Beaches
Arbutus Lake
Offering several small inland lakes, most have on site parking as well as boat launches. Good fishing, limited swimming. Few restrooms available.
Garfield Rd to Hobbs HWY to Arbutus Rd Traverse City MI
Bayside Park
On site parking, playground, restrooms, picnic areas. Some walking required. Good for swimming.
On East Grand Traverse Bay off US 31 North, just south of the M 72 junction in Acme.
Bryant Park
Large playground, grills and picnic tables, restrooms, no hiking required, parking lot on site. Traffic close by.
Traverse city, off Front St on Peninsula Dr.
Clinch Park
Restrooms and concessions available. Short walk required. Traffic close by.
Downtown TC off Grandview Parkway. Parking available at the marina or by the Sarah Hardy Farmers Market lot.
East Bay Park
Playground, restrooms, picnic tables and grills. Parking on site. Great beach for small children as the water is very shallow for quite some time.
At the base of Old Mission Peninsula, East Bay Blvd S Traverse City MI
Elk Rapids County Day Park
Playgrounds, picnic areas, nice clean beach with great swimming. Basketball and tennis courts. Restrooms. Some walking required.
South Bayshore Drive Elk Rapids MI
Empire Village Park
Amazing view of the dunes. Great swimming. Restrooms and picnic areas.
Niagra Street Empire MI
Haserot Beach
On site parking, playground, great for swimming.
Old Mission Harbor, off Old Mission Drive, Traverse City MI
Interlochen State Park
Playgrounds, restroom and on site parking. Light traffic. The water is sometimes murky and the beach is often over loaded with goose and duck droppings.
M- 137 Interlochen MI (231) 276-9511
Leelanau State Park
Offers playground equipment, hiking, hunting, swimming, picnic area, lighthouse museum, rustic camp sites & on site parking.
15310 N. Lighthouse Point Rd. Northport MI
North Bar Lake
Walking required, some optional strenuous hiking depending on where you choose to dwell. Beautiful view of the dunes, beach front on North Bar Lake as well as Lake Michigan. Most diverse beach spot in the area. Paved parking lot. Outhouse by access to North Bar Lake.
Off M-22 and Voice Road in Empire
Old Mission Lighthouse Beach
Trails, on site parking, restrooms, playgrounds, picnic areas, historic lighthouse, beautiful beach, incredible views.
End of Center RD, Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City MI
Otter Creek or Esch Road Beach
Amazing. The type of beach that defines Northern Michigan. Twenty miles west of Traverse City and 12 miles south of the Village of Empire, this beach is well worth the drive. Off site parking, short walk required. Outhouse on location. Bring your camera, the dunes are picturesque.
Esch Rd Empire MI
Peterson Park
Beautiful beach with layers of smooth stones on the shore of Lake Michigan in Northport. Somewhat strenuous stair climb required. Small play ground with grills and picnic tables.
E. Peterson Park Rd. Northport
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
A wide range of beaches and trails for hiking. Some strenuous hiking required, limited restroom availability, unsurpassed views. Well worth the effort.
Traverse City State Park
Playground, restrooms and concessions available. On site parking, State Park permit required. Traffic close by.
1132 US-31 N. Traverse City MI
West End Beach
On site, but limited, parking. Small beach, great downtown location. Restrooms
Division and Grandview PKWY Traverse City MI
Camping
Lake Leelanau RV Park
Offers boat rental, swimming, fishing, children's programs (depends on season call for details) water bikes, kayaks & more
3101 S Lake Shore Dr Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 (231) 256-7236
Ranch Rudolf
Offers general store, horseback riding tours, children's horse camps, fishing, fly fishing, canoe trips, innertubing, archery, volleyball, basketball, horse shoes, ping pong, outdoor pool, mountain biking & more
6841 Brown Bridge Rd Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 947-9529
Timber Ridge Resort
Offers dodge ball, basketball, volleyball, playground, mini golf, wet n wild wagon ride, bike parades, heated swimming pool, horse shoes, hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoes, arcade games & much more.
