Petoskey State Park offers one mile of sandy beach on Lake Michigan, two campgrounds and a network of hiking trails. At Wilderness State Park, the shoreline along the same lake stretches for 26 miles, with more than 20 miles of hiking trails as well. When exploring the coastal parks, you can choose between a sandy beach and an expansive shoreline.

Trails with different destinations

The trails at Petoskey State Park also vary: Old Baldy Trail is an approximately 0.8-kilometer loop to the summit of Old Baldy Dune. Portage Trail is about 1.6 kilometers long and follows an out-and-back route through a wooded dune area. One route ends at the dune ridge, while the other leads back through wooded dunes—the route and destination determine which one to choose.

Little Traverse Wheelway passes by the entrance to Petoskey State Park. The paved trail is 26 miles long and connects Charlevoix with Harbor Springs. This means the area’s trails extend beyond those within the park: the picture also includes a longer, continuous route between two named places.

At Wilderness State Park, more than 20 miles of hiking trails run alongside the long Lake Michigan shoreline. A boat launch at Big Stone Bay provides access to the lake. Smallmouth bass fishing and fly-fishing for carp are the focus on the south side of Waugoshance Point; conditions and regulations may vary.

Thorne Swift Nature Preserve offers a different kind of hiking experience: three easy hiking and cross-country skiing trails wind through an approximately 12-hectare area of wetlands and higher ground to a pond and the beach. The combination of wetlands, higher terrain, a pond and a beach makes this a distinct nature outing alongside the coastal parks.

History along the shore and the railways

A reconstructed Wolverine railcar dating from 1914 to 1935 stands next to the visitor center at Oden State Fish Hatchery. Another historic railway station building houses the Little Traverse History Museum: it is located in a restored Pere Marquette depot on the Petoskey waterfront. The exhibits cover Ernest Hemingway’s life in Michigan, rare Odawa artifacts and the history of the Little Traverse Bay region.

Michilimackinac State Park spans Cheboygan and Emmet Counties and sits on the shore of the Straits of Mackinac. Visitors can walk along the shore of Lake Huron. The park is also the site of Colonial Michilimackinac, one of the most significant 18th-century fur-trading posts. Landscape and history come together here in one place, while the site’s historical significance extends beyond the coast.

Historic McGulpin Point Lighthouse protected shipping in the Straits of Mackinac from storms, fog and rocks from 1869 to 1906. The grounds include 336 feet of shoreline along the Straits of Mackinac. The period during which it served as a historic safeguard and its location on the shore give the lighthouse a different focus from the museum exhibits or the historic trading site at Michilimackinac State Park.

Getting here and winter trails

Pellston Regional Airport offers daily Delta flights to Detroit Metro Airport. Rental cars and shuttle services are available at the airport. Check the flight schedule before booking and confirm the current transportation options before traveling.

Oden Fish Hatchery in Emmet County has two free Level 2 charging stations available year-round. Availability may change, so check the current status before your trip.

For snowmobiling, it’s worth looking at the wider Petoskey Area: it has well-used, well-maintained snowmobile trails, with official trails running through Emmet and Charlevoix Counties. Check current trail conditions and reports before setting out.

Discover more places: Petoskey, Pellston, Harbor Springs, Alanson.

Discover more destinations: Ogemaw County, Monroe County, Menominee County, Kalamazoo.

Go to the main travel overview: Michigan.