TART Trails

If you want to ride or walk along the bay, or get across Traverse City without a car, start with the TART. It is the backbone of the area’s trails: 10.5 paved, flat miles from Carter Road in Traverse City, through West End Beach, Clinch Park and downtown, and east to Acme Township. TART Trails describes it as a transportation corridor as much as a recreation path. It suits families on bikes, walkers and commuters alike: leashed dogs are welcome, and you can park at city parks and public lots near the trail.

From there the network opens up. The 2-mile Acme Connector extends the TART into Acme, and the TART links up with the Boardman Lake Trail, the Three Mile Trail and the Traverse City State Park campground. The Michigan route of U.S. Bicycle Route 35 follows the TART and Leelanau Trail through the area.

TART stands for Traverse Area Recreation Trail. TART Trails, Inc. now looks after a network of multi-use trails across Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties, including the TART itself, the Leelanau Trail, the Boardman Lake Loop, the Three Mile Trail, the VASA Pathway and the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, among others.

For cross-country skiing in winter, head to the Leelanau Trail or the VASA Pathway, where fat-tire biking is also offered.