Trail Resources
Trailspotters provides logistic transportation for the River Trail in Tahquamenon Falls State Park, the Lakeshore Trail in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as well as many sections of the North Country Trail, rivers and Fort Custer in southwest Michigan and rivers in eastern Upper Peninsula: www.trailspotters.com
ALTRAN is the Alger County bus transit system and provides backpackers transport along the Lakeshore Trail in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: www.altranbus.com/backpack.html
BATA is the The Bay Area Transportation Authority in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties that offers cyclists bike-and-ride service along the Leelanau Trail and parts of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail on special buses: bata.net/bikenride
Outfitters & Gear Rental Companies
High Five Tribe is an outfitter that stages backpacking outings to Isle Royale, the Manistee River Loop, the Lakeshore Trail in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and all-women backpacking adventures. The company also rents gear: www.thehighfivetribe.com
Uncommon Adventures is based near Beulah and stages a variety of weekend, day paddles and learn-to-kayak outings in and around the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: www.mi-paddleadventure.com
Odyssey Gear Rental offers tested, brand-name gear for rent with all outdoor equipment tested in advance to ensure it is suitable for the rigors of the backcountry: www.odysseygearrental.com
Paddling Michigan offers a variety day kayak paddles of Pictured Rocks and Grand Island from its is based in Munising: www.paddlingmichigan.com
True North Expeditions, based in the Midwest, this outfitter offers guided adventures on land and water, camping opportunities, and wellness hiking events. Among the organized adventures they feature are the Manistee River Trail and the Lakeshore Trail in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: www.Truenorthexp.com
National Trail Advocacy Groups
American Trails is a national association for trail development whose website is an impressive online resource of trails throughout the country: americantrails.org
North Country Trail Association builds, promote, and protects the country’s longest national trail that spans seven states, including both the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula in Michigan: www.northcountrytrail.org
Statewide Trail Advocacy Groups
Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance is a statewide voice for non-motorized trail users, assisting people and local organizations to convert rail-trails, green spaces and other historic routes into multi-use trails: michigantrails.org
Michigan Mountain Bike Association promotes responsible mountain biking while working toward the goals of common land access and natural resource protection through interaction with policy makers, the cycling industry, race promoters, mountain bikers and other trail users. Its chapters are often responsible for the newest mountain bike trails in Michigan: www.mmba.org
Regional Trail Advocacy Groups
Top of Michigan Trails Council is based in Petoskey and oversees almost 300 miles of existing or soon-to-be constructed trails by converting old railroad corridors into pathways for biking, running, hiking, and other trail activities. The group’s best known trail is the Little Traverse Wheelway that stretches from Charleviox to Harbor Springs: www.trailscouncil.org
TART Trails was formed in 1998 to advocate for an network of trails, bikeways and pedestrian ways to encourage non-motorized transportation in the Traverse City area. Among the better known trails the organization oversees are the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail in Lelanau County and the VASA, prehaps the finest Nordic ski trail in Michigan: traversetrails.org