One of our favorite go-to hikes, Cheboygan State Park is located 3 miles east of the city of Cheboygan off of US-23. The trail head parking is 1 mile in on Seffren Rd.
You can cover more than 3 miles on the main blue/green/black trails that parallel the shoreline, and you can add another few miles if you add the red and yellow trails that loop past the campground. The terrain is mostly flat and easy with a few moderate rolling hills.
One of the most memorable sights along the trail is the historic ruins of the 1859 Cheboygan Point Lighthouse. What remains is the stone & brick foundation. It has a very unique layout with several purpose-built rooms or spaces. It’s not clear what all the features were designed for and if you’re curious and familiar with lighthouses from the era, you may be able to figure some things out.
The trail also takes you along the beach where you can see the 14-Foot Shoals Lighthouse, Poe Reef Lighthouse, and Bois Blanc Island, also known as Bob-lo by the locals.
The beach along Lake Huron is a mix of sand and rocks and if you follow it to the end it wraps around for nice views of Duncan Bay. This is also a great place to escape if you’re looking for some real peace and quiet. We have only occasionally seen people hanging out for an afternoon of solace.
In addition to the great hiking trails, there is a nice beach for swimming on Duncan Bay and a campground. The bay is sandy and the slope in the water is very gradual, making it great for younger kids to splash around.
The park and trails are also good for cross country skiing, snow shoeing, swimming, and a bit of bike riding as well. If you ride your bike on the trails, please be courteous to other park visitors as the trails are multi-purpose single track. As a Michigan state park, you do need a recreation passport to park.