4050 Hammond Rd Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 947-2770
Traverse City KOA
Offers kids story hour dessert socials, scavenger hunts, movies nights,family trivia, candy bar bingo, arts & crafts, fun train rides, fancy balloon hats, Ice cream social bike parades & more
9700 South M-37 Buckley, MI 49620 (800) 249-3203
Traverse City State Park
Offers biking, boat rental, beach house, concession/ store, fishing, hiking, picnic area, playground, metal detecting, WIFI and swimming,
1132 US 31 N Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 922-5270
Geocaching
Hiking
Boardman Lake Trail
2-mile-long wooded trail along the east side of Boardman Lake. The heavily wooded, serene trail is paved for the northern mile. The southern mile has a crushed limestone surface.
Access and parking at the north end is off Hannah Road just south of the Traverse Area District Library and at the south end from Medalie Park in the Logan's Landing area off South Airport Road.
Brown Bridge Quiet Area
The backwaters of the Dam form the 191-acre Brown Bridge Pond that offers great opportunities for fishing, no wake boating, and wildlife observation. 11 Miles SE of Traverse City. Click link for map & directions.
Pierce Stocking Scenic
The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is certainly a must-do activity when visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This is a 7.4 mile self-guided auto tour with spectacular overlooks of the Glen Lakes, the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lake Michigan.
Off M-109 in Empire, MI
Power Island
Power Island is a 205-acre island nature preserve in West Grand Traverse Bay just off Bower's Harbor. It is filled with northern hardwoods, including beech, sugar maple, basswood and red oak, as well as more than 250 plant species. Approximately 11 miles of hiking trails weave through the island's interior. Due to Power Island's proximity to Traverse City, it is a popular boating and picnicking destination.
(231) 922-4818 reachable by boat only
Pyramid Point
On this 2.7 mile (4.3 km) trail, you will find three extremely different environments: meadow, beech-maple forest and high bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan. Please do not descend the bluff for your own safety and to protect the natural setting. The trail includes several steep hills.
9922 Front St Empire, MI 49630 (231) 326-5134
Sleeping Bear Dunes
The infamous Dune Climb! Strenuous hike, but fun to run/tumble down; a hit with children and grown ups alike. On site parking, restrooms, picnic areas and even a gift shop.
Follow signs from M-22 in Empire
TART Trails
Paved foot and bike path extending from Acme to Suttons Bay. Several access/parking areas to choose from.
Outdoor Education
Boardman River Nature Center
Visitors can explore the exhibit gallery, theater room, and craft area for kids, then step outside and take a hike along the Boardman River!
Playgrounds
Bryant Park
Facilities Include: Playground equipment, picnic tables, grills and beach.
Located on the corner of Peninsula Dr & Center Rd.
Civic Center
Facilities Include: Picnic tables, grills, playground equipment, basketball courts, 1 mile paved track, baseball diamonds and a skateboarding park.
1213 W Civic Center Dr, Traverse City - (231) 922-4818
Darrow Park
Facilities include: Picnic tables, grills and playground equipment.
Located across from Grand Traverse Bay on the corner of Monroe St & Bay St.
Elmwood Beach Park
Facilities include: Playground equipment, grills and picnic tables.
Located on SW Bayshore Dr
F&M Park
Facilities Include: Playground equipment, picnic tables and basketball courts.
Located downtown TC between Washington & State streets (run E&W) and Railroad & Hope (run N&S)
Long Lake Township Complex
Facilities include: Picnic tables, baseball diamond, tennis court, soccer field, playground equipment and basketball courts. Located 8 miles from downtown TC on N. Long Lake Rd
Silver Lake Rec Area
Facilities include: 7/10 of a mile paved track, picnic tables, grills, tennis courts, basketball courts and playground equipment.
4 miles from downtown TC on E. Silver Lake Rd
The Open Space
Open terrain great for kite flying, frisbee and picnics. This space adjoins with the marina and the beach.
Located on Grandview Pkwy and Union St.
Sailing
Traverse Area Community Sailing
Youth sailing camps, TACS racing teams for middle and high school students, family fun night every Thursday.
- Plato
