This scenic stretch of trail will connect Elk Rapids to Petobego State Game Area and Maple Bay Park and Natural Area. Trail planners are reaching out to targeted landowners to discuss design concepts. Communication will soon expand to all landowners, and design for the trail will progress parcel by parcel.
Summer 2026 Update
To build more efficiently, the Nakwema Trailway: Elk Rapids to Maple Bay is being completed in two phases:
Phase 1: ≈ 1.6-mile trail connecting South Bayshore Drive to Townline Road
Phase 2: ≈ 1.4-mile trail from Townline Road to Maple Bay County Park
Momentum continues to grow thanks to the leadership of the Village of Elk Rapids and support from local partners and the Elk Rapids Trail Team. This spring, the Village secured a $2 million conditional commitment through the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). Combined with matching funds, this investment will support construction of the 1.6-mile trail connecting South Bayshore Road/US-31 to Townline Road.
The engineers and Nakwema team are moving forward with federal processes, finalizing engineering plans to meet TAP requirements, refine project costs, and prepare for fundraising efforts to secure the required matching funds.
Meanwhile, planning continues for Phase 2, the trail from Townline Road to Maple Bay County Park, in coordination with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Michigan DNR, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, and Grand Traverse County Parks & Recreation.
Schematic Design was completed for this segment up to the southern limit of the Village of Elk Rapids in June 2019 (view the final report here). Design Development continues to be underway in 2021.
The Village of Elk Rapids identified and approved a trail route through the Village in July 2020. The in-town route will be a shared roadway through the Village. View the approved route map here.
