<<

Throughout the year visitors and locals alike flock to 's west coast to experience some of the most picturesque landscape that Mother Nature has to offer. In the fall, vibrant colors and farm markets line the road of this scenic highway. Manistee County is the gateway to the Scenic Michigan Highway M-22. Begin your journey in Manistee County and drive north along . Traffic will slow down and you will quickly realize you and your fellow travelers are all on this road to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and the beautiful landscape that surrounds you.

MANISTEEVISITCOUNTY M-22 LAKE MICHIGAN COASTAL TOUR

Throughout the year visitors and locals alike flock to Michigan's west coast to experience some of the most pictur- esque landscape that Mother Nature has to offer. In the fall, vibrant colors and farm markets line the road of this scenic highway. Manistee County is the gateway to the Scenic Michigan Highway M-22. Begin your journey in Manistee County and drive north along Lake Michigan. Traffic will slow down

and you will quickly realize you and your Lake fellow travelers are all on this road to Manitou Lake Michigan NORTHPORT enjoy the simple pleasures of life and NORTH the beautiful landscape that surrounds MANITOU you. ISLAND Grand 22 VisitManisteeCounty.com LELAND SOUTH MANITOU SUTTONS BAY ISLAND Good Harbor Bay Manitou PassageSleeping Bear Bay Little Traverse Lake Lake GLEN ARBOR Leelanau

Lime Lake 37 West Bay 22 East Bay EMPIRE 72 31 Lake Michigan Platte Bay 22 TRAVERSE CITY Lake Ann Long Lake

Little Platte Lake Silver Bass Lake Platte Lake Lake FRANKFORTCrystal Lake 31 < Return Route 115 Duck Green Lake Lake ELBERTA 37

Manistee County is your gateway Betsie River to the Best Scenic Autumn Drive in ARCADIA America voted by you and USA Arcadia Today. Explore our region in any Lake 31 Big season and find out for yourself Bear Creek 115

why it was voted #1. Outdoor Bear Lake recreation, Michigan made < Return Route products and distinct attractions Hodenpyl await you at every turn. Portage ONEKAMA Dam Pond Lake MANISTEE 22 37 Big Manistee River Pond

Manistee Lake 55 31 Little Manistee River Pine River MANISTEECOUNTY M-22 LAKE MICHIGAN VISIT COASTAL TOUR

START 9:00am 10:45am DEPART : MANISTEE, MI ARRIVE : ARCADIA, MI As you leave Manistee and hook up with the M-22/US-31 junction at the As you swing down the sweeping hills of M-22 you will quickly come up Little River Casino Resort, you will be met with undulating terrain and on the sleepy village of Arcadia. Home to a great museum, boating and rolling farmland. the world famous Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course (7). To take in the sereni- ty of the fall colors in Manistee County, you must plan to make a stop at ALT ROUTE: US-31 Inspiration Point (The Arcadia Overlook) (8). This is one of the highest You may also want to enjoy the scenic beauty of US-31 as you points in the area where you can climb the 120 steps to the top of the drive north through Bear Lake and through the heart of look-out platform and enjoy the majestic beauty of the Lake Michigan Manistee County until making your way over to M-22 by way of Joyfield shoreline as you look south across the heart of Manistee County. Road. Bear Lake has quaint shops and local fare you won’t want to miss. 9 DETOUR: CS Mott Nature Preserve: Arcadia Dunes Boardwalk to Lake Michigan DETOUR: Douglas Valley 1 The Arcadia Dunes (part of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy) is a beautiful nature area along the shores of Lake Just a short drive off of both M-22 and Michigan. Here you will find a trail network that has a handicap US-31, Douglas Valley is a great spot to sip accessible boardwalk to a beautiful scenic overlook. The northern wine & hard cider as well as shop over 100 trail segments will take you to the Old Baldy dune. A beautiful Michigan made speciality products. Doug- landscape without all of the hustle and bustle associated with las Valley is just off Schoedel Rd. Sleeping Bear Dunes.

