PHASE 1 and 2 OF THE TRAIL IS OPEN FOR USE!

Phase 2 Non-motorized trail in Hayes Township is now opened to all. Future Phase 4 and 5 will also be in our township as well. Enjoy!

Background
The Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail will be a paved 10-foot wide, approximately 14-mile long trail, mostly detached from Boyne City Road. The trail will be constructed in five (5) phases.

Phase 2 was constructed in 2017, and is now complete!
A ribbon-cutting / dedication ceremony on September 21st occurred at the AmericInn by Wyndham, 11800 US-31, Charlevoix, MI 49720.

Map trail

Non-motorized trail Phase 2, 4 and 5 through Hayes Township

Phase2

Inside the AmericInn in Hayes Township.

Phase 2

Ribbon cutting for Phase 2 of the Trail in Hayes Township.

Phase2

County Commissioner Joel Evans at ribbon cutting in Hayes Township.

Phase2

Trail from US-31 in Hayes Township.

This trail is intended for non-motorized recreational activities and non-motorized transportation between Boyne City and Charlevoix.  Trail users may walk, bike, skate or ski (pick your favorite sport for any season) on the trail.  However, snowmobiles and horses are NOT permitted anywhere on the trail. 

Trail on Boyne City Road along Susan Lake in Hayes Township.

Wheelway trail

Little Traverse Wheelway in Hayes Township at Big Rock Point, MDOT roadside park.

Phase 2 begins at the Little Traverse Wheelway in Hayes Township, east of Waller Road, crosses US-31 and follows a series of easements across private property to Boyne City Road east of the Argonne Supper Club, and then runs parallel to, but separate from Boyne City Road within the road right-of-way on the north (Susan Lake) side of the road to Quarterline Road, southeast of Susan Lake, for a distance of 2.97 miles.

Trailway

Trail on Boyne City Road along Susan Lake in Hayes Township.

At the point where the trail meets Boyne City Road east of the Argonne Supper Club, a trail spur runs west within the right-of-way on the north side of the road to Eastern Avenue to create an access point for Pine Point Subdivision. Trail users can follow Eastern Avenue to Lake Charlevoix where there is a public access with a picnic area and swimming beach.

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Phase 3
Phase 3 of the trail, the County is proposing to develop a trailhead at Park of the Pines, a church-owned campground on Lake Charlevoix, located just north of N. Springwater Beach Road.  In 2013, Park of the Pines approached the County about the possibility of developing a trailhead.  Since then, we’ve been discussing the concept of the trailhead, the preferred location on the property, design/layout options, and proposed amenities.  Plans for the trailhead will be finalized this year.

Phase 3 of the trail, including the trailhead.  Construction is anticipated in 2019.

Phase 4
Phase 4 will begin at the completed Phase 2 of the trail at Quarterline Road in Hayes Township and continue detached within the right-of-way along Boyne City Road to Hayes Township Park (Camp Sea-Gull) on the east/north side of the road (the side opposite Lake Charlevoix).  The trail will cross Boyne City Road in the vicinity of Hayes Township Park, where there are plans to establish a trailhead in the future.  This phase will cover a distance of 2.8 miles.

Phase 5
Phase 5 will begin at the completed Phase 4 of the trail at Hayes Township Park (Camp Sea-Gull) and continue as a detached trail within the right-of-way along Boyne City Road on the south (Lake Charlevoix) side of the road to Pincherry Road in Bay Township, where it will connect to the end of Phase 3.  This phase will cover a distance of 2.7 miles.

What’s Going On Now:

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Hayes Township Awarded $15,000 Park Grant From Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians

Our Township has been awarded a 2% grant from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians (GTB) in the amount of $15,000 for the construction of a boat launch and fishing pier on Lake Charlevoix.

The Tribal Council of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians will be hosting a check presentation/media Event on February 20th at the Grand Traverse Resort, 1 7 FL, Acme, Michigan.

The complete document can be view/download here.

$10,000 People Fund Grant

Great Lakes Energy People Fund Grant Awarded to
Hayes Township Park Camp Sea-Gull

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Charlevoix County’s Hayes Township was awarded a grant from the Directors of the Great Lakes Energy People Fund for $10,000. The grant money will be used to construct rain gardens at Hayes Township Park Camp Sea-Gull on the north shore of Lake Charlevoix. The purpose of the rain gardens is to protect the water quality of Lake Charlevoix.

The Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council defines a rain garden as a “planted depression that receives and absorbs rain and snowmelt runoff, also known as stormwater, from impervious surfaces like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and compacted lawn areas. Rain gardens help filter out pollutants such as lawn fertilizers and pesticides, oil and other fluids from cars and machinery, and debris and litter. Rain gardens are a very effective and low cost way to protect water quality.”

The extensive rain gardens will catch and retain stormwater from the access road, boat launch, fishing pier access pathway and parking lot thus preventing stormwater from reaching Lake Charlevoix. The rain gardens were specifically designed by Site Planning Development, Inc. to catch, retain and filter the stormwater. After being filtered through the soil and plants in the rain gardens, the water will percolate into the groundwater.

The People Fund is a program of Great Lakes Energy in which customers “round up” their electric bills to the nearest dollar. The People Fund monies are then awarded to non-profit organizations and charitable activities for community projects in the Great Lakes Energy service area. Hayes Township residents, many of whom receive their electricity from Great Lakes Energy, are encouraged to sign up to participate in the People Fund program.