Help support the Burt Lake Trail

Order your 2020 Biathlon Shirt

Shirt plus two face masks for a $40 donation – postage included

The Indian River Kayak Bike Biathlon, in conjunction with the Top of Michigan Trails Council, has been supporting the Burt Lake Trail over the past 6 years. We hope to continue that tradition this year, even though the race couldn’t happen.   

Lots has been happening with the But Lake Trail this year. If you haven’t visited the new portion opened this spring, it’s worth a look. It’s a beautiful paved section running through UM Biological Station property along Riggsville Road, adjacent to the “gorge” area (we call this Phase 2, and Phase 1 is the shoulder along West Burt Lake Road).  The next phase of the project, Phase 4, is paved road shoulders along East Burt Lake Road is being finished as we speak. See our previous post about the trail HERE.

In 2021 we need to “fill in the gap” between phases 2 and 4 by completing Phase 3, which is where East Burt Lake Road and connects with the finished road shoulders starting at Birchfield Rd. Once Phase 3 is complete you’ll be able to ride from Maple Bay to Hoppies (and beyond) all on the Burt Lake Trail! For more detailed information and history of the trail click HERE.

Even if you haven’t participated in the race before, you can still purchase a shirt and help support the trail. Thank you for supporting the Burt Lake Trail!

HURRY – ORDERING IS ONLY OPEN UNTIL AUGUST 26.

Place your order for a shirt/mask package HERE. 

If you prefer to make a donation only, click HERE.

In the Classic race, Ryan Harris and Denny Paull battled the entire 31 kms, never being much more than a ski length apart.! In the final sprint to the finish line on the lake, Ryan Harris held off the determined Paull to win his second Black Mountain Classic.  Michael Davis finished third to round out the podium for the men.  The finish times for not only the winners (1:43:38)  but for all of the racers were indicative of a fast course indeed!  Daniella Gephardt would be victorious in the women’s race with a time of 2:15:58.  Sarah Newmister and Ann Wagar would complete the women’s podium.
In the Freestyle Race on Sunday, Harris and Paull would again reach the podium but Harris held a comfortable lead from start to finish in this one and a familiar podium it would be as Michael Davis would repeat as the 3rd place finisher.  Finish times again indicated a fast course as Harris would conquer “The Beast” in 33:05 for one of the fastest times in the 8 year history of the event.  Mariah Frye-Colie demonstrating her nearly flawless skating technique, would earn the Women’s overall victory in a time of 44:17.  Lizzie Osteen would earn the second spot on the podium, while Katie Damon would be 3rd.

A heartfelt “Thank You” to all of the skiers who made the effort to support the Black Mountain Ski Club by skiing in these Black Mountain Races.  We will hopefully be able to continue our volunteer grooming efforts at the mountain for another season.

Stafford’s Top of Michigan Marathon – A USATF CERTIFIED COURSE to benefit the Top of Michigan Trails Council and the Petoskey High School Cross Country and Track teams.

New this Year – two 5K races

The marathon race will be run on a beautiful course made of asphalt starting in Charlevoix, then Petoskey and finishing in Harbor Springs. The trail is an excellent venue for runners stepping up to a marathon or seasoned runners looking for a fast time. The trail is relatively flat and perfect for getting a qualifying time for other races. The trail has spectacular views of the Little Traverse Bay.

The half marathon is run on the same course and begins in Bay Harbor and finishes in Harbor Springs.

The 10K starts at the Top of Michigan Trails Council’s Packy Offield Trail Center at 1687 M 119, Petoskey and also finishes in Harbor Springs.

5K races are being planned as well. One will start and end at the Marathon start line in Charlevoix, and one will start and end at the finish line in Harbor Springs. Watch for more details on these events!

Register Online Today!

This beautiful 61-mile trail has become one of the premier cycling trails in the Midwest. Its flat terrain makes for easy bicycling through an area of great and diverse natural beauty. Most users’ highlights will include the valley of the Sturgeon River and its tributaries and the section north of Topinabee along the west side of Mullet Lake. The terminal towns of Gaylord and Mackinaw City, Vanderbilt, Wolverine, Indian River, Topinabee, and Cheboygan also offer plenty of amenities. The improvement to the old rail corridor was completed in 2007, and was made possible by a nearly $2 million federal trail enhancement grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation in 2005 and the cooperation and contributions from governments and individuals along the way. In 2008 the trail was named as one of the top five autumn destinations in the nation by Rails to Trails Conservancy.

