Inland Water Route Historical Museum
The history Northern Michigan’s Inland Water Route is preserved at the Inland Water Route Historical Museum in Alanson.
Photo by Travel Marquette
A trail that stretches from North Dakota to New York. Sound intriguing. It should be because this trail, the North Country Trail, passes through Northern Michigan.
The longest hiking trail in the U.S. is managed by the National Park Service and passes through 10 National Forests. It was created in 1980 and may have more pastys per mile than any other national trail!
The trail enters Northern Michigan from the Upper Peninsula and goes through Mackinaw City before entering Wilderness State Park, where it follows the Lake Michigan shoreline. Heading south, the route passes north of Harbor Springs and through Petoskey, Mackinaw State Forest and Pere Marquette State Forest before reaching Manistee National Forest, south of Traverse City. The North Country Trail section from Mackinaw City to Petoskey is 46 miles long.
The trail is perfect for hiking, some camping, cross country skiing and snowshoeing, and mountain biking. The terrain varies from flat to rolling with scenic vistas. All four seasons offer beauty along this trail.
In Emmet County, the trail is managed by the Harbor Springs chapter of the North Country Trail. Maps can be found at the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce or Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce.
North Country Trail Association
229 E. Main St., Lowell, MI, 49331
(866) HIKE-NCT
The history Northern Michigan’s Inland Water Route is preserved at the Inland Water Route Historical Museum in Alanson.
Built during World War II to haul heavy materials during the winter, the Icebreaker Mackinaw was in service for 62 years then became a museum.
The history of the fur trade in Northern Michigan is captured at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City.
Historic Mill Creek has 625 acres along Lake Huron, 3.5 miles of hiking trails, a reconstructed saw mill, mill dam, and more.
The Oden State Fish Hatchery in Alanson produces three strains of brown trout and one strain of rainbow trout.
North Central Michigan College’s Natural Area in Petoskey includes over five miles of trails that run through unique habitats.