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Mackinaw City to City of Cheboygan |
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Mackinaw City to
City of Cheboygan
General Information:
Description of this segment of the Huron Greenways route begins near
Mackinaw City, which is located on the south shore of the Straits of
Mackinac. It is approximately 14 miles between Mackinaw City and the
City of Cheboygan. This segment of the Huron Greenways is actually two
parallel trails, a rail-trail and US-23.
Maps of
the Huron Greenways trail system
for this segment are provided on this web site as well as local maps of
side trails. |
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Trail Description:
Starting just west of the Village of Mackinaw City in Emmet County, the
trail begins at the
Headlands Preserve
and follows Central Avenue east into Mackinaw City; traversing open land
and residential areas along the way. Within
Mackinaw City, the trail
follows Central Avenue through the downtown area. There is a side trail,
called the
Mackinaw City Historic Trail,
that follows streets within the community. This side trip takes you by
many points of interest like
Fort Michilimackinac,
Mackinac Bridge,
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and many
lakeshore parks.
At
the east end of the downtown, Central Avenue ends at a T-intersection;
turn right on Huron Avenue. The road follows the Lake Huron shoreline,
through the business district; motels, restaurants, gift shops, and fudge
shops line this route. Be sure to buy some fudge, locals call tourists “Fudgies.”
The three ferry services |
Mackinac Island
Trade cars
and exhaust fumes for horses, bikes and well the smell of “road
apples.” There are many attractions on the island such as the
Fort Mackinac, John Jacob Astor’s home and the Grand Hotel. Much
of the island is a state park, under the jurisdiction of the
Mackinac State Historic Parks.
Bikes, horses and carriages can be rented as
well as carriage tours. An easy riding road rings Mackinac Island’s
shoreline, many other trails crisscross the interior. Dress
appropriately for the weather, it’s always a little cooler on the
island. To blend with the rest of the visitors/fudgies, be sure to
buy some fudge, it is a requirement to carry a box of fudge on the
island.
Ferry Service
information:
Arnold Lines ( in new window )
Star Lines ( in new window )
Shepler's ( in new window )
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Mackinac Island are located along this stretch. A side trip to
Mackinac Island via local ferries provides a variety of
non-motorized activities including bicycling, rollerblading, hiking, and
horseback riding.
Out of town, the trail for a short distance, follows US-23 and splits
giving two options. Bikers, hikers and even snowmobilers can take
the Mackinaw to Cheboygan Rail-Trail that parallels US-23 all the way to
the City of Cheboygan and provides opportunities to access both lakeshore and inland
points of interest. Automobiles and road bikes can take US-23. Roadside
parks offer views of Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island, the Straits of
Mackinac and Bois Blanc Island.
Approximately 3 miles south of Mackinaw City, along US-23, stop at the
Mill Creek State Park. This is a restoration of the Strait’s
first industrial complex that supplied lumber to Mackinac Island in the
1790’s. Like the other Mackinac State Historic Park sites, visitors can
enjoy living history demonstrations and nature interpretation on
hiking trails.
Just west of Cheboygan, the Huron Trail reconnects to US-23 while the
rail-trail continues south to Mullett Lake and points beyond. In Cheboygan
one can connect to a ferry and travel to Bois Blanc Island for a day of
recreation, or can travel down the
Inland Waterway, a network of rivers
and lakes connecting Cheboygan to Conway.
Trail Distance and Type
Central Avenue (2 miles) is a paved county road with a gravel shoulder,
within Mackinaw City there are curbs and sidewalks.
Huron Avenue (1 mile) paved with sidewalks.
US-23 (14 miles) from Mackinaw City to the City of Cheboygan. US-23 is
paved and in good condition, with a narrow paved shoulder approximately 3
feet wide.
The Mackinaw to Cheboygan Rail-Trail (14 miles) is dirt and gravel with
some railroad cinder rocks still on the trail. |
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Terrain and Adjacent Landscape
The terrain is relatively level following the coastal shoreline. The
adjacent landscape is forested and resort residential. The primary
business district is located in the Village of Mackinaw City. Much of the land
adjacent to this segment of the Huron Greenways is on private ownership.
Points of interest:
Mackinac Bridge
Fort Michlimackinac
Mackinaw City
Mackinac Island
Mill Creek State Park
Dingman’s Marsh
Mackinac State Historic Parks
City of Cheboygan
Side-trails:
To see a map of the side trails click on the trail name below. To return
to this page click "back" on your web browser.
Mackinaw
City Historic Trail
is located in Mackinaw City
Mill Creek Trail
is located in the Mill Creek State Park
Headlands Trail
is located in the Emmet County’s Headlands Park
Wilderness Trails
are located in Wilderness State Park |
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Two Side Trips:
The are two “must see” enjoyable side trips west of Mackinaw City,
the Headlands Park and Wilderness State Park. Headlands is an Emmet
County Park that encompasses some 600 acres in area including nearly
two miles of Lake Michigan Shoreline. The property, once owned by
the McCormick family, has several miles of trails that traverse
pristine upland woodlands, spruce fir forests and beach-low dunes
habitats. The area is rich in flora and fauna with many rare and
threatened species present. Emmet County offers two facilities for
public rental. The Beach House, designed by Chicago architect R.
Binkley and the Guest House. Call (231) 347-6536 for rental
information.
Headlands
Trail
Click to view map of park, use back
gadget to return to here.
Wilderness State Park offers an abundance of wildland recreation.
Opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, and nature study abound.
The park is rich in natural features, miles of undeveloped beaches,
coastal wetlands, dune and swale complexes, rolling upland forests,
dense cedar and spruce forests, open marshes and swamps, creeks and
small lakes. N------ Point at the western tip is a series of small
narrow linear islands connected by emergent coastal wetlands. This
protected nesting area for the piping plover. Along with camping
and wilderness cabins, there are miles of hiking trails favored by
mountain bikers and X-country skiers. The well kept, but rustic
cabins offer an experience for peace and solitude. Be sure to
reserved several months in advance, as the demand is great.
Wilderness State Park Trail
Click to view map of park, use back gadget to return to here.
How to get there: The
Headlands Park entrance is off E. Wilderness Park Drive. Drive west
out of Mackinaw City on Central Avenue. Approximately 2 miles west
of I-75 Central Avenue ends at E Wilderness Park Drive. Turn south
or left on E. Wilderness Park Drive and around 0.3 miles is the park
entrance on the left.
The entrance to Wilderness State Park is located south and west
along the coast from Headlands Park. Continuing from Headlands Park,
go south on E. Wilderness Park Drive, veer to the left staying on
Wilderness Park Drive, travel about 5 miles to the park entrance.
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