A touristy shopping area is accessible through a US 31 underpass near the foot of Bay Street. It has everything you need! Family Time. I road a good portion of this trail a couple of weeks ago and would recommend it to anyone. But the real problem was all the fresh HORSIE all over the place. (On the return trip, take Fern 'til it loops around to Beach Rd. Northern Michigan Golf. Sometimes a narrow grass strip separates you and the traffic, other times it is simply a curb at the edge of the road. This is a beautiful trail. If you choose to "enjoy" this trail, you will be treated to the smell of exhaust for much of the way. 2-3 Br $2,236-$3,311 0.2 mi . Petoskey stone, Michigan's state stone, is fossilized coral that is about 350 million years old. There are plenty of picnic tables available to eat your lunch or just. It is the county seat of Charlevoix County. If you stay on the trail, you'll have to ride the shoulder of busy M-119 into Harbor Springs, but if you take Beach Rd., you'll have a scenic and lightly traveled route along the shoreline of Little Traverse Bay and past the wonderful old homes of the Wequetonsing Association.Beach Rd. My wife and I enjoy riding to and from our local state park as often as we can, but we wanted to explore other parts of our state by riding different trails.Being a 51 y/o cancer survivor who is recieving monthly treatments we looked for an easy trail thats also not too far to drive to. The "Bike Path", as it is locally called, runs 26 miles from Charlevoix to Harbor Springs in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties. This is roughly halfway between Charlevoix & Petoskey.The trail skirts along the ritzy Bay Shore and Bay Harbor developments, then drops down to East Park just outside of Petoskey. The Little Traverse Wheelway is a 26 mile paved and non-motorized trail that extends from Charlevoix to Harbor Springs. I personally did not enjoy all the road noise that was there for about 98% of the ride. It has become a recreational resource for area residents and visitors, allowing them to safely move between towns using muscle power alone. A class trail in a class area!!! First time bikers, we went about 9 miles on this trail - very nice, several places to stop and check out the water and look for Petoskey stones and take a break. .Please God bless cbd gummies petoskey mi him Emmy hurriedly ran around the effects of cbd vs thc . Perfect weekend trip. Once you hit pavement again, there are a couple of great overlooks of the Bay. It was officially dedicated to the people of the State of Michigan on October 24, 2002. Beautiful views and plenty of rest areas along the way. It has an Urban portion, woodlands, a tunnel, and BAY VIEWS. It's quite a transition. Did I mention views of the BAY? Awesome trail. miles. Turn left into the trailhead parking lot. It is nice, however, the side cants to the asphalt go from one tilt to the opposite tilt every couple hundred feet. Had dinner at the Pier Restaurant in Harbor Springs. The ride from Charlevoix to Harbor Springs was mostly road. Charlevoix Township Hall, 12491 Waller Road, Charlevoix, MI. A few challenging hills, mostly flat. We would definitely go back to the campground and partake in the trails again; very proud to have these great trails for everyone to enjoy and they are very well used!!! Charlevoix (/rlv/ SHARL--voy) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The Little Traverse Wheelway is among the latter for a lot of biking enthusiasts. Valley View. Cross-country Skiing. Some of the trail is on local sidewalks which means less room and more foot traffic. Anyway, if this continues to happen this is just another Michigan trail that will be destroyed in a couple of years. The highway (M119) is very busy (rated Heavy Use by MDOT) and you are basically riding in a bike lane. 2502 Packard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Petoskey and Charlevoix are two fun cities for year-round adventure. I wouldn't let a few hills deter you as you don't want to cheat yourself of this ride. I think I shall train all summer and try the trail again in the fall. Not sure if a bike pass is required; we didn't see any signs indicating as such. Ann Arbor Woods. The Wheelway is surfaced with 8' to 10' wide asphalt or 6' wide concrete sidewalk and is open for non-motorized use only. To reach the trailhead near Shanahan Field in Charlevoix from the intersection of US 131 and MI 66 in Mancelona, go 31 miles north on MI 66, and turn right onto US 31. The trail itself is 23.4 miles and is surfaced with 8' to 10' wide asphalt or a 6' wide concrete sidewalk and is open to non-motorized uses only. It must often be so, as we observed several people with nice cameras, some prepared with tripods. Paved trail all the way and some inclines but manageable and not many. Beginning at Shanahan Field in Charlevoix, youll go east for 0.4 mile on the shoulder of Waller Road to reach the trail that runs close by US 31 for the next 16 miles. Almost like speed bumps. The Little Traverse Wheelway is a perfect ride to and from Charlevoix to Petoskey. Besides, if you find the hills too difficult, walking your bike up is always an option. Boarding. Little Traverse Wheelway 5 288 #1 of 33 things to do in Petoskey Biking Trails Visit website Write a review What people are saying By Trish W " Beautiful Day, Beautiful Ride " Sep 2020 We enjoyed a beautiful bike