The Spring Lake to Alanson section of the trail was paved in 2012 and is without a doubt the most scenic and interesting segment of the North Western. It has its own page MichiganTrailMaps.com website.

Alanson is reached at Mile 7.5 along a shared road route with Milton Road. At Chicago Street, the North Western State Trail departs Alanson as a surface of compacted limestone that parallels Milton Road for more than 2 miles before crossing it at Mile 9.7. The trail remains on the west side of US-31 as it heads north and reaches Pellston at Mile 15.5.

Within Pellston a half-mile segment of the North Western is paved and on the north side of the village passes in front of the Pellston Regional Airport with its distinctive rustic log passenger terminal where restrooms and drinking water are available. Pellston features quaint main street with restaurants and stores while nearby Pellston Pioneer Park, accessed from Mill Street in the southwest quarter of the village, features restrooms, drinking water and a picnic area.

Once past the airport, the North Western crosses Ely Road and continues to hug US-31 for the next 5 miles. It then swings away from the US-31 and arrives on the far west side of Levering at Mile 21.5. There is no trailhead or parking along the trail here but by following Mill Street east for four blocks you will reach restaurants and shops of the town’s business district. 

The North Western continues to stay a half mile west of US-31 until it swings east and enters Carp Lake on the shores of Paradise Lake at Mile 26.5. Carp Lake can be used as a trailhead as parking is available along with a convenience store and a restaurant. There is also a DNR boat launch along Paradise Trail a half mile south of the blinking light and a block east of US-31.

North of Carp Lake the state trail parallels US-31 for 2.1 miles and then swings due north and runs inland through forest and wetlands to leave the busy highway behind. At Trails End Road, reached at Mile 30.8, the North Western becomes an asphalt path for the remaining 1.2 miles. It heads north and then swings east to pass underneath I-75 into the heart of Mackinaw City. The large Mackinaw City Trailhead is located on the backside of the Baymont Hotel and the Mackinaw Crossing shopping and entertainment area off Mackinaw Crossing Drive. Within a block or two in almost any direction are restaurants, stores, ice cream parlors and fudge shops.

The trailhead serves as a major junction of trails. It represents the northernmost point of the North Country Trail in Lower Peninsula as well as the northern terminus of the Midland-to-Mackinac Trail. Also departing from here is the North Central State Trail that heads south 61.9 miles for Gaylord.