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Shorter family ride options are available for all ages and skill levels. Gravel, mountain, or hybrid bikes are recommended.

Registration details are coming soon.

Bois Blanc Island is an island in Lake Huron within Bois Blanc Township, Mackinac County. The island covers about 34 square miles and is about 12 miles long, six miles wide and has six lakes. It lies southeast of Mackinac Island and almost due north of the city of Cheboygan.

A number of activities are planned, with Top of Michigan Trails Council’s 5k and 10k family fun runs taking center stage. The two runs start at Cheboygan’s Festival Square and use some town streets. But runners will mostly be on the North Central and North Eastern State Trails.

Other activities include:

• Fall birding at Duncan Bay Nature Preserve, courtesy of Little Traverse Conservancy and Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch
• Bike the North Central State Trail from Festival Square to the Barbara C. Hoffius Nature Preserve with Little Traverse Conservancy
• Kids’ activities on the Children’s Trail of Cheboygan
• Mountain bike ride at Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails in Topinabee
• Lighted lantern walk at Cheboygan State Park
• Tap Into Mornings on Main featuring live music and artists throughout downtown
• Farmers Market, shopping and dining in beautiful downtown Cheboygan

Click here for more information.

But, unfortunately, we’ve recently seen a major uptick in complaints about the behavior of some e-bike riders, as well as a new concern – e-motos. In short, e-motos are not e-bikes. State law regulates three classes of e-bikes and where they can be used. But e-motos are “out of class” because state law considers them to be motorized vehicles that are absolutely not permitted on our trails.

Nevertheless, we are seeing more of them with each passing month.

Because e-motos are high-powered and fast, they pose serious safety risks to trail users. To operate an e-moto legally in Michigan, you must register the vehicle and follow all state motor vehicle and/or off-road vehicle regulations.

Under Michigan law, e-motos are classified as motor vehicles (think electric mopeds, motorcycles or dirt bikes) – not e-bikes. A vehicle is considered an e-moto if it meets any of the following criteria:

• Exceeds 750 watts of power.
• Can exceed 28 mph under motor assist.
• Functions primarily as a throttle-powered vehicle above 20 mph.
• Lacks fully operable pedals.

We see it. You see it. While we don’t yet have all the answers, trust that we are working with partners and trail users like you to identify such trail concerns. This is a statewide issue and multiple government agencies, bicycle groups, and trail organizations like TOMTC are actively working together on a coordinated response.

Your feedback is very helpful so keep it coming!

We’ve been getting lots of questions on e-biking on DNR-managed trails. Here’s some helpful information to know before you head out:

• Know your e-bike’s class. Class 1 (pedal-assisted, up to 20 mph): Allowed on any DNR-managed trail where traditional bikes go, except in state game and wildlife areas, the North Country Trail and the High Country, Shingle Mill and Pickerel Lake pathways in Pigeon River Country. Class 2 (throttle/pedal-assisted, up to 20 mph): Allowed for mobility use only; requires a DNR-issued permit. Class 3 (up to 28 mph): Not allowed on state-managed trails.
• Find a DNR-managed trail. Explore Michigan’s 2,000 miles of trails open to bicyles.
• Be safe and leave no trace. Protect the trails and respect fellow visitors while you explore.

Got an e-moto? If your bike lacks fully operable pedals, exceeds 20 mph with throttle assist or has a motor size greater than 750 watts, it’s an e-moto and considered a motor vehicle (ie. moped, motorcycle or dirt bike) in Michigan. Because of this, they must be licensed appropriately and are prohibited from nonmotorized trails. If licensed as an ORV, e-motos are welcome on Michigan’s 4,000-plus miles of designated ORV trails.

Thank you, Bill!

The City of Petoskey and the Bay Harbor community are working together to improve and extend the Quarry Trail, which links East Park with Bay Harbor’s east side inlet.

Though work is not complete, new trail paving replaces decayed surface in one section, and fallen rock from an adjacent cliff face has been removed. More importantly, the trail has been extended significantly along Village Harbor Drive to the west. The goal is to eventually link the Quarry Trail to the existing trail system.

The 2025 Annual Report will also be in your USPS mailbox soon, if it’s not already. We encourage you to read the entire publication.

We enjoy highlighting the achievements we make on your behalf, with your generous funding.

The “Let’s Finish the Trail” pasta supper and silent auction fundraiser took place June 18 at Boyne City’s Veterans Memorial Park pavilion under blue skies. The event raised over $21,000 and saw donated auction items from individuals, merchants, and other businesses all over Charlevoix and Emmet counties.

Trail lovers of all ages converged on the pavilion for Chef Michael Sader’s donated Italian pasta bonanza, which included salad and breadsticks donated by B.C. Pizza, and donated desserts by Mo Shipley, Becky Goral, and Scott Southwell.

Event organizers Bob McLain and Becky Goral, along with Steve Van Dam, all Charlevoix County Trail Team members, were on hand to answer questions and share new information about the ongoing effort to finish the trail’s six remaining miles.

“The turnout for our event clearly illustrated the community’s enthusiasm for this trail and its completion,” Bob said. “We can’t thank our sponsors and donors and volunteers enough for helping us. But, the hundreds of supporters who showed up to eat and bid really stole the show. We’re sincerely grateful.”

Steve said an initial fundraising goal ($50k for trail conceptual design and engineering) has already been achieved. “Now we’re working toward a $240,000 goal, which will finance final trail design and related engineering,” he said. “Our recent fundraiser put a nice dent in that goal, and we’re excited to see so much support for this project.”

Boyne City’s park pavilion made a fine setting for this dining event, thanks to its modern, commercial kitchen and ample seating. A range of ages attended the fundraiser and tables were filled with young families, laughing friends, and smiling elders – all united in support of finishing the trail.

To date, over $4 million has been invested in the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail, and that’s far too big of a commitment to abandon now, according to Steve.

“Finishing the trail fulfills a promise to the community,” Steve said. “And it avoids wasting what we’ve already invested. Our area needs more economic support, and residents want a safe place to run, walk, or bike. This trail makes sense in so many ways.”