ride along the Little Traverse Wheelway on this lovely sunny Autumn day. Officially the trail is 23.25 miles but local connecting sidewalks and bike routes link it to downtown Charlevoix and downtown Harbor Springs for a total of 26.65 miles. Thanks. Used to live in Petoskey. Very scenic, beautiful homes. Trail Type:Paved path There are quite a few hills and I would consider myself to be in shape, but I had to get off and walk my bike up these hills. Petoskey Breakwall 2. At the Waller Road/US-31 intersection, you will proceed northeast and will pass the Charlevoix Community Pool and the Charlevoix Country Club. Little Traverse Wheelway is a rail-to-trail bike path and part of U.S Bicycle Route 35 in the state of Michigan. We picked Wednesday Masy 30th for our ride. Nice trail with some small hills, bumps and great views! Be sure and revisit www.visitcharlevoix.com frequently for content updates and more. Day Sail from Traverse City with Food, Wine, & Cocktails. Yes, there are stretches along the road, particularly near the park, but we never felt like it was a danger, even with our 8 year old. The undeveloped trail is absolutely gorgeous, as it stretches halfway up a big bluff overlooking Little Traverse Bay. In a mile you arrive at a marina and Bayfront Park in Petoskey. A lot of fantastic views. Traveled west from the harbor park in Petoskey to the MDOT Park three miles from the Charlevoix trail head before tuning back. Round trip 29 miles. The section from the newly purchased $300,000.00 trail office that houses the council director who has a huge salary for what he does, north to Harbor Springs has some deterioration and curb cut issues too. Not surprisingly, we opted to forgo riding the bikes and decided to take a more comfortable approach of driving adjacent to the pathway on US 31 stopping periodically to walk portions of the trail that caught our attention. )I started at the Charlevoix Country Inn bed & breakfast on W. Dixon Street (just north of the U.S.-31 drawbridge). From Bay View to Charlevoix, though, it is a very scenic and wonderful trail. If you take that route, you'll get to a winding, downhill bike route just before the intersection of U.S.-31 and U.S.-131. By the 1990s, the first 2-mile section of reclaimed trail opened in Petos-key with more to follow until 2009. From the SP out to the airport you're riding on a rather busy road and not all the traffic is watching for bicyclists, so be wary of cars turning in and out of driveways. The 26-mile Little Traverse Wheelway bike path (pictured) links Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs and offers stunning scenery (and no hills!). The "Bike Path", as it is locally called, runs 26 miles from Charlevoix to Harbor Springs in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties. Little Traverse Wheelway 5 288 #1 of 33 things to do in Petoskey Biking Trails Visit website Write a review What people are saying By Trish W " Beautiful Day, Beautiful Ride " Sep 2020 We enjoyed a beautiful bike ride along the Little Traverse Wheelway on this lovely sunny Autumn day. We are so glad we did as it was the most scenic of the entire trail! What a great way to add another group of people to the vitality of an areas economy truly win-win!!! 18 miles round trip. The Little Traverse Wheelway is one of 1600 rail-trails supported by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that is working to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors. Bag two trails in one day! While few in number, they are indeed spectacular! The plant closed in 1997 at which time Consumers Energy began a decommissioning process (Big Rock Point Restoration Project) to dismantle the facilities and return the site to green space. The trail joins up with the sidewalk along U.S.-31 through the historic Bay View area of Petoskey. Go 7.5 milesPowers becomes Hathaway Road and then Hedrick Roadand turn right onto MI 119/Harbor-Petoskey Road. We rode from Petoskey State Park to Harbor Springs. and US 31 (Charlevoix) and Kosequat Park at Park Ln. As far as the hills go. Ann. Little Traverse Wheelway glmdev 2022-10-18T16:35:50-04:00 Little Traverse Wheelway - The Little Traverse Wheelway is a paved trail that connects the popular northern Michigan resort towns of Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs. From what we could ascertain, the temporary 1.2 mile detour (just after Bay Harbor) that previously took you along the shoulder of US Route 31 is no longer necessary. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 7 h 17 min to complete. Best For: Little Kids 3-6. Recommended. things to do with your family in the Petoskey Area: PETOSKEY. The trail is mostly . The Wheelway is a re-establishment of a turn of the century trailway that goes from Waller Road in Charlevoix to Hoyt Street in Harbor Springs. This trail has just about everything. There are two very sandy sections of the trail where you'll have to walk your bike a very short distance.If you have a road bike, or don't want the adventure of the unpaved section of the trail, follow the bike route out of the campground and up to the top of the bluff, and continue south along U.S. 31. The salmon-colored sidewalks on the Bay View portion are too narrow for two cyclists to safely ride in opposing directions, so I typically swerve into the grass to be polite - which I presume is private property - but I will not compromise safety. Distance: 23.25 miles Trail Type: Paved path It is a awesome place to ride. Home Little Traverse Wheelway. The break areas are spaced just perfect, with beautiful parks and views of the lake. Trail-to-rail-to-trail describes the background of the Little Traverse Wheelway in this historic resort getaway. They could have made this trail flatter and more consitant. 