Hiking & Biking in Traverse City and Northern Michigan

• Recreation buffs making good use of new two-mile trail
• Trail advocate Lois Bahle wins Jim Mudgett award

Just a few of the Traverse City area trails:

• Guide to Area Nature Preserves: Take a hike in one of the area's many nature preserves.
• Betsie Valley Trail: Hike or bike along this 27-mile trail, which stretches from Frankfort to Crystal Mountain.
• Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve: Six miles of trails winding along the rapids of the Boardman River, Sabin Pond and Keystone Pond, just minutes outside Traverse City.
• Leelanau Trail: At the west end of the TART trail, this 15-mile, mostly unpaved stretch connects Traverse City and Suttons Bay.
• Leelanau Conservancy Nature Areas and Preserves: Scattered throughout Leelanau are ten sites which the Conservancy has designated as natural areas, all open to the public.
• Manitou Islands: Off the coast of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near Empire, the north and south islands offer plenty of hiking trails. North Manitou's 15,000-acre wilderness will appeal to your inner explorer.
• Sand Lakes Quiet Area: 10 miles of trails and five lakes within 3,000 acres, located on Broomhead Road, 4 miles south of M-72 (between Acme and Kalkaska).
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: More than 35 miles of coastline along Lake Michigan near Empire, containing more than 50,000 acres, many trails, campgrounds, lakes, rivers and, of course, dune formations.
• Wilcox-Palmer-Shah Nature Preserve: With 3,100 feet on East Grand Traverse Bay near Elk Rapids, this preserve is one of only a handful of properties along this shoreline not in private ownership.
• TART Trail: For hikers, bikers & in-line skaters, this 10-mile paved pathway runs across Traverse City with a stretch along West Bay.
• VASA Pathway: At the east end of the TART Trail, take Bunker Hill Road south to the VASA and mountain bike or hike through miles of Pere Marquette State Forest. Features four looping trails at 3, 5, 11, and 25K distances.

The Traverse City is home to several bike shops where you can buy, rent or repair bikes. The map at right searches Bike Dealers. Use the quick search above for rentals or repairs.

Need hiking supplies? In downtown Traverse City, you'll find Backcountry Outfitters and Boyne Country Sports, and in west Traverse City, a second Backcountry Outfitters location. You'll also find the more familiar chain stores MC Sports and Dunham's in Traverse City, plus many more specialty stores for sporting goods. Use the Quick Search above or the map at right to search all Sporting Goods stores near you.