About Us
This section lists the more than 90 trails in the eight-county service area that are not part of the Top of Michigan Trails Council network. As a service to trail users we offer the following information about these many beautiful trails.
The North Country Trail extends 4,600 miles from New York to North Dakota. In Michigan the trail is 54% complete with more 600 miles ready to hike. In our eight county area the trail winds from south to north through Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet Counties en route to the Mackinac Bridge. For maps of all NCT segments go to the website at www.northcountrytrail.org. For information on the segments from Harbor Springs to the Mackinac Bridge (Harbor Springs Chapter) call (231) 526-9597. To find more out about the segments in Antrim, Charlevoix, and southern Emmet Counties (Titawabasee Chapter) call (989) 842-3478.
The Midland to Mackinac Trail, maintained by Michigan Boy Scouts, runs from Midland to the DNR Trailhead in Mackinaw City. Over its length it shares some of its segments with our own North Central State Trail. Midland to Mackinac is mainly a hiking trail. For more information call the Midland-Mackinac Trail Commission at (989) 631-5230.
Besides the miles of trail described above there are at least another 400 miles in the eight county TOMTC service area. The DNR owns most of "our" mileage as well as some of the other miles. Some of those other miles are in state parks and forests or are owned by MDOT, some by counties, cities, and townships, some by nature conservancies, some by private resorts, and some are on private land in which the owners have given easements for trail use. See below for identification of more than ninety trails.
Trail particulars and conditions are always changing. For the current status call the number provided.
For more detailed trail maps and description, consult Dennis Hansen’s Trail Atlas of Michigan (680 trails), sold by us and in bookstores throughout Michigan.
XC means trails are open to cross country skiing. See "Trails in Winter" (December-April) for grooming information. Most XC ski trails, as well as many others, can also be used for show shoeing.
Alpena County Trails
1) Chippewa Hills Pathway, 6.6 miles, (989) 785-4251, MDNR, XC
2) Island Park Trail, 1.5 miles, (800) 4ALPENA, City of Alpena
3) Norway Ridge Pathway, 11 km, (989) 785-4251, MDNR, XC
4) Ossineke Pathway, l.5 miles, l loop, (989) 785-4251, MDNR, XC
5) Partridge Point Wetland, .5 miles (989) 356-4812, Partridge Point Classroom
6) Wah-Wah-Tas-See Pathway, 1.5 miles, (989) 785-4251, MDNR, XC
Antrim County Trails
1) Bauer/Polaczyk Nature Preserve, 1 mile, 1 loop, (231) 929-7911, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
2) Grass River Natural Area, 3 miles, (231) 533-8576, Grass River Natural Area, Inc., XC
3) Hayo-Went-Ha Nordic Ski Center, 12 miles, 15 loops, (231) 544-5915, Michigan YMCA, XC
4) Jordan River Pathway, part of North Country Trail, 18 miles, 2 loops, (989) 732-3541, MDNR
5) Shanty Creek Trails, 20 miles, loops, (231) 523-8621. Shanty Creek, XC
6) Skegemog Lake Pathway, 1.75 miles, (231) 929-7911, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, XC
7) Warner Creek Pathway, 3.8 km, 1 loop, (989) 732-3541, part of North Country Trail, MDNR, XC
Charlevoix County Trails
1) Aspen Grove Trails, (East Jordan), 20 km, (231) 536-9860, Aspen Grove Cross Country Ski Center, XC
2) Avalanche Preserve, 9 km, 4 loops, (231) 582-6597, City of Boyne City, XC
3) Barney's Lake (Beaver Island), logging trails, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
4) Beaver Island, 50 + miles +, many loops, (231) 448-2933, Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce, XC
5) Boyne Nordican Courses at Boyne Mountain, 25 miles, (231) 549-6088, Boyne USA Resorts, XC
6) Boyne Valley Lodge Trails, 6 km, (231) 535-2475, Boyne Valley Lodge, XC
7) Charles Ransom Nature Preserve, 1.8 miles, 2 loops, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
8) Fisherman's Island State Park Trails, 5 miles, (231) 547-6641, MDNR, XC
9) Little Sand Bay Trail, 1 mile, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy
10) Marvin Memorial Preserve, no marked trails, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
11) Miller's Marsh (Beaver Island), 1 mile, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
12) Mt. McSauba Reacreation Area Trails, 2 miles, 3 loops, (231) 547-3267, City of Charlevoix, XC
13) North Branch of Boyne River, .6 miles (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
14) North Point Nature Preserve, joins Mt. McSauba Trails, 1.5 miles, (231) 547-4611, Charlevoix Township, XC
15) Raven Ridge, 1,5 miles, (231) 347-0991, LittleTraverse Conservancy, XC
16) Sleepy Hollow Preserve, 10 km, 3 loops, ((231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
17) Springbrook Pathway, part of North Country Trail, 10 km, 3 loops, (989) 732-3541, MDNR, XC
18) Young State Park Trails, 6.4 km, 3 loops, (231) 582-7523, MDNR, XC
Cheboygan County Trails
1) Black Mountain Forest Recreation Area, 32 miles, 12 loops, (231) (989) 737-3541, XC
2) Burt Lake State Park Trail, 1.5 miles, 1 loop, (231) 238-9392, XC
