M-119 Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route

The Tunnel of Trees is a drive to take slowly, on an off-peak day if you can: a narrow, winding stretch of M-119, roughly 20 miles long, that follows the Lake Michigan shoreline north from Harbor Springs toward Cross Village. It suits a slow car or bike outing, not a big motor home.

Fill the tank and find a restroom before you start: there is no fuel along the way and public restrooms are few. Much of the land is private, so pull over only where parking is marked, such as the small lots at nature preserves.

Expect no center line, plenty of curves and cyclists sharing the road. On the way you pass through the small community of Good Hart.

The tradeoff is fall. Color brings the heaviest traffic, and the route committee suggests coming on off-peak days. Section closures and detours have also been reported on the route, so check conditions before you set out.

The road was designated the M-119 Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route in 2003. A committee of the surrounding townships and a lakeshore association looks after it under a management plan meant to protect its natural, scenic and cultural character.