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Trailhead #1
Kipp road north to Brutus Road (4.85 miles)
Directions: Trailhead #1 is .5 mile west of North Conway Road and .5 mile north of Hathaway Road. The middle of this section can be accessed with good parking on Valley Road, 1 miles west of North Conway Road. Turn at the sign for Chestnut Valley Golf.
Description: This section begins in Red Pine plantations, then into Beech-Maple forests passing by the Little Traverse Bay and Chestnut Valley Golf Clubs, then descends on a two track to Brutus Road.
Recommended activities: strenuous hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing
Trailhead #2
Brutus Road north to Stutsmanville Road (1.9 miles)
Directions: The Brutus Road trailhead is one and one half miles east of Pleasantview and seven tenths of a mile west of North Conway Road.
Description: Gentle climb through a Beech-Maple forest then descends into a wetland bordered by Ash, Cedar and Hemlock trees, then passing over an active stream. Hikers should walk with care through the wetlands. Next, the trail ascends into another Beech-Maple forest finally descending through an area of older Beech-Maple and Ash forest onto Stutsmanville Road. Going north, the pump on the north side of the Pleasantview Township Hall at Stutsmanville and Pleasantview Road is the last water for 15 miles, until Wycamp Lake.
Recommended activities: Vigorous hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing
Trailhead Connector #2-#3: The next trail head is one mile to the west on Stutsmanville Road.
Trailhead #3
Stutsmanville northwest to South Larks Lake Road (2 miles)
Directions: The West Stutsmanville trailhead is one half mile west of Pleasantview Road.
Description: Gentle coniferous wetland trail begins moving through acres of ferns and ends with beds of trillium in the spring at South Larks Lake Road.
Recommended activities: Gentle hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing
Trailhead #4
South Larks Lake Road To West Robinson Road (4.2 miles)
Directions: The Larks Lake trailhead is one and nine tenths of a mile northwest of Stutsmanville Road and one and four tents of a mile south of Robinson Road. This section can be accessed on Middle Village Road, .8 mile west of Larks Lake Road, and on Palmer Road from the west.
Description: Steady ascent through Beech-Maple forests, Red Pine plantations descending through more Beech-Maple forest.
Recommended activities: Vigorous hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing
Trailhead #5
West Robinson to Van Road (2 miles)
Directions: The West Robinson trailhead is four and one half miles west of Pleasantview and one and six tenths of a mile east of State Road.
Description: The trail begins on flat land bordered by coniferous forest ascending gradually through Beech-Maple then sharply through hills vegetated by berries in the spring and finally into a Red Pine plantation.
Recommended activities: Vigorous hiking and snowshoeing
Trailhead Connector #5-#6: There is a tricky road connection between trailhead #5 and #6. Go north for .6 mile on West Van Road. Turn east for 1.9 miles on Van Road. North on St. Nicholas Road for .75 mile to stop sign by St. Nicholas Church. Turn west on Zulski Road for .5 mile. North on Zmikly Road for 2.5 miles to Levering Road and trailhead #6. Property on both sides of this 6 mile road walk is private. Please do not camp along this corridor.
Trailhead #6
West Levering north to Sturgeon Bay Trail (5.7 miles)
Directions: The West Levering trailhead is four and one half miles west of Pleasantview Road.
Description: Begins in a soft coniferous wetland then heads west through mixed forest and conifers, Aspen and Beech to a dam at Wycamp creek at the west end of Wycamp Lake then heads northeast around Wycamp Lake through conifers and Birch to the north side of Wycamp then ascends gently through dunes to Sturgeon Bay Trail. Going south, Wycamp Lake is the last water for 15 miles, until the pump at the Pleasantview Town Hall at the corner of Stutsmanville and Pleasantview Roads between section 2 and 3.
Recommended activities: Long hiking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing
Trailhead #7
Sturgeon Bay Trail north to West Lakeview Road (2.8 miles)
Directions: The Sturgeon Bay trailhead is two tenths of a mile east of the corner of West Sturgeon Bay Trail and North Lakeshore Drive.
Description: It boats vigorous ascents and descents through fragile sand dunes bordered by pine and balsam with spectacular vistas of Lake Michigan and Wilderness State Park. No wheeled or motorized vehicles from this point to Mackinaw City because of the fragile sand dunes.
Recommended activities: Vigorous hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing
Trailhead #8
West Lakeview picnic area north to the Sturgeon Bay Trail in Wilderness Park (2.5 miles)
Directions: The trailhead is east of the corner of North Lakeshore Drive and West Lakeview Road in the “picnic area” parking lot.
Description: The trail ascends through fragile sand dunes surrounded by conifers and birch into a cedar wetland, then north along small lakes and ponds harboring waterfowl, then into Wilderness State Park
Recommended activities: Hiking and snowshoeing
Trailhead #9
Sturgeon Bay Trail through Wilderness State Park to Cecil Bay Road (7.5 miles)
Directions: The trailhead is on Sturgeon Bay Trail within Wilderness State Park accessible only by hiking or biking section #8 or at any point within the Park.
Description: Go east on Sturgeon Bay Trail to Swampline Trail, north on Swampline Trail to Goose Pond, near Wilderness Park campground, east on Red Pine Trail to Nebo Trail, south on Nebo to East Ridge Trail, northeast on East Ridge to the North Country Trail. Follow NCT east two and four tenths of a mile to Cecil Bay Road and trailhead #10.
Recommended activities: Hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing
Trailhead #10
Cecil Bay Road northeast to the north end of French Farm Lake (5.12 miles)
Directions: The trailhead is located on Cecil Bay Road one eighth mile north of Oliver Road.
Description: The first 2.5 miles are wetlands. The trail crosses the Carp River into wetlands bordered by Balsams, Cedars, and Birch, then to a dam controlling water between French Farm Lake and French Farm Creek, which flows northwest to Lake Michigan. The rest of the trail is mostly pine-covered heading over sand dunes with great views of the lake and a myriad of waterfowl.
Recommended activities: Hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing
Trailhead #11
The North end of French Farm Lake to Mackinaw City (2.7 miles)
Directions: The trailhead is located on Cecil Bay Road one eighth mile north of Oliver Road.
Description: Follow the trail markers northeast six tenths of a mile to a two track connection that continues northwest for one tenths of a mile (look for posts with blue markers.) At Trailsend Road go east for eight tenths of a mile to an old railroad grade. look for signs indicating the route to Mackinaw City. The trail (1 mile) will be marked with blue markers. Watch for re-route to eliminate road walk.
Recommended activities: Hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing
