Sand Lake Quiet Area is a Michigan State Park approximately 10 miles east of Traverse City. Traverse City is a popular tourist area in Northwest Lower Michigan. Sand Lakes Quiet Area is a popular local trail, with part of the trail being shared with the North Country Trail. It also connects with several other trail systems. The unique thing about the Sand Lakes Quiet Area is that motorized vehicles of any kind are not permitted. The main trailhead is located 5.5 miles southeast of Williamsburg via M-72 and Broomhead 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. 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 trail is dirt, with some single track. The surface includes roots and ruts, and there are water crossings. The terrain includes five small lakes surrounded by rolling hills of oak and pine trees.
The FKT course starts and finishes at the Sand Lakes Quiet Area trailhead on Broomhead Road just north of Sand Lake Road. The official start/end point is the green metal pole located next to the Sand Lakes Quiet Area information sign just south of the trailhead parking area (see photos).
Websites:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/sand-lakes-quiet-area-trail
https://www.michigan.org/property/sand-lakes-quiet-area-pathway
https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=66&type=SFPW
Comments
I will be attempting the unsupported FKT this evening, 4/21/2021.