Cadillac Michigan: Lakes, Trails, and the Town That Surprised Me

The Gateway Nobody Talks About

Cadillac (pop. 10,000) is the largest city in Wexford County and the southern anchor of Northern Michigan's resort corridor. Most people drive through it on US-131 without stopping, their sights set on Traverse City or Gaylord 45 minutes north. This is consistently a mistake. Cadillac has two exceptional inland lakes, a genuinely good downtown, one of the better brewpubs in Northern Michigan, and a community events calendar that punches well above the city's profile.

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell

The twin lakes are Cadillac's greatest asset. Lake Cadillac (1,000 acres) and Lake Mitchell (2,580 acres) sit adjacent to downtown, connected by a navigable channel. Both are walleye and bass fishing lakes with good populations; Lake Mitchell is the more productive of the two and has a productive ice fishing community in winter. The public beach at Lake Cadillac City Park is a comfortable family destination with a gradual sandy entry. The William Mitchell State Park between the two lakes offers camping and boat access.

The Cadillac Trail System

The trail network around Cadillac's lakes includes the 6-mile paved loop around Lake Mitchell, which is flat, scenic, and accessible for all fitness levels. The Lake Cadillac to downtown connector trail passes through city parks and provides a walking/biking link between the lakes and the commercial district. In winter, the trails convert to cross-country skiing and snowshoe routes; the lake surfaces become snowmobile corridors that connect to the regional trail system.

Big Buck Brewery

Big Buck Brewery in the converted automotive facility on Mitchell Street is the Cadillac food and social anchor — a large brewpub with a tap list that covers the craft beer spectrum and a kitchen producing hearty Midwestern food at reasonable prices. The patio opens in summer and overlooks the industrial-turned-creative district that Cadillac's downtown has been becoming. Check Cadillac events for seasonal tap releases and brewery events.

Wexford County Fair

The Wexford County Fair in August is the genuine article — agricultural exhibits, 4-H competitions, tractor pulls, demolition derbies, and the kind of community fair culture that has been running in rural Michigan since the 19th century. The fair draws the working community of Wexford County and the surrounding agricultural area, and attending it gives a different perspective on Northern Michigan than the resort culture presents. See Cadillac events for the annual fair dates.