Michigan Trails Magazine 2020 • www.MiTrails.org ©2020 Rockford Advertising. All rights reserved.

No

rth C

entral S

tate Trail – Waters to

Ind

ian R

iver

Afto

n

Sco

tt

Peet

N O

ld 2

7N

Old

27

Krys

Bru

dy

Sh

ire

Old State

Parmater

Hay

es To

wer

Ch

este

r

Turt

le L

ake

Mancelona

Thumb Lake

McGreger

Wolverine

Ashley

Silver Lk

No

wak

Crumley Creek

Allis

5 Lakes RdHallenius

Huffman LakeLe

wis

Berry Creek

Rondo

White

Mar

qu

ard

t

Perry

Sturgeon Valley

Independance

Tow

nlin

e

Sh

aff

Fon

tin

alis

Old Vanderbilt

Haakwood

Pyke S

cho

ol

Mo

rgan

Alexander

Alba

Martindale

Ran

ger

Lak

e

Otseg

o Lk

Badgley

Whitmarsh

Hal

lock Kosiara

Mo

linea

ux

Arrowhead

Gul

arsk

i

Pean

ut

Hill

Hay

es

Poquette

Wilkinson

Pete

rs

Mag

ee

Lynn

Lk

Oley Lake

Old Stump

Mentor

Bai

rd

Harvey

Big

Lak

e

Manuka

Fow

ler LkM

urn

er

Perry

Johnson

Van Tyle

McCoyMilbocker

Milbocker

Old Alba

Charles Brink

Old State

Salem

Marlette

S Str aits

Hwy

S S

trai

ts H

wy

Hatch

Straits H

wy

Au Sable Trl

Passen

heim

Wild wood

Wolverine

Vanderbilt

Waters

Arbutus Beach

Rondo

Gaylord

IndianRiver

3

2

4

5

6

1

7

Gaylord StateForest Area

Stew

art

Cre

ek

Stu r geon River

Club Stream

OtsegoLake

Big Bradford Lake

Sturg

eon

Riv

er

75

75

75

32

32

68

68

0 1 2 3 40.5Miles

Trails LegendPaved Trail Limestone TrailHighwaysRoads

0 1 2 3 4Miles

North Central State TrailThe 73-mile North Central State Trail races from Waters to Mackinaw City on the former Michigan Central Railroad. The trail offers a tour of the natural beauty and tranquility that draws people back to northern Michigan year after year. It was named Michigan’s best example of the rails-to-trails system by the Mid-America Trails and Greenways Conference, and for many good reasons. You’ll find the scenery complemented by evenly spaced towns with several shops, restaurants, camping and lodging choices along the way — making it an ideal trail for multi-day biking trips. The 10-foot-wide trail is surfaced with finely screened and compacted crushed limestone. And this showcase trail continues to grow...

Waters to Indian RiverDuring the summer of 2019, a new 11-mile Iron Belle section of the trail was opened, going south through Gaylord to the village of Waters. It was built along an active railroad right-of-way, passing by the edge of Otsego Lake with access to Otsego Lake State Park. The Michigan DNR also completed a new trailhead on Main Street next to the visitors center in downtown Gaylord. The DNR should begin construction on a new trailhead in the village of Waters within the next year.

Going north, the trail travels through forest and rolling farmland, and passes through two tunnels, before reaching the village of Vander-bilt. North of Vanderbilt, it settles into the Sturgeon River valley where it follows the edge of Stewart Creek and the Sturgeon River through Wolverine on its way to Indian River. This section of the trail is exceptionally scenic. Haakwood State Forest Campground, north of Wolverine, offers primitive riverside camping along the edge of the trail.

When you reach Indian River, you’ve traveled 39.2 miles (from the village of Waters). Uniquely situated between Mullet

and Burt lakes, Indian River offers several restaurants, shops and lodging options. A paved path along M-68 takes you

from the North Central State Trail to the entrance of Burt Lake State Park.

©2020 Rockford Advertising. All rights reserved.

A new 11-mile section of trail, passing by Ostego Lake and Otsego Lake State Park, was completed in June 2019.

Photo by Sharon Curry

On the trail, just south of Rondo.

North Michigan Trails

North Central State Trail Access Access Site Parking Restrooms Water

1 Otsego Lake State Park Yes Yes Yes 2 Downtown Gaylord Trailhead Yes Yes Yes

3 North Gaylord Trailhead Yes No No

4 Vanderbilt Staging Area Yes No No

5 Wolverine Village Park Yes Vault No

6 Haakwood State Forest Campground Yes Vault Pump

7 Burt Lake State Park Yes Yes Yes