Palmer Woods Forest Reserve

6096 S. Wheeler Rd
Maple City, MI 49664

Trail Length: 10 miles
Groomed Classic? Yes
Groomed Skating? No
Lighted? No
Snowmaking? No
Trail fee? No
Ski rentals? No
Trail Map: Yes
Trail Conditions: Yes

Getting there:

Directions to get there: Yes

What's there: 1075 Acres - The Leelanau Conservancy's Largest Natural Area! This majestic forest reserve offers miles of hiking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing through rolling hills and traditional northern hardwood forest. A new mountain-biking trail is the first of its kind in Leelanau (see Trails section). Palmer Woods is a great place to spend a day during any season. The Forest Reserve’s contiguous hardwood forest stretches over two miles north to south. It is located just over a mile from Big Glen Lake and just beyond the bluff that marks the western edge of Miller Hill. Palmer Woods is one of two “Forest Reserves,” managed for sustainable harvest. Two deer enclosures on the property are providing opportunities for ongoing research in forest health.

The 10-mile hiking/cross-country skiing trail system here is a work in progress; more trails will be created over time. There are three main options. Two of them can be accessed from the kiosk on Wheeler Road. The 1.8-mile “Loop Trail” is a bit more challenging than the “Price Valley Trail.”

The “Price Valley Trail” is 1.7 miles long (one way) ending at Darwin Road, a seasonal road that is not plowed. This is a flat-to-gently rolling trail with a gradual ascent toward Darwin Road.

Check out the beautiful “Darwin Loop Trail,” added when we purchased an additional 14 acres in 2017. Catch a glimpse of Sugarloaf through the trees. Park on Darwin Road to hike or ski into the northern end of Palmer Woods along this beautiful winding section of road. (Darwin is a seasonal road not plowed by the county.)

Palmer Woods Forest Reserve