Sand Lakes Quiet Area Pathway

Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park

Required

7.40

The cross-country trailhead is located 5.5 miles southeast of Williamsburg via M-72 and Bromhead Road. The hiking trailhead is located in the Guernsey Lake State Forest Campground.

The pathway is located within a serene 2,775-acre site with rolling hills covered by a mixture of jack pine, oak and aspen forest. The pathway is located in both Grand Traverse and Kalkaska counties within the Pere Marquette State Forest. This pathway is managed by Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park.

More Information

The Sand Lakes Quiet Area pathway is located within the Pere Marquette State forest in Grand Traverse County. The trail stretches a total of 7.4 miles and allows for journeys on foot or bike. The terrain includes five small lakes surrounded by rolling hills of oak and pine trees. Along the route, you will find several different areas to camp if you wish to spend the night in the quiet area away from the city. If you do wish to spend the night along the trail, the best place to start is with the trailhead in Guernsey Lakes State Forest Campground, hike 4.5 miles to your campsite and then hike the remaining easy, 2.9 miles back to the state forest campground.

Activities (Display as List)

Cross-Country Skiing Item is accessible.
Cross-Country Skiing: This pathway is open to cross-country skiing. Trails are not groomed. Learn more about cross-county skiing.
Fishing Item is accessible.
Fishing: This area offers many great fishing opportunites. Sand Lake No. 1 is managed for rainbow trout while Sand Lake No. 2 has brook trout. Please reference trout rules prior to fishing. Learn more about fishing.
Hiking Item is accessible.
Hiking: The pathway is open to hiking and connects to the North Country Trail, a national scenic hiking route from North Dakota to New York. It also connects to the Shore-to-Shore Trail, a 420-mile trail system open to hiking and horseback riding, that stretches east-west from Empire to Oscoda with two additional northern and southern spur trails.
Hunting Item is accessible.
Hunting: This campground provides access to state land open to hunting. Firearm hunting is not allowed within 450 ft. of an occupied dwelling. Learn more about hunting.
Mountain Biking Item is accessible.
Mountain Biking: The pathway is open to mountain biking. Learn more about mountain biking.
Snowshoeing Item is accessible.
Snowshoeing: This pathway is open to snowshoeing. Please be respectful of cross-cross country skiers by staying off their tracks.
Watchable Wildlife Item is accessible.
Watchable Wildlife: This pathway provides excellent opportunities for viewing native wildlife as it passes through a designated quiet area. Learn more about Michigan wildlife.

Facilities (Display as List)

Vault Toilet Item is accessible.
Vault Toilet
Walk-in Sites Item is accessible.
Walk-in Sites: Dispersed camping is allowed. A permit is needed and can be found at the kiosks and the trailhead parking area.