Mileage:

Gaylord to Vanderbilt 7.6

Vanderbilt to Wolverine 10.9

Wolverine to Indian River 9.6

Indian River to Topinabee 5.6

Topinabee to Mullett Village 6.6

Mullett Village to Cheboygan 5.3

Cheboygan to MDOT Park 8.4

MDOT Park to Mackinaw City 7.9

Total Miles 61.9

—by Michael Sheean (TOMTC board member and President of North Country Bicycle Club)

Boyne City has new trails developing in all directions and a community welcoming the trail users with open arms. It begins with Boyne Mountain, well known for their down hill skiing, cross-country trails and mountain bike trails.Then came the mountain bike, snow shoeing and hiking trails developed on the Avalanche Preserve right in Boyne City. Then came the North Country Bicycle Club (NCBC) which sponsors weekly road and mountain bike rides. These active folks were inspired to get involved in the development of off-road multi-purpose non-motorized trails.

Folks in the Boyne area have been observing the work of the Top of Michigan Trails Council (TOMTC), a trails advocacy nonprofit that works to connect the communities of Northern Michigan with a great trail system. TOMTC has assisted in building over 300 miles of trails over the past 20 years and is currently advocating for the development of over 100 additional miles. Inspired by TOMTC, Boyne residents decided to get into the business of trail development. The Boyne City-Charlevoix Trail, being built by Charlevoix County, will connect Boyne City with the Little Traverse Wheelway and the entire TOMTC network. We will be able to ride, jog or rollerblade to Charlevoix, Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Alanson and then on to Mackinaw City, Cheboygan, Gaylord, or Alpena, and anywhere in between. The first phase of this trail, which follows the Boyne City-Charlevoix Road, was completed last summer, and additional phases are planned during the next several years.

A local group has developed a plan for a Boyne Valley Trailway to connect Boyne City, Boyne Mountain and Boyne Falls with the full support of Boyne City and Boyne Valley Township. The property and funding has been secured and construction will begin in 2018. This will be a very scenic trail through the woods of the Boyne River Valley.

The local restaurants, pubs, sweet shops and bike shops are manning up for the influx of visitors. In fact, two new taprooms and a brewery have opened this year in anticipation of this new business, and a hotel is about to open as well. Make your reservations early to avoid the rush.

In addition, the Top of Michigan Mountain Bike Association (TOMMBA) has been very busy creating a premier mountain biking venue at the Avalanche Preserve. When finished, there will be over ten miles of mountain bike trails suited for all levels. TOMMBA members have also been working on the Boyne City School Forest Trail just north of town. This trail has been a hit with the whole family from kids to grandparents.  Mountain biking trails are available at Boyne Mountain, Young State Park, Whiting County Park, the Hill Preserve and several other Little Traverse  Conservancy preserves. You can’t get bored around here on your mountain bike.

These mountain biking trails aren’t only available in the summer months. When winter comes, the same trails are a big attraction for fat tire bikers, snowshoe enthusiasts and cross-country skiers.

Boyne City’s water access offers great opportunities for enjoying our water trails. Whether paddling down the Boyne River or along the shore of Lake Charlevoix, you will find many spots to get on and off the water; there are many great restaurants, pubs and places of interest to visit along the way.   

So now you see why Boyne City is becoming a premier TRAIL TOWN in Northern Michigan. Come on over and join in the fun!

                                                                                                       Michael Sheean

                                                                                                President of the NCBC

Trail System Greatly Enjoyed by Mother and Son

My 13 year-old son and I embarked on his first bike tour last summer. He called it the “Tip of the Mitt Tour.” We primarily traveled the trail system and patched in a few roads when necessary. Our trip began at our home in Hayes Township. We rode from the maple woods down to beautiful Lake Michigan at Bay Shore where we connected with the trail system. Daniel and I cycled the bike path to Mackinaw City for our first night camping at the KOA which is conveniently close to the trail system.

The next morning we filled our empty stomachs with pasties in Mackinaw City and connected with the North Central State Trail to travel around to the East side of the State through Cheboygan. We pitched our tent for the second night near Topinabee. The next morning we enjoyed a hearty breakfast in Indian River and headed back across the state to Petoskey and back to Bayshore and then home.

Neither my son or I wanted the trip to end. We dreamed out loud of riding all summer from one town to another and we talked about the possibility of riding across the United States. I think my son is hooked. Being on a bicycle allowed us to meet many curious and friendly people that we would not have had an opportunity to talk with otherwise. Northern Michigan became a much larger space and the slower speed enabled us to see, smell and hear things that had gone unnoticed passing by in a car at 55 mph. The most difficult part was dealing with traffic as we threaded our way back across state to Petoskey. It would be wonderful to have a safe cross state connection. Thank you for such a wonderful trail system.

Sincerely,

Trina Fournier

Lake to Lake Ride in September!