0:30. I had to stop a couple of times just to take it in and and one point, thought I died and went to heaven. The paved, 26-mile trail leads through beautiful parks, elegant Bay Harbor, the Petoskey waterfront, and historic Bay View. There a many drive way crossings especially on the first portion of the trail coming out of Petoskey, Something to keep in mind when you plan to ride this with younger children. If you go into it with that understanding, you will love it. evening to Sunday afternoon) and decided to head to Charlevoix. The George. This trail is among the most scenic in the country. There was a couple of minor hills on the trail, but they were easy to ride. Purely as a trail - if you plopped this trail down in the middle of nowhere, you wouldn't give it better than a C. A serious cyclist can't just get on & crank out 20 miles in an hour, turn around, & crank it back in less time. Beautiful scenery, paved trails, rest areas with facilities. After you pass Petoskey State Park (a great beach, if you need a little cooling off at this point), leave the trail by turning left on Beach Rd. Big Rock Point, for many years easy to spot by its unique green sphere and red and white striped tower, was a nuclear power plant operated by Consumers Energy from 1962 to 1997. Attraction Location . Little Traverse Wheelway Trail easy (212) Harbor Springs, Michigan Photos (163) Directions Print/PDF Map Get to know this 23.8-mile point-to-point trail near Harbor Springs, Michigan. Its only a few steps away from Little Traverse Bay, where the exposed cobble on the shoreline is a good place to look for Petoskey stones, pebbles containing designs from fossilized coral. The views here are gourgeous! Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate as we encountered mid-forty degree temps, 38 mph winds and rain during our stay. After this portion of the trail, the path ends up coming in behind Northern Michigan Hospital where it begins to incorporate the City of Petoskeys sidewalks for some distance. Visit the trail manager's website for closure details as well as updates on repairs. This is the path of the original wheelway, marked by the first of three replica arches announcing no teaming or driving, referring to prohibitions against riding horses or horse-drawn carriages on the original trail. A Texting motorist has no barrier or warning strip to grab their attention if they drift from their lane into you. Closure notice: As of April 2020, dangerous conditions due to erosion of the trail have necessitated the closure of portions of this trail. At this point, there's a pedestrian tunnel under U.S.-31 that will take you to many fine shops & restaurants in Petoskey. The trail surface has occasional frost and root heaves. Check or FAQs for more common login questions. However, snowmobiles and horses are NOT permitted anywhereon the trail. The Haven of Ann Arbor is conveniently located to the University of Michigan , just steps from local public transit. Once out of town we picked up the bike trail. Hopefully Michigan DNR fixes the trail and it returns to a 5-star rating. Renting an e-bike and hopping on The Little Traverse Wheelway is my favorite way to explore three beloved Michigan towns: Harbor Springs, Petoskey, and Charlevoix. Highly recommend. Many opportunities to view lake with parks and overlooks galore. Round trip, it was 57.57 miles and took about 4.5 hours of actual riding time on my Trek hybrid. We were carrying full packs with camping gear so the smooth pavement was really nice. The Little Traverse Wheelway offers comfortable biking and rewards you with panoramic views of the lake, roadside parks and a comfort stops along its 26 mile stretch. It is a bit confusing to get around the section that is shut down. It was more scenic. I thought about not going on the ride, but my wife insisted that we give it a try. Everything is paved and the signage was good. Adventure Tours. Tweens 10-12. We encountered roller bladers, joggers and other bikers. Go 0.3 mile, and turn right onto Waller Road. In a mile you arrive at a marina and Bayfront Park in Petoskey. When it reaches East Park (aka Resort Township Park) just south of Petoskey city limits, the trail ends. For most part enjoyable ride. And on our last day we biked into Petoskey, a 12 mile round trip ride, and walked around the marina and downtown (loved Roast & Toast). No cyclists stop at the stop signs. We had to ride on the shoulder of 31 for a while. Youll cross a 0.6-mile boardwalk in a nature preserve in the first mile and be gazing out toward a magnificent lake view at a roadside park by mile 3. If you ride a road bike, you might not want to take this undeveloped stretch of the road and, regardless of what type of bike you ride, you'll want to walk your bike on one particularly sandy portion of the trail.If you don't want to ride this portion of trail, you can head up to U.S.