Bear River Valley — paved Petoskey return
Michigan · Greenway
Enter the designated paved river path from West Lake Street near the city hall/fire station complex. Follow upstream toward Sheridan for up to half a mile and retrace, turning at the paved section end if earlier. Do not continue south onto natural North Country Trail tread.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Petoskey · Michigan
- Ride length
- Up to 1 mile return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Paved main river path between Lake Street and Sheridan Avenue only
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- River-valley access ramps and hills can be demanding. Walk steep or crowded transitions.
- Starting location
- Bear River Valley public path access at West Lake Street near Petoskey City Hall, Petoskey, MI
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Named mapped trail/park reference, not the exact selected public entrance, parking lot or driving route. Use the separate written public start.
Bear River Valley — paved Petoskey return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: Bear River Valley public path access at West Lake Street near Petoskey City Hall, Petoskey, MI.
No verified dedicated trail parking at this named public access. Arrive by lawful public pedestrian/bicycle access, or independently arrange lawful visitor parking and walk to the path. Private, business and reserved lots are not assumed available.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 1 mile return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: Enter the designated paved river path from West Lake Street near the city hall/fire station complex. Follow upstream toward Sheridan for up to half a mile and retrace, turning at the paved section end if earlier. Do not continue south onto natural North Country Trail tread.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Paved main river path between Lake Street and Sheridan Avenue only. River-valley access ramps and hills can be demanding. Walk steep or crowded transitions.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Follow current public visitor-parking terms; reserved activities and events have separate conditions.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. The regional trail council expressly permits cycling and distinguishes the paved Lake–Sheridan section from natural tread farther south. Its 1.5-mile whole-park path figure is not a claim all 1.5 miles are paved. Cross Lake Street cautiously on foot and obey current park signs. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.