Leelanau-Cathead Bay Trails

Lake Michigan Trail
The Lake Michigan Trail is one of the trails that makes up the Cathead Bay Trail System in Leelanau State Park in northern Michigan. The Lake Michigan Trail is the most popular hike in the park, as it includes the Manitou Overlook Cutoff with the spurs to the beach and an observation deck. If the day is clear enough, you will be able to see out to the Fox Islands or watch the sunset over North Manitou Island. The trail stretches 2.2 miles through the Leelanau wilderness, giving you picturesque views of the lake, forests and wildlife that inhabit the area. Often times, the Lake Michigan Trail is combined with the Mud Lake Trail to create a longer, approximately 6-mile day-hike through Leelanau State Park.

Mud Lake Trail
The Mud Lake Trail is one of the trails that makes up the Cathead Bay Trail System in Leelanau State Park in northern Michigan. The Mud Lake trail traverses 3 miles through the Cathead Bay region of the park which includes a hilly interior and passes along the shoreline of the inland lake. There are two spurs that you can take to shorten your trip; the Maple Ridge Cutoff and the Tamarack Cutoff. Often times the Mud Lake Trail is combined with the Lake Michigan Trail to create a longer, approximately 6-mile day-hike through Leelanau State Park.