Northern Michigan Cycling Guide: Rail Trails and Road Rides

Two-Wheeled Northern Michigan

Northern Michigan's cycling infrastructure has expanded dramatically over the past fifteen years, driven by the conversion of abandoned railroad corridors into paved recreational trails and the growing recognition that the region's back roads — rolling, lightly trafficked, and scenic — are exceptional cycling territory. Whether you want a family-friendly paved trail or a challenging road ride through cherry orchard country, Northern Michigan has a route.

The TART Trail — Traverse City

The TART (Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation) trail network connects the greater Traverse City area on paved multi-use paths. The Leelanau Trail section runs 17 miles north from Traverse City to Suttons Bay through farmland and forest corridors. The Boardman Lake Loop circles the lake through restored floodplain habitat. The Grand Traverse Bay shoreline section provides some of the most scenic urban cycling in Michigan. The trail system is flat enough for casual cyclists and long enough for experienced riders to string together 40+ mile days.

M-22 — The Iconic Road Ride

M-22 is Northern Michigan's most famous highway — a scenic two-lane that traces the Lake Michigan shoreline, bends through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, passes Leelanau Peninsula farmland and vineyards, and eventually loops back to Traverse City. The full M-22 loop is roughly 115 miles and a genuine challenge — hilly in the Leelanau interior, with exposed bluff sections where the lake wind can be formidable. Breaking it into sections (Traverse City to Leland, or the Sleeping Bear section from Empire to Glen Arbor) makes it accessible for intermediate cyclists.

The Little Traverse Wheelway

The Little Traverse Wheelway runs 26 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline from Charlevoix to Petoskey and on to Harbor Springs. The trail hugs the bay for most of its length, with views across Little Traverse Bay and through the birch and maple forests above the shoreline. It is one of the most scenic paved trails in the Midwest — appropriate for families and accessible cyclists while offering enough distance for a satisfying half-day ride. The Petoskey section passes directly through the Gaslight District.

The North Central State Trail

The North Central State Trail connects Gaylord south to Mio on 65 miles of paved rail trail across Otsego, Montmorency, and Oscoda counties. The surface is paved asphalt and the grade, following the old rail bed, never exceeds 3 degrees. The trail passes through state forest land and small communities; resupply options are limited so riders should carry adequate water and food. In winter the trail converts to a designated snowmobile route.

Cycling Resources

The Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails organization maintains an excellent online trail map and condition reports for the Traverse City network. Bike rentals are widely available in Traverse City, Petoskey, and Charlevoix. The M-22 Challenge, an annual organized cycling event held in October, offers supported rides on the full M-22 loop with SAG vehicles and rest stops — ideal for those attempting the full route for the first time. Check Traverse City events for the Challenge date and registration.