent care, she was told she needed to go to the actual ER in order to have x-rays on her head, as is protocol for those with potential concussions on patients over 65. About eight hours later she finally came home.
This all might have been avoided had the posts been painted the usual vibrant yellow or orange color as the green blended into the background of the landscape.
Our group plans to use that same bike path again, but will caution people as we navigate through those posts. Pay attention to the ride and not to the scenery!
Flat, fast , smooth and well maintained! Find the southern end of trail on M22 next to Holiday gas station. Ride north 17 miles to Sutton’s Bay. Some road crossings to be careful of, but otherwise great !
Asphalt trail that is very flat and connects to Leelanau trail. It runs right behind the Traverse City state park (Campground) and has good signage. Follow arrows on ground and signs. From campground you can go east 2.7 miles to Acme or west 6 miles to Leelanau trail.
This was an enjoyable ride, about 14.5 miles round trip from downtown Boyne City--one of those trails where you can imagine all of the effort community members put into making it happen. (Thank you!) It's easy to get to the airport trailhead outside of Boyne City by following the low-traffic East Main Street just a mile out of town. This short but really nicely constructed trail was a pleasant ride on very smooth asphalt through the woods, along a road, and through the Boyne Mountain Ski Area. While it's a rail trail, it was nice to find it to be curvy! All around us it was green and lush and lovely in late August. Very few people on a Tuesday morning--but the trail is 10 feet wide and welcoming.
We started in Topinabee, parked at the trailhead there which has great restrooms, parking, and a small beach (look over the edge of the sidewalk area to find the beach!). There's a gas station/store right across the street. Rode the smooth, well-maintained, crushed limestone trail along the lake to Cheboygan--about 13 miles, much of which we could see the sparkling lake to our right. We passed the Cheboygan trailhead (where there are also good restrooms and a shelter) and stopped in downtown Cheboygan for lunch at Mulligan's, a local pub, where we could eat outside. Good lunch food and great service. Rode back to Topinabee and then spent an hour swimming at the beautiful small beach there on Mullet Lake--really charming! All day (on a Monday) we saw probably a total of 14 people on the trail, walking or biking. While there are many road and driveway crossings, we probably had to actually stop for cars only 2 or 3 times. About 50% of the time we were riding in well-shaded areas. This was a lovely 26 mile day trip next to the lake and through the woods--a flat, easy, unpopulated rail trail through wonderful Northern Michigan!
Husband and I rode this trail and it’s so much fun! The first day we rode from our hotel BW Harbor Springs ( there’s a path right behind the hotel where you can hop on the trail) to West Park. Round trip 29 miles. It is a bit confusing to get around the section that is shut down. We had to ride on the shoulder of 31 for a while. Lots of traffic but the shoulder is pretty wide so I felt pretty safe. The next day we planned to ride the leelenau trail but didn’t realize it was 1.5 hours from our hotel. So we decided to pick up where we left off on the wheelway trail. We are so glad we did as it was the most scenic of the entire trail! We rode from West Park (there’s parking there) to Charlevoix. 18 miles round trip. We will definitely be doing this one again! miles.
I ride this trail from the ball park to Sand Lake frequently, but no more. When passing thru Rockford, the geese poo makes this beautiful trail unpleasant to ride. And it's not just a little amount. It gets all over your bike and all over you. I'll switch to another trail even if I have to travel to get to it.
In August a friend and I rode out and back from the Charlevoix trail head almost to Harbor Springs.
Four stars because west of Petoskey about a mile of trail is fenced off, with no detour signage at the west end until you hit the fence and have to retrace. Michigan DNR needs to do a better signage job. The detour can be ridden on the wide shoulder of route 31 into Petoskey (expect heavy traffic).
Detour aside, we enjoyed numerous lake views west and north, and food stops in Petoskey. Benches are plentiful along the trail. It was fun seeing classic summer resort houses from Petoskey to Wequetonsing.
The trail surface has occasional frost and root heaves. The route can be confusing in Petoskey, along the waterfront. In west Petoskey the trail is partly on sidewalk and tight for passing.
Hopefully Michigan DNR fixes the trail and it returns to a 5-star rating.
In August a friend and I rode 10 miles from Beulah to Frankfort. and 10 back. The first 3 miles are decent crushed limestone; the remainder decent pavement. You ride near water most of the way (lake and river). Good for families. No special sights along the way. Several coffee shops / restaurants in Beulah. Enjoyed sitting in the park by the marina in Frankfort.
In August a friend and I rode out and back from Traverse City to Suttons Bay. We passed over 50 serious and casual riders, runners and walkers. The 100% paved trail surface is excellent (no frost heaves, potholes or tree roots). It's wide enough to pass comfortably. Great views of rolling hills, corn and hay fields, apple and cherry orchards, and several hops fields. As other reviews noted, Suttons Bay has good places to eat. The TART trail in Traverse City seamlessly feeds this trail.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Map Search
