In Cheboygan, bike trail options range from a 70-mile connection between Alpena and Cheboygan to a 12-mile section of the North Central State Trail. There are also parks along the river and cultural sites with their own historical focus. If you’re looking for a hotel in Cheboygan, you can start by considering whether biking, riverfront scenery or history will shape your stay.
Biking: Two Trails, Different Routes
The North Eastern State Trail is a 70-mile rail trail between Alpena and Cheboygan. It is distinct from the 12-mile section of the North Central State Trail from Topinabee to Cheboygan. These figures therefore refer to different trails and different sections. In 2020, Cheboygan was designated a Pure Michigan Trail Town by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
On the section of the North Eastern State Trail from Aloha State Park to Cheboygan, the trail crosses the Cheboygan River on a historic trestle bridge and then continues into the City of Cheboygan. This route combines a specific river crossing with the trail’s entry into the city. The North Central State Trail has different features: it is a bike trail with a limestone surface bound with water and runs through diverse natural landscapes. When planning, it’s therefore helpful to consider not only the trail length but also which trail and section are being described.
Cheboygan also has land and water trails that can be used for recreation year-round. Trail and route conditions may change; check conditions before your visit if they are important to your plans.
Riverfronts and Parks
The parks offer different features along the water. Gordon Turner Park has a fishing pier and a swimming beach. Major City Park, by contrast, has about half a mile of Cheboygan River shoreline. This makes it possible to distinguish between specific park amenities and a described stretch of riverfront without treating the two locations as the same. Your choice depends on which of these waterfront features interests you most.
Cultural History in Cheboygan
The Cheboygan Opera House was originally built in 1877. It is an acoustically excellent Victorian theater and a center for entertainment and performing arts in the Straits of Mackinaw region and beyond. If you’d like to include a performance in your travel plans, check the schedule for your dates, as performance programs change.
Spies Heritage Hall is a museum with exhibits on the history of Cheboygan County. The Sheriff’s House & Jail features historical living and exhibit scenes depicting everyday life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Together, they offer different historical perspectives: the county’s history in the museum exhibits and the lives depicted in the historical scenes.
Another historic landmark is the Cheboygan Crib Light, the old Cheboygan lighthouse. It is a historic landmark at the mouth of the Cheboygan River. The former lighthouse is on display in a park at the end of Water Street, east of U.S. Highway 23. Its history and the precisely described display location help place the site in context.
Plan Your Stay and Find Accommodations
When looking for a hotel in Cheboygan, your travel interests can be a useful starting point: Would you like to focus your stay on bike trails, parks along the river or cultural history? The attractions mentioned differ considerably in both subject and scale. First decide what interests you most during your trip, then choose accommodations based on your own needs.
Explore more destinations: Tuscarora Township, Mackinaw City.
Go to the regional travel overview: Cheboygan County.