The Trails Council is in the planning stages for a September “Lake to Lake” ride on our trail system from Alpena (on Lake Huron) to a yet-to-be-determined location on Lake Michigan. The multi-day tour would take in the entirety of the North Eastern State Trail, portions of the North Central State Trail and perhaps segments of Northwestern State Trail and the Little Traverse Wheelway. The trip will include lodging and SAG support. If you are interested in receiving more information about this tour as our plans progress email Sue Bouwense at admin@trailscouncil.org and simply put in the subject line “September bicycle tour”, and include your name.

Top of Michigan Trails Council (TOMTC) has received favorable news from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) related to funding for several projects within the TOMTC trails network, which encompasses over 300 miles of multi-use trails in Northern Michigan.

The MNRTF, which was recognized this year for 40 years of service to Michigan, is funded by royalties paid on the sale and lease of state-owned oil, gas and mineral rights, and has generated more than a billion dollars to buy land or land rights, and to develop quality outdoor recreational facilities and opportunities in Michigan. When the Trust Fund was created in 1976, the thrust was to use funds from nonrenewable resources to fund only nonrenewable resources, such as parks and natural areas.

One purchase of land affecting the TOMTC network was the approval for the acquisition of a half-mile corridor along US 31 from Blumke to Milton Road in Emmet County. The property is immediately north of the existing North Western State Trail which is located within the US 31 Highway (Oden Road) road right-of-way. Acquisition of the property would allow for immediate use for snowmobiles in the winter away from the highway, and will allow the community to retain the scenic character of the trail for future generations to enjoy.

Trail enhancement projects within the TOMTC network that were funded include the following:

Otsego County – Iron Belle Trail Otsego County South Development – $300,000 Development of an eleven-mile multi-purpose pathway from Waters northerly to Wisconsin Ave in Gaylord. The trail will be located within the ROW of the Lake State Railroad which runs along Old Highway 27 South through much of the project limits, lending itself to good visibility by motorists, but far enough off the road to provide separation for safety and comfort of trail users. The entire trail which runs parallel to a rail corridor is currently used as a regional snowmobile trail. This trail is part of Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail (from Belle Isle to Iron Mountain).

Otsego County – DNR, Iron Belle Trail – Gaylord Gateway – $300,000 Development of a 1.65 mile paved trail within the City of Gaylord between Grandview Boulevard and Fairview Road. The trail will fill a critical gap in the biking route of the Iron Belle Trail and will connect numerous public facilities including schools, parks and the Gaylord downtown business district, offering alternative transportation for the community. The trail will also connect to other regional trails including the Otsego County Trail and the North Central State Trail.

Otsego County –Vanderbilt Gateway Trailhead Park Development – $300,000 Development of a community park and trailhead in Vanderbilt on the Iron Belle – North Central State Trail which will also serve as a gateway to the Pigeon River Country State Forest, located six miles east. Vanderbilt is a natural stopping place along the trail with easy access to stores and restaurants. An informational kiosk will educate visitors of the natural assets found in the nearby Pigeon River Country State Forest. Park amenities include a pavilion, restroom, playground, community gathering area, fireplace, picnic tables, benches & snowmobile parking.

Charlevoix County – City of Boyne, Boyne Valley Trail Development – Phase 1 – $300,000 Development of 3.6 miles of the 6.1 mile paved non-motorized all-season Boyne Valley Trailway connecting Boyne City to the Village of Boyne Falls. This trailway will extend and enhance the Regional Trail System by connection to the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail and the Little Traverse Wheelway. Phase I of the Trailway project connects to Boyne City streets with a trailhead at the Boyne City Airport which features paved parking and modern bathroom facilities. At mile point 1.4 the trail provides access to the Boyne River Nature Area that includes a pavilion, benches and a nature trail leading to the Boyne River. At mile point 2.4 the trail passes through the Boyne Valley Township Park (recreational property) with planned future improvements for trail users that include parking, benches, solar lighting, and vault restrooms. Phase I ends at mile point 3.6 where the trail connects to the Boyne Falls Public School and includes use of the paved parking lot.

Cheboygan County – Burt Township, Burt Lake Trail Development (Phase 2) – $295,000 Development to extend Burt Lake Trail approximately 3.1 miles to provide the connection from W. Burt Lake Rd. to E. Burt Lake Rd around the north end of Burt Lake in both Burt and Munro Townships. The 10′-wide paved, non-motorized trail will be separated from the adjacent roadway. Ultimately, the route will provide critical links to connect the Petoskey to Mackinaw Trail in Brutus to the North Central State Trail/Iron Belle Trail in Topinabee. The trail route will traverse a unique natural area owned by the University of Michigan Biological Station known for abundant wildlife and pristine woodlands.

Phase II of the Burt Lake Trail moved closer to reality with the DNR Trust Fund recommending funding of $295,000 for phase II of the Burt Lake Trail at their meeting on December 8, 2016. This section of trail will move into University of Michigan biological station property and provide paved trail access to the “gorge”.

See More About the Burt Lake Trail