Last week we told you about the Little Traverse Wheelway, but did you know that directly across M 119 from the Wheelway, where we sit at the Packy Offield Trail Center, is Spring Lake Park? This happens to be the southern tip of the North Western State Trail which provides a smooth ride up to Alanson and crushed limestone north of there.
When riding to Alanson, you ride along an old rail bed, paralleling US 31, but just off the road enough to explore some great attractions – like the Oden Fish Hatchery and Round Lake! Emmet County 4th graders use this trail each spring to learn not only how to ride a bike, but learn map reading skills, the history of the Hiawatha Pageants, even introductory fish biology at the Fish Hatchery and more!