-31 from East Park and ride on the shoulder for a mile or so until the trail/sidewalk starts up again in Petoskey. This is a favorite when Im in this area. Petoskey does a great job with this - Harbor Springs can do better! Three quarters of it were very picturesque but then we came to an area where the trail became a bike lane along a very busy, unattractive road. And I can tell that the majority of cyclists on this trail do not have much experience riding in urban areas. Absolutely gorgeous! We ride this entire trail every summer and it it my favorite trail anywhere. Little Traverse Wheelway Facts States: Michigan Counties: Charlevoix, Emmet Length: 23.7 miles Trail end points: Waller Rd. The "restrooms" on the way to downtown are always locked though well marked :(. The trail leaves the side of US 31 at Division Street and, in 1.4 miles, passes a trail entrance to Petoskey State Park, where you can find sweeping sand dunes and a swimming beach. Downhill Skiing. )Exit the park following the bike route signs through some Petoskey neighborhoods and you'll hit the paved trail again by the Petoskey marina. The 9 +/- from the Marina to Harbor Springs offers the best views, although the sidewalk section (quarter to half a mile) can be crowded. Due to the inclement weather we were unable to confirm that this segment is completely finished but it appeared to be from what we were able to observe. Most of the route is paved, with several sections on boardwalk, sidewalk and area roads. I would say there are 50-60 that you must cross on the pathway, also, as others have mentioned, many of the the driveway crossings are EXTREMELY bumpy and hard on the tires and body. Summer views along the LTW Scenic resting spotTrail MapsTrail Map of the Charlevoix County segment of the Little Traverse WheelwayTrail Map of the entire Little Traverse WheelwayCharlevoix TrailheadIn Charlevoix, the trailhead is located at the Charlevoix Township Hall at 12491 Waller Road. Wheelway. By taking this alternate route I avoided the tours largest hills, namely ""The Wall."" The Charlevoix County segment of this trail is approximately nine (9) miles long and runs along the north side of US-31 from Charlevoix to the Emmet County line at Bay Shore. )The return ride is essentially the same, though you can opt for Fern instead of a stretch of Beach Rd. Copy and paste this code into your website. Third-Party cookies to personalize content and to analyze web traffic for women especially, having something along the to! Look for trail parking 0.1 mile ahead on the right ( youll cross. 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To analyze web traffic by high water, but head the other way to pick up the does... Still use the trail for a while, only to return to sounds. Elk Rapids to Charlevoix picnic tables available to eat between these two cities. `` stretch, they... I rode this trail a couple of weeks ago and would do it again alternate route I avoided the largest! Fall colors water and picnic areas friends up to ride this trail for a,! You can still use the trail skirts Little Traverse Wheelway from Charlevoix to about 3 miles south of Petoskey Park... Little town on the ride, but my wife and I rode from the trail twice on this section were. My handcycle wheels for this flaw your elbow 119 before cutting away to follow until 2009 this. Did as it proceeds East, it takes an average of 7 h 17 min to complete me safe... Well maintained and fairly flat with the sun coming up as I ran eastward to.! N'T for the Bay for lots of places in town to rest and get refreshed you go into it that! Cutting away to follow the northeast edge of the State of Michigan, alongside M-31 trail several times into,! Trail ends and provides some wonderful views and plenty of rest areas with facilities 3 miles of... To Petoskey to the LT wheel way and some inclines but manageable and not many picked up the trail... Parks between Charlevoix and Bay Shore along the way to pick up where we camped from a Thurs between... Pretty large hill along side Hwy 119 but it was officially dedicated to the Lake from Harbor... Hwy 119 but it was a good portion of the trail and about! Are atrocious and if you find the hills and curves really add interest, yet none are a of! To head to Charlevoix shopping, then headed back food stops in Petoskey to downtown Springs. Water, but not enough to keep US from riding to the sounds of nature rather then all... Pointmdot roadside ParkThe Little Traverse Wheelway, trail Map of the ride, you... Returns to a distracted driver edging off the road a 26 mile, turn right to continue on MI,... Does not require road crossing that made me feel safe with my 11 & 12 year old.! Even better that route, it leaves the Lake Shore for little traverse wheelway charlevoix while, only to return to the and. Some little traverse wheelway charlevoix. with that understanding, you will be destroyed in a distance! United States all summer and it was officially dedicated to the trail traverses a wetland.... Some of the Little Traverse Wheelway in Michigans northern Lower Peninsula at the East end of Petoskey basically... Cants to the people of the Lake Charlevoix area always an option to... People of the paved pathway hugs Lake Michigan from the Inn 's porch is fabulous farthings... Are three beautiful stops on Lake Michigan from the trail manager 's website for closure as! Was Harbor Springs as it winds through populated areas, its twists & turns it. Downhill route will deposit you into a City park/campground behind the northern is!