Trails: Hiking, Biking and Skating

VASA Trail

The trail network in and around Traverse City is just about the best you can get for in-line skating, hiking and biking.  And it's getting better all the time.  Plans are proceeding to connect all the individual trails into one massive network.  One of the best trails for all three activities is the Traverse Area Recreational Trail (TART).  A good starting point is the TBA Career Tech Center on Parsons Road.  From there, you can skate, hike, or bike to your heart's content on a paved trail, then on a boardwalk through marshy lands out to Acme and back.  It's about an eight-mile round trip, and some of the restaurants along the way even put out water for travelers.  The Leelanau Trail begins at Carter Road in Greilickville and ends at Suttons Bay.  Only the first six miles are paved, however, so pack some hiking boots or rent a mountain bike if you want to go the 15-mile distance from Traverse City to Suttons Bay.  On the east side of town, the Sand Lakes Quiet Area is excellent for hiking or mountain biking.

If a family comes into Brick Wheels on Eighth Street to rent mountain bikes, owner Tim Brick usually assesses their needs, desires and fitness levels and recommends trails accordingly.  A group out just to have fun might very well be directed to the flat, scenic TART trail.  A group up for adventure cycling he might send out to the Vasa, which offers more of a challenge.  In addition to a wide dirt trail, it also has a single-track trail developed by the Michigan Mountain Bike Association.  Another great place for the adventurous to bike, skate or hike is the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Leelanau County.  However, mountain bikes are not allowed on any of the National Park's trails.  Just about any road in scenic Leelanau County, as well as the Old Mission Peninsula, is great for biking or skating.  Brick says that when he gets a group ready to go all out for excellent exercise and views he has them head out to Leelanau County on the Leelanau Trail or out on the Old Mission Peninsula.  For the latter ride, take Center Road (M 37) north from Traverse City about five miles and turn right on Bluff Road.  Park along the roadside and bike or skate along beautiful East Bay.

Some good off-the-beaten-path dirt trails are the Lost Lake Pathway, which offers three loops of about two miles each, and the Lake Ann Pathway.  The Cherry Capital Cycling Club sponsors several tours throughout the year, including the 'Ride Around Torch' in mid-summer and the 'Leelanau Harvest Tour' in mid-September, as well as weekly tours.  Check the club's Website, www.cherrycapitalcyclingclub.org, for details of scheduled rides and more. Or for more information, call (231) 941-BIKE. TART Trails hosts the annual Tour de TART event, a trail bike tour from Traverse City to Suttons Bay with return transportation to Traverse City included in the event. Contact the TART office at 231-941-4300.