DETOUR: The Art Deck 2 12:00pm As you drive along M-22 you will quickly ARRIVE : ELBERTA & come upon Miller Road. If you are in the FRANKFORT mood for outdoor art, we recommend When you are nearly 10 checking out Camp Tosebo and the Art minutes from Frankfort, you Crystal Lake Deck. Local artists feature works outdoors will drive through a chute of FRANKFORT 11 on this elaborate collection of exterior trees and see Elberta (10) and Betsie 115 decks within the woods. It is a great spot Lake Frankfort (11) in the distance, Betsie River that is worth the 30 minute detour to stop 10 flanked by the burnt oranges ELBERTA and enjoy art! and reds against the aqua water of Lake Michigan. As

you venture “into the valley” Lower 9:20am Herring Upper stop in both Elberta and Lake Herring ARRIVE : ONEKAMA, MI 22 Lake 31 Frankfort. There are great 9 Joyfield Rd The Village of Onekama (3) is a mere 10 miles from the beginning of opportunities to grab lunch, 8 M-22 but is one of the highlights of the trip. Known as the “Two Lake take in some shopping and see Town,” Onekama is home to Portage Lake and beautiful Lake Michigan Arcadia the historic Frankfort Lake ARCADIA access along the west coast. Here you will find quaint shopping and lighthouse at the waterfront 7 dining options along with great waterfront parks throughout the village park. If you have time, be and along Portage Point Drive on your way to Lake Michigan Access (5) sure to drive down Forest and Be sure to stop at the Artesian Well (4) on Portage Point Drive and fill up Leelanau Avenues and enjoy your water bottles! The well’s water is some of the most pure in the the vibrantly restored Victori- Bear 13 Mile Rd Lake region! an homes that adorn these PIERPORT BEAR LAKE streets. Many are painted in 6 As you continue north from Onekama, you will come upon the farmers vibrant colors with lush 4 markets and the rolling farmlands will soon turn to forested tunnels as 5 landscaping and wrap-around 3 you approach the sleepy village of Arcadia. Portage porches. Pt. Drive Portage Lake 2 6 ONEKAMA DETOUR: Pierport Miller Rd If you enjoyed the Artesian Well in Onekama, you may consider stopping by 1 31 Bar Lake 22 “Old Facefull” in Pierport, Michigan. This Lakeshore Drive small village is comprised of only a few MANISTEE Lake Michigan farm houses, but has a great Lake Michigan Manistee River 55 access point at the end of 13 Mile Road. MANISTEECOUNTY M-22 LAKE MICHIGAN VISIT COASTAL TOUR 2:00pm DEPART : FRANKFORT, MI When in Glen Arbor (depending on when you exactly arrive) we

DETOUR: Point Betsie 12 recommend taking in an early dinner at any of the great restaurants, or Lighthouse make your way north to Leland and the Famous Fishtown, USA. Considered one of the most famous and oldest standing landmarks in all of Benzie County, the DETOUR: Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive Point Betsie Lighthouse marks the southern & The Dune Climb nautical entrance to the . It was built in 1858 and may be toured on Famous for the multiple overlooks 16 Scenic Overlook Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day to across the vibrant treetops to Lake (pictured here) Michigan, the Pierce Stocking Scenic 17 Columbus Day in the early afternoons. The Dune Climb Drive should not be considered a mere detour, but a main stop on your 2:45pm trip! Be sure to stop at the overlook ARRIVE : SLEEPING BEAR platform! It provides picturesque DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE views up and down the lakeshore and Miles of sandy beaches, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, you will be able to spot the rolling fall lush forests and crystal clear inland lakes await you on this stretch of colors of the your Michigan Fall Color Tour! If you feel like stretching your legs, on a clear, sunny fall day. As you leave feel free to get out and enjoy the hiking trails of Old Indian Trail the scenic drive, a few miles north you (13), Platte Plains (14) or the Empire Bluff Trail (15). All explore the will come across the Dune Climb. deep hardwoods of the National Lakeshore ending on the shores of This is again a great spot to stop and Lake Michigan on the rolling sands of the dunes. Each trail hike can enjoy the fall color and clear waters of take 1.0-1.5 hours. Glen Lake in the distance. Note: All areas of the park require a vehicle pass ($10). 3:15pm The Overlook at Sleeping Bear Dunes ARRIVE : EMPIRE, MI Ferry to North Manitou SOUTH MANITOU Island from Leland Quaint shops, small cafes and outdoor ISLAND Ferry to South Manitou Island from Leland activities are contained within and Florence Lake Visitor Center Giant Cedars surround the Village of Empire! Here Lighthouse Lake you will also find information on the LELAND Leelanau entire National Lakeshore at the Visitors Francisco Morazan wreck 20 Good Harbor Bay Center/Park Headquarters East of Port Oneida Rd Empire. Manitou Passage 19 Sleeping 22 Bear Bay Thoreson Rd Little Traverse Lake 18 GLEN Bass 5:00pm HAVEN Lake ARRIVE : GLEN HAVEN & School Lake GLEN ARBOR 17 109 GLEN ARBOR Lime Lake After taking in the Scenic Drive and Dune Climb (be sure 16 you take Hwy 109 - to visit the climb and Glen Haven) Glen Lake 22 you will approach the Historic Village of Glen Haven. Scenic Drive Here you can visit the Sleeping Bear Point Coast

