2022 Annual Meeting

Phase 1, a 10-foot-wide paved non-motorized trail parallel to, but detached from Boyne City/Charlevoix Road, was completed in 2016. This phase begins at the Boyne City limits at W. Michigan Avenue, extends through Young State Park, and runs to the Evangeline/Bay Township line at Springwater Beach Road for a distance of 3.04 miles.

Phase 2 was completed in 2017 and begins at the Little Traverse Wheelway east of Waller Road in Charlevoix Township, crosses US-31 and runs south across a series of private easements to Boyne City/Charlevoix Road east of the Argonne Supper Club. The trail then runs parallel to, but separate from Boyne City/Charlevoix Road on the north side of the road to Quarterline Road for a distance of 2.97 miles.  At the point where the trail meets Boyne City/Charlevoix Road east of the Argonne Supper Club, a trail spur runs west within the right-of-way on the north side of the road to Eastern Avenue to create an access point for Pine Point Subdivision.

Phase 3 will begin at the Bay/Evangeline Township line (Springwater Beach Road) and will continue, detached from the road, through Bay Township on the Lake Charlevoix side of the road.  Just east of the Village of Horton Bay, the trail will connect to the (paved) wide shoulder of the road through the Village (speed limit: 35 mph).  The trail will utilize the shoulder of the road due to the proximity of homes to the road.  On the west side of Horton Bay (west of Horton Creek), the trail will become detached once again on the Lake Charlevoix side of the road and continue to Pincherry Road.  Phase 3 will be 2.83 miles in length.  As part of Phase 3, a trailhead is proposed to be developed at Park of the Pines, just north of Springwater Beach Road N.  Construction of Phase 3 of the trail and the trailhead is planned for 2019.

Phase 4 will begin at the completed Phase 2 of the trail at Quarterline Road in Hayes Township and continue detached within the right-of-way along Boyne City Road to Hayes Township Park (Camp Sea-Gull) on the east/north side of the road (the side opposite Lake Charlevoix).  The trail will cross Boyne City Road in the vicinity of Hayes Township Park, where there are plans to establish a trailhead in the future.  This phase will cover a distance of 2.8 miles.

Phase 5 will begin at the completed Phase 4 of the trail at Hayes Township Park (Camp Sea-Gull) and continue as a detached trail within the right-of-way along Boyne City Road on the south (Lake Charlevoix) side of the road to Pincherry Road in Bay Township, where it will connect to the end of Phase 3.  This phase will cover a distance of 2.7 miles.

Since I have spent all or part of the last 60+ years in Northern Michigan, I pretty much love everything that Northern Michigan has to offer.  I see the Trails Council as a partner to all the things we love about the Michigan outdoors. Lisa and I live about 100 feet off the Little Traverse Wheelway.  So we are constantly on and off the path either walking into downtown Petoskey or riding our bikes out to Conway or Harbor Springs.     I am a member of the Petoskey Rotary Club.  I first got interested in TOMTC when they approached Rotary to partner in the successful acquisition of the house that has become the Packy Offield Trail Center.

Before Lisa and I moved to Petoskey year round, we were longtime Bay View cottage owners. My family has been in Bay View for several generations.  (Lisa’s family members have been Menonaqua beach cottage owners for over 60 years.)  Our careers were in Grand Rapids where I worked for 35 years for General Motors and then retired from Delphi Corporation.  Most of those 35 years was involved with Human Resource management.

One of the coolest things about working with TOMTC is the great and enthusiastic staff, volunteers and supporters you get to know and spend time with.

WELCOME, Ric! We’re glad you are so willing to jump in and help us make trails happen!

Cyclists will use the North Central State Trail and the North Eastern State Trail, both of which are located in Cheboygan. The trails intersect at the trailhead at the corner of Lincoln and Western Avenues. Riders will be on these trails almost exclusively throughout the ride.

The tour last visited Cheboygan in 2015 and riders universally enjoyed their stay. Just like their previous visit, many will be camping at the campus of Cheboygan Area High School, where they will also be able to shower and enjoy breakfast each morning. Riders also have the option of staying in area motels.

Participants will have several options for their ride: a two-day tour, six-day tour, or an eight-day tour that combines both. Cyclists will be in town from Friday, July 13 until Tues., July 17, with the six- and eight-day riders returning to a festive finish line on Sat., July 21.

The Michigander also will provide a significant boost to the local economy. “There should be a very positive economic benefit. Restaurants, shops, just about everyone should see a benefit from this event being based in Cheboygan,” Conboy noted.

Downtown Enhancement Administrator Kirsten Guenther is also looking forward to the arrival of the Michiganders. “We hope to see many of them downtown stopping in local stores and enjoying the nightlife. Merchants will ship their purchases, so there is no need for riders to worry about having to carry back what they buy,” she said. “We also have the bike station at Festival Square where riders can make minor adjustments to their bikes, and if they need something more significant, the bike shop is right across the street.”

While in Cheboygan riders will be enjoying local events scheduled during their stay, including the farmers market at Festival Square, the Cheboygan Area Arts Council Art Festival, and any scheduled events at the Opera House.

“Riders want to be downtown and will be looking for things to do,” said Conboy. “Cheboygan has become a real draw for cyclists, both those with tours and those riding individually,” Conboy observed. “The trails are bringing people in.”

Michigander Registration is open now through June 30 at www.michigander.bike. The Michigander Bicycle Tour is part of The Pure Michigan FITness Series. This series endorses local, regional and state events consistent with the Governor’s Council mission to promote healthy choices, while offering a physical activity event open to all participants, regardless of skill level or age.

5H Irrigation and Maintenance of Petoskey was awarded a contract to complete the work, which involved using a vibratory plow with a 12” blade to cut the roots on approximately 30 miles of asphalt trail surface on the Little Traverse Wheelway and the North Western State Trails.

This work was begun in August on a section of the Wheelway near Bay Harbor, and the process was refined to continue work on the paved portion of the North Western State Trail (from M-119 in Petoskey to Terrace Street in Alanson) in November.

The cost for this work will be shared by TOMTC, Bear Creek, Little Traverse, Littlefield, Resort townships and the City of Petoskey. The Trails Council has received a large donation from a private donor to cover part of their share of the cost, but the organization is seeking support from trail users as well.

Tony Hoffman of 5H Irrigation reports that the process involves coordinating and obtaining necessary clearances from Miss Dig to locate and avoid utilities along the trail. He reports that he will be working on the segment of the Wheelway from M 119 to Division Road in the spring, and will also be cutting roots on the segment from Konle Road to Harbor Springs.

Hoffman commented, “These trails are well used by cyclists and pedestrians, and I know this because I use the North Western trail myself. It’s important that trail users not take them for granted. There is a cost to keeping them maintained.”

Jeff Winegard, Executive Director of TOMTC will continue to work with Prall to oversee this project, coordinating with local jurisdictions. The need for ongoing root cutting in the future will also be emphasized, and townships and other jurisdictions represented along the trails will be asked to build trail maintenance costs into future budgets.

Winegard stated, “These trails are an economic asset to our area, and it’s important that we maintain them so that they will be available for all to enjoy safely for many years to come.  A study done by MSU determined that trail users on the Little Traverse Wheelway spent an additional $750,000 annually in our area.”

For more information on the project, contact Winegard at (231) 348-8280, or email ed@trailscouncil.org. To support TOMTC’s trail maintenance mission, visit www.trailscouncil.org. Financial support can also be mailed to 1687 M 119, Petoskey, MI 49770.

A video of the root cutting process can be found HERE.

The next step is to find funding for this immense project. We will keep you posted on our progress!