3) Cheboygan State Park Trails, 6 miles, 3 loops, (231) 627-2811, XC
4) Colonial Point Forest and Chaboinabang Preserve Trails, 3.5 miles, (231) 347-0991, XC
5) Helmer's Dam/Van Kampen Preserve, .5 miles, (231) 347-0991, XC
6) Inspiration Point, .5 miles, (989) 732-3541
7) Lost Tamarack Pathway, 5 miles, 2 loops, (989) 732-3541, XC
8) Mackinac Island, 50 + miles, many loops, (906) 847-3783, XC
9) Old Mill Creek State Historic Park, 3 miles, 5 loops, (231) 436-4100, XC
10) Seven Springs Preserve, 1 mile, (231) 347-0991
Emmet County Trails
1) Bay View Trails, 4 miles, several loops, (231) 347-7419, Bay View Association, XC
2) Bear River Park Trail, .75 miles, (231) 347-2500, City of Petoskey, XC
3) Birchwood Farms Golf, Ski, and Country Club, 14 km, 3 loops, (231) 526-2116, Birchwood Farms Gold and Country Club, XC
4) Boyne Highlands, 20 miles, 8 loops, (231) 526-3029, Boyne USA Resorts, XC
5) Camp Pet-o-sega County Park, 6 miles, 6 loops, (231) 347-6536, Emmet County, XC
6) Chestnut Valley, 5 km with connections to Nub's Nob Trails, (231) 526-3944, Chestnut Valley Golf Club, XC
7) Elmer Johnson Preserve, unmarked logging trails, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
8) Fochtman Preserve, 2 trails, 1.5 miles, (231) 347-0091, Little Traverse Conservancy,
9) Goodhart Farms, 7.5 miles, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
10) Headlands County Park, 5 miles, many loops, (231) 347-6536, Emmet County, XC
11) McCune Nature Preserve, 2 miles, 3 loops, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
12) Naus, Mauger, Rauneker & Leslie Preserves, adjacent preserves with trail, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
13) North Central Michigan College Natural Area, 2 miles, (231) 348-6641, North Central Michigan College, XC
14) Nub's Nob, 10 km, 2 loops, (231) 526-2131, Nub's Nob, XC
15) Oden Island Preserve. 1 mile, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
16) Petoskey State Park, 5.5 km, (231) 347-2311, MDNR, XC
17) Resort Township East Park, .4 miles, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
18) Resort Township West Park, .25 miles, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy
19) River Road Sports Complex. 1.5 miles, 1 loop, (231) 347-2500, City of Petoskey, XC
20) Round Lake Nature Preserve, 1 mile, 2 loops, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy, XC
21) Bear Creek Township Spring Lake Park, .3 miles, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy
22) Stony Point Preserve, trails in adjacent twp. park, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy
23) Stutzmanville Bog, .25 miles, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy
24) Thorne Swift Nature Preserve, 1 mile, 2 loops, (231) 347-0991, Little Traverse Conservancy
25) Trout Creek Trails, 14 km, 4 loops, (231) 526-2148, Trout Creek Condominium Resort, XC
26) Wilderness State Park, 55 km, 5 loops, (231) 536-5381, MDNR, XC
27) Wildwood Hills Pathway, 9.5 miles, 15 km, (231) 732-3541, MDNR, XC
Montmorency Trails
1) Briley Township Trail, 3 miles, (989) 785-4050, Briley Township, XC
2) Buttles Road Pathway, 7 miles, 3 loops, (989) 732-3541, MDNR, XC
3) Clear Lake State Park, 4 miles, 2 loops, (989) 785-4388, MDNR, XC
4) Clear Lake-Jackson Lake Pathway, 7.5 miles. 3 loops, (989) 785-4300, MDNR, XC
5) High Country Pathway, 70 + miles, 1 loop, (989) 732-3541, MDNR, XC
6) Thunder Bay Trails, 15 km, 10 loops, (989) 742-4732, Thunder Bay Resort, XC
Otsego County Trails
1) Aspen Park, 6 miles, many loops, (517) 732-6333, City of Gaylord, XC
2) Big Bear Lake Nature Pathway, 2.5 miles, 2 loops, (989) 731-5806, MDNR
3) Green Timbers, 30 + miles, many loops, (989) 732-3541, MDNR, XC
4) Marsh Ridge Trail, 20 km, 10 loops, (989) 732-5552, Marsh Ridge. XC
5) Michaywe Resort Trails, 17m, 6 loops, (989) 939-8919, 1 loop, (989) 939-8919, Michaywe Owners Association, XC
6) Otsego Club, 17 trails, (800) 752-5510), Otsego Club, XC
7) Pickerel Lake Pathway, 2 miles, 1 loop, (989) 732-3541, MDNR, XC
8) Pine Baron Pathway, 6 miles, 4 loops, (989) 732-3541, MDNR, XC
9) Shingle Mill Pathway, 18 miles, 3 loops, (989) 732-3541, MDNR, XC
10) Treetops Resort, 3 miles, several loops, (989) 732-6711, Treetops Resort, XC
Presque Isle County Trails
1) Besser Bell Pathway, 1 mile, 1 loop, (989) 732-3541l, MDNR
2) Herman Vogler Conservation Area, 7+ miles, many loops, (989) 734-4000, Presque Isle Conservation District, XC
3) Hoeft State Park Trails, 4 miles, 4 loops, connects to Huron-Sunrise Trail, (989) 734-2543, MDNR, XC
4) Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway, 4 miles, 2 loops, (989) 732-3541, MDNR, XC
5) Onaway State Park Trails, 3 miles, 2 loops, (989) 733-8279, MDNR, XC
6) Presque Isle Lighthouse Park Trail, 1 mile, l loop, (989) 595-2936, Presque Isle Lighthouses
7) Seagull Point Park Trails, 2 miles, 5 loops, connects to Huron-Sunrise Trail, (898) 734-2191, City of Rogers City, XC
8) Sinkhole Pathway, 2.5 miles, 4 loops, (989) 723-3541, MDNR, XC
9) Sunken Lake Park Trail, 5 miles, 4 loops, (989) 379-3055, Alpena County Parks, XC
10) Thompson's Harbor State Park Trails, 6 miles, 3 loops, (989) 734-2543, XC