Emmet: Shores, Dunes, and History

Petoskey State Park offers a mile of sandy beach on Lake Michigan and also has two campgrounds. If you’re planning to explore the trails, you’ll find a variety of routes: the Old Baldy Trail is an approximately 0.8-kilometer loop to the summit of Old Baldy Dune. The Portage Trail is an approximately 1.6-kilometer out-and-back hike through a wooded dune area. In terms of distance, Old Baldy is the shorter route, while the wooded dune landscape is an additional feature of the Portage Trail.

Shorelines and Trails

The Little Traverse Wheelway is a 26-mile paved trail. It passes the entrance to Petoskey State Park and connects Charlevoix with Harbor Springs. Its length and connection between the two towns distinguish it from the shorter walking trails. Individual sections may vary depending on maintenance or closures, so check current trail conditions before planning.

Wilderness State Park also combines shoreline and outdoor activity: its Lake Michigan shoreline stretches for 26 miles, and the park has more than 20 miles of hiking trails. A boat launch at Big Stone Bay provides access to Lake Michigan. Conditions on the south side of Waugoshance Point are suitable for smallmouth bass fishing and carp fly fishing. Conditions and regulations may vary, which should be taken into account when planning a fishing trip.

At Thorne Swift Nature Preserve, three easy hiking and cross-country ski trails pass through 30 hectares of wetlands and higher ground, leading to a pond and the beach. These destinations give the loop several distinct landscape features. The Old Baldy Trail is approximately 0.8 kilometers long; at Thorne Swift Nature Preserve, the trails pass through wetlands and higher ground.

History by the Water and in Museums

Michilimackinac State Park spans Cheboygan and Emmet counties and sits on the shore of the Straits of Mackinac. It provides access to the shore of Lake Huron. The park is home to Colonial Michilimackinac, one of the most significant fur trading posts of the 18th century. The coastal setting and history are side by side here: the shoreline is as much a part of the park as the trading post’s historical significance.

McGulpin Point Lighthouse tells a different maritime story. From 1869 to 1906, the historic lighthouse protected ships in the Straits of Mackinac from storms, fog, and rocks. The grounds include 336 feet of shoreline along the Straits of Mackinac. The dates place its former role in context, while the stretch of shoreline adds a specific landscape detail to the historical perspective.

The Little Traverse History Museum features exhibits about Ernest Hemingway’s life in Michigan, rare Odawa artifacts, and the history of the Little Traverse Bay region. It is housed in a restored Pere Marquette railroad depot on the Petoskey waterfront. The building combines a museum visit with a historic train station setting; the exhibits range from personal literary history to cultural and regional history.

A reconstructed Wolverine railcar dating from 1914 to 1935 stands beside the visitor center at Oden Fish Hatchery. Oden Fish Hatchery in Emmet County also has two free Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations, available year-round. Since availability may change, check before you travel.

Trip Planning and Choosing a Location

Pellston Regional Airport offers daily Delta flights to Detroit Metro Airport. Rental cars and shuttle services are available on site. Flight schedules and service availability may change; check before booking or traveling.

The wider Petoskey Area has well-used and well-maintained snowmobile trails; official trails run through Emmet and Charlevoix counties. Check trail conditions and advisories before setting out. If you’re looking for a hotel in Emmet, first decide whether shoreline experiences, hiking trails, history, or getting there will shape your stay.

Explore more destinations: Alanson, Pellston, Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Mason County, Ogemaw County, Mackinac, Shiawassee County.

For the main travel overview: Michigan.