The North Central State Trail occupies what was once the northernmost segment of the Michigan Central Railroad. This Detroit-based railway, one of the largest and most profitable in the Lower Peninsula, constructed a land-grant section of trackage northward from its primary service area to Mackinaw City in 1882. This spur line served what was then a booming area of old-growth timberland.
The Michigan Central, which was affiliated with the New York Central Railroad, operated passenger trains on this section of railroad from 1882 until the early 1960s, serving tourist locations within Michigan's Northland. North of Mackinaw City, train passengers and freight transferred onto the railroad car ferries operated by the Mackinac Transportation Company, a joint venture operated by the Michigan Central and two other railroads. On these ferries, railroad service was extended to St. Ignace and onward points on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
When the Mackinac Bridge was opened in 1957, passengers and freight shifted to automobiles. Trains last operated on a regular basis in the 1980s as a spur line of the Detroit and Mackinac Railway; the right-of-way then ceased to operate as a railroad line and became a trail. The North Central State Trail's northern end in Mackinaw City is close to the docks once operated by the Mackinac Transportation Company.
The Iron Belle Trail cross-state bike trail uses the North Central State Trail as one of its segments.[3]
Assetsedit
The North Central State Trail borders a substantial section of the shoreline of Michigan's Mullett Lake. It also borders the Cheboygan River. The trail also passes directly past Historic Mill Creek State Park located 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Mackinaw City.
^"North Central State Recreation Trail". Retrieved February 9, 2015.
^"North Eastern State Recreation Trail". Retrieved February 9, 2015.
^"FAQ about Michigan's Iron Belle Trail". Michigan DNR. February 7, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
January 01, 1970
north, central, state, trail, mile, recreational, rail, trail, serving, section, northern, quarter, lower, peninsula, state, michigan, following, route, generally, parallel, interstate, trail, goes, northward, from, michigan, town, gaylord, lower, peninsula, m. The North Central State Trail is a 62 mile 100 km recreational rail trail serving a section of the northern quarter of the Lower Peninsula of the U S state of Michigan Following a route generally parallel to Interstate 75 the trail goes northward from the Michigan town of Gaylord 1 to the top of the Lower Peninsula at Mackinaw City and connects to the North Western State Trail It serves the towns of Vanderbilt Indian River and Cheboygan which connects to the North Eastern State Trail 2 North Central State TrailTrail passing through TopinabeeLocation within the state of MichiganLocationLower Peninsula Cheboygan County Otsego County Michigan USANearest cityIndian River MichiganCoordinates45 24 47 N 84 36 40 W 45 41318 N 84 6112 W 45 41318 84 6112Governing bodyMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesLength62 mi 100 km TrailheadsGaylord Michigan Mackinaw City MichiganUseCycling Equestrian Hiking Snow mobiling XC skiingDifficultyEasySeasonAllSurfaceCrushed limestoneWebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 History 2 Assets 3 Access points 4 ReferencesHistory editThe North Central State Trail occupies what was once the northernmost segment of the Michigan Central Railroad This Detroit based railway one of the largest and most profitable in the Lower Peninsula constructed a land grant section of trackage northward from its primary service area to Mackinaw City in 1882 This spur line served what was then a booming area of old growth timberland The Michigan Central which was affiliated with the New York Central Railroad operated passenger trains on this section of railroad from 1882 until the early 1960s serving tourist locations within Michigan s Northland North of Mackinaw City train passengers and freight transferred onto the railroad car ferries operated by the Mackinac Transportation Company a joint venture operated by the Michigan Central and two other railroads On these ferries railroad service was extended to St Ignace and onward points on Michigan s Upper Peninsula When the Mackinac Bridge was opened in 1957 passengers and freight shifted to automobiles Trains last operated on a regular basis in the 1980s as a spur line of the Detroit and Mackinac Railway the right of way then ceased to operate as a railroad line and became a trail The North Central State Trail s northern end in Mackinaw City is close to the docks once operated by the Mackinac Transportation Company The Iron Belle Trail cross state bike trail uses the North Central State Trail as one of its segments 3 Assets editThe North Central State Trail borders a substantial section of the shoreline of Michigan s Mullett Lake It also borders the Cheboygan River The trail also passes directly past Historic Mill Creek State Park located 5 miles 8 km southeast of Mackinaw City Access points editLocation Services Distance approx Coordinates Gaylord Michigan Parking Restroom 45 02 18 N 84 40 46 W 45 03838 N 84 67949 W 45 03838 84 67949 Gaylord Michigan Waypoint Vanderbilt Michigan Parking Restroom 7 6 miles 12 2 km 45 08 43 N 84 39 42 W 45 14539 N 84 66174 W 45 14539 84 66174 Vanderbilt Michigan Waypoint Wolverine Michigan Parking Restroom 10 9 miles 18 km 45 16 22 N 84 36 08 W 45 27270 N 84 60211 W 45 27270 84 60211 Wolverine Michigan Waypoint Indian River Michigan Parking Restroom 9 6 miles 15 4 km 45 24 47 N 84 36 40 W 45 41318 N 84 6112 W 45 41318 84 6112 Indian River Michigan Waypoint Topinabee Michigan Parking Restroom 5 6 miles 9 0 km 45 29 03 N 84 35 30 W 45 48421 N 84 59168 W 45 48421 84 59168 Topinabee Michigan Waypoint Mullett Lake Michigan Restroom 6 6 miles 10 6 km 45 33 44 N 84 31 30 W 45 56234 N 84 52489 W 45 56234 84 52489 Mullet Lake Michigan Waypoint Cheboygan Michigan Parking Restroom 5 3 miles 8 5 km 45 38 09 N 84 29 14 W 45 63579 N 84 48728 W 45 63579 84 48728 Cheboygan Michigan Waypoint Mackinaw City Michigan Parking Restroom 16 3 miles 26 2 km 45 46 49 N 84 43 51 W 45 78024 N 84 73079 W 45 78024 84 73079 Mackinaw City Michigan Waypoint Map this section s coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates References edit North Central State Recreation Trail Retrieved February 9 2015 North Eastern State Recreation Trail Retrieved February 9 2015 FAQ about Michigan s Iron Belle Trail Michigan DNR February 7 2015 Retrieved February 7 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title North Central State Trail amp oldid 1138567933, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