Guard Station Maritime Museum (18) as well as Visitor Info. many beautifully restored century-old buildings. EMPIRE Wilco Rd 72 Next to the Museum you will also find a trail (The

Dunes Trail) which gives you another opportuni- 15 Lake Michigan ty to hike the Lakeshore. Platte Bay Esch Rd 14 As you arrive in Glen Arbor, you will find Lake Michigan Rd yourself in a bustling little village that Platte River thrives throughout the year. Rent 12 13 Little bikes, scooters, or just walk 22 Platte Lake around the village and visit Platte Lake Crystal Lake destination places like the M-22 shop, Cherry Republic and much more! MANISTEECOUNTY M-22 LAKE MICHIGAN VISIT COASTAL TOUR 6:30pm DEPART : GLEN ARBOR 8:30pm DEPART : LELAND, MI As you depart Glen Arbor, you will be met with an opportunity to take a trek into the woods to Pyramid Point (20) just off of Port As you leave Leland and travel across the peninsula to Northport, you Oneida Road. Here you will take the walking path through the will swing south along until arriving in Suttons hardwoods and pop out high atop the bluff with pictuesque views Bay. This is yet another great spot for shopping and dining. As you of the Manitou Islands and Good Harbor Bay. A must stop if you continue south, you will make your way into Traverse City where you have the time and want to experience superb fall color and a Lake can hook up with US-31 South back into Manistee, Michigan. Michigan Sunset. Keep in mind, if you do stop, add about 90 minutes to your arrival in Leland. Some shops will be closed before making your way north. 10:30pm ARRIVE: MANISTEE, MI Not only is this a great fall color tour route, it is also a great drive and 7:00pm trip during any time of year, just note that some of the businesses in ARRIVE : LELAND, MI these communities are seasonal, so outside of the peak summer and Once you arrive in Leland, you will find excellent shopping, dining fall color tour season, be sure to check individual websites for and local attractions as well as Historic Fishtown (21). Fishtown store/restaurant hours. celebrates ’s commercial fishing heritage and is alive and well in this small community. Fishtown is one of the last TRAVEL TIP: Arriving in Leland in the early evening in the Fall, remaining commercial fishing villages in the State of Michigan and is you may find some shops already closed, so plan accordingly based not integrated with clothing boutiques, art galleries and specialty on what you desire to see on your trip along M-22. food shops.

TAKE MORE TOURS LIKE THIS AT: VisitManisteeCounty.com

21

Leelanau Cat Head Bay

Lake Manitou Ranger Station/ Northport Bay Information

NORTH MANITOU NORTHPORT ISLAND Ferry to North Manitou Island from Leland 22 Grand Donner Point Traverse Bay

Ferry to South Manitou Island from Leland 21

Lake LELAND Leelanau Old Mission 20 Suttons Bay State Park

Port Oneida Rd Good Harbor Bay 19 SUTTONS BAY Sleeping 22 Bear Bay OLD MISSION PENINSULA Thoreson Rd Little Traverse Lake Lake West Arm GLEN ARBOR Bass Leelanau Lake Grand 37 School 22 Traverse Bay Lake