Cheboygan Trailhead: Where the North Central State Trail and the Alpena to Cheboygan Trail merge near Lincoln Street in the City of Cheboygan a new trailhead is planned. The facility will accommodate cars and trailers, have bathrooms, a picnic pavlion for group events and will be open year round. The project is slated for construction this fall but could be delayed until spring.

 
   Mackinaw City Trailhead: The DNR, through an economic stimulus grant, has completed plans to develop Phase II of the existing Mackinaw Trailhead to include year round bathrooms, an information center, and a gathering space. Along with the trailhead construction, the DNR plans to pave the trail within the city limits with a snowmobile- resistant asphalt. This project is slated for construction in 2011.

   Millersburg Trailhead: Plans are complete to develop a year round trailhead facility in the Village of Millersburg and currently the partners on the project are trying to assemble the funding necessary to construct the project through grants.

 
   Indian River and Gaylord: Work continues to develop trailheads in these communities with local partners.

Summary of our Main Trailheads:  the main loop of the Alpena Bi-Path has many good places to stop, many with parking and restrooms.  If you’re looking for a good place to start your ride you won’t go far.  The Huron-Sunrise Trail has excellent trailhead opportunities in Rogers City as well as at the other end, Hoeft State Park and two miles beyond at the Forty Mile Point Lighthouse.  The Little Traverse Wheelway has an excellent starting point at Charlevoix Township Park on Waller Road and other good places to stop along the way including West Park and East Park on the edges of Bay Harbor and Bay Harbor Village commercial area in between.  In Petoskey, Magnus Park and the History Museum in Bayfront Park provide many amenities.  Efforts are being made to improve the Fettis-McCue Overlook area behind Glen’s Market by joining it to a new park that we propose to see built at the mouth of Tannery Creek.  Spring Lake Park across M-119 has plenty of parking and restrooms and is the southern terminus of the Petoskey to Mackinaw City Trail.  Little Traverse Township Park at the Harbor Springs is slated for improvement after the final segment into the city is completed this summer. The Harbor Springs Trailhead near Hoyt and Lake Streets is still in the planning stages.

 At the southern terminus of the North Central State Trail in Gaylord the DNR is currently making efforts to purchase private land at the end of the trail at Fairview Avenue for a trailhead.  Good amenities are available in downtown Vanderbilt and Wolverine as well as Indian River where plans are underway to include a proper trailhead as part of a project to renovate Marina Park.  Topinabee has a nice roadside park with new restrooms.  In Cheboygan plans still appear to be on track to built a brand new facility at the intersection of the North Central State Trail and the Alpena to Cheboygan Trail.  Mackinaw City boasts the DNR Trailhead behind Mackinaw Crossings that serves as the northern terminus of both the North Central State Trail and the Petoskey to Mackinaw City Trail as well as the Lower Peninsula segment of the North Country Trail and the Midland to Mackinac hiking trail. This facility was dedicated in 2001 and there are long term plans to add a pavilion and kiosk to the site.

 The Petoskey to Mackinaw City Trail starts at Spring Lake Park as noted where there is an excellent trailhead.  Going north, the Michigan State Fish Hatchery in Oden is also a good place to stop.  Further north there are no formal trailheads but the communities of Alanson, Brutus, Pellston, Levering and Carp Lake all offer amenities.

 The soon-to-be improved (probably in 2011) Alpena to Cheboygan Trail will begin where the trail joins the Alpena Bi-Path on Woodward Avenue.  Going north the communities of Posen and Hawks offer some amenities.  Efforts are underway in Millersburg to refurbish the old railroad depot as a trailhead and a historical museum.  Further along, amenities can be found in the communities of Onaway, Tower, and at Aloha State Park

 As you see, there are many good places to start, pause, and stop your journey.  And they are getting better.