Home > Exploring Northern Michigan > 14 Hiking Trails in Petoskey

14 Hiking Trails in Petoskey

Petoskey, Michigan located in the beautiful northern Lower Peninsula and known for its natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. If you are looking for hiking trails in the area, there are many options to consider.

Allan and Virginia McCune Nature Preserve

offers 3 ½ miles of trails to explore hardwood forests, red pine plantations, meadow, creek, and a cedar swamp. Two parking areas are available. Allan and Virginia McCune Nature Preserve Trail Map

Bay View Woods

offers nearly 4 miles of trails that are well marked and easy to walk. The nature preserve is 168 acres and home to a variety of flora, fauna, and bird life. There are also geological features rarely found in Michigan. Bay View Woods Trail map

Bayfront Park

in downtown Petoskey and offers a network of trails that take you along the shoreline of Little Traverse Bay. The trails offer beautiful views of the bay and the surrounding landscape.

Bear River Valley Recreation Area

is just a few miles north of Petoskey and offers a network of trails through a beautiful wilderness setting. The trails wind through a mix of forests and along the Bear River, offering a variety of scenic views. Bear River Valley Recreation Area Parking and Access Locations Map

Bubbling Springs Nature Preserve

is a mix of wetlands, uplands, and shoreline. There is a small parking area, and a short trail leads towards the springs portion of the preserve. Bubbling Springs Trail Map

Cherry Lane Nature Center

is a combination of two Preserves, Randall Ferguson Preserve and Cherry Lane Preserve. The nature area offers rolling hills, open meadows, and market trails. Cherry Lane Trail Map

Fields Preserve

is close to the headwaters of Schoof’s Creek and has marked trails and parking. The creek is an important Walloon Lake Feeder stream and includes a natural spring as well as hardwood forest with open fields and cedar swamp. Fields Trail Map

Indian Garden Natural Area

combines the Terrell, Millikan, and Moore Preserves and Woodland Partnership Preserve for a total of 106 acres. The preserve has well-maintained trails, glacially-sculpted hills, a woodland stream, and small open meadow. Ideal for hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. Upland hardwood forest, scattered evergreen with hill terrain and market trails. Season creek along trail. Indian Garden Natural Area Trail Map

Little Traverse Wheelway

or the “Bike Path” as it is locally called runs 26 miles from Charlevoix to Harbor Springs. The part of the trail between Petoskey’s Bayfront Park to Petoskey State Park follows closely the path of the original Little Traverse Wheelway that went from Petoskey to Harbor Springs in the 1880s and 1890s. Little Traverse Wheelway Trail Map

North Central Michigan College Natural Area

can be accessed from the southeast corner of the parking near the Student and Community Resource Center (Lot #6 on campus maps). A dozen different biotic communities, both upland and wetland, can be found within the boundaries of the Natural Area, making it an excellent place for environmental studies, photography, and wildlife observation. North Central Michigan College Natural Area Trail Map

North Country Trail

This long-distance trail passes through Petoskey and offers a variety of hiking opportunities through a mix of forests and along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. North Country Trail Petoskey Area Trail Maps

North Western State Trail

(NWST) offers 32 miles of trails between Petoskey and Alanson. The trail runs along the former Grand Rapids and Indiana line of Pennsylvania Railroad (once known as “The Fishing Line”). The railroad opened in 1882 and continued in some areas until 1992. North Western State Trail Map

Oden Island Nature Preserve

has large old-growth trees and fragile wetlands. Parking is at the trailhead. Approximately one mile of foot trails skirt the island’s eastern perimeter. Look for two benches along the way for enjoying lakeside views. Oden Island Trail Map

Petoskey State Park

is just outside of Petoskey and offers a variety of trails that take you through a mix of forests and along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. There are trails for all skill levels, ranging from easy, flat trails to challenging, steep trails. Petoskey State Park Trail Map

Overall, Petoskey and the surrounding area offer a variety of hiking trails for all skill levels and interests. Whether you are looking for a challenging hike through the wilderness or an easy walk along the lake, you will find a trail that is right for you.

Adventures in Northern Michigan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising revenues by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Marisa Fancy along with her husband and four children dreamt of moving “Up North”. They had vacationed for years in northern Michigan and in 1995 they finally made the move.

The family was always out exploring, but with 4 kids there was some limitations on what they could do. Marisa discovered the amazing network of trails in Northern Michigan after Steve died and she would walk for miles. The trails provided her with peace, comfort and solitude at a difficult time in her life. Later, after meeting Guy who would become her second husband, she learned to golf and found another passion she could enjoy in beautiful Northern Michigan.

Marisa has been the family historian, writer, and poet for as long as she can remember. She has always loved to write and has now found a creative outlet for it other than family. You can read her articles in Adventures in Northern Michigan, Northern Michigan History and Golf Up North.