Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 3:18 AM

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Life in Leelanau

A group of hikers walk through a grassy field in the Clay Cliffs Natural Area near Leland. Clay Cliffs is one of the Leelanau Conservancy’s “must-see” trails, according to conservancy Communications Specialist Brighid Driscoll. Courtesy photo.

Conservancy’s most popular trails

When it comes to parks and trail systems, Leelanau County offers an embarrassment of riches. Many of the best areas are maintained and protected by the Leelanau Conservancy. But since this organization is steward to over 16,000 acres of land across 28 locations, it can be difficult to know where to start. And so, the newspaper reached out to the Conservancy to ask them which areas were the best of the best. 07/10/2024 03:48 PM

Palmer Woods Forest Reserve, a Leelanau Conservancy property, is perhaps the best location in the upper half of the Lower Peninsula for mountain biking. Courtesy photo

Biking your way through the county

Leelanau County has many trail systems, for all kinds of biking and hiking, even some for those that want a mountain biking experience. Leelanau County offers a wide-variety of trails for every kind of nature enthusiast, even some for the thrill-seekers. Hiking and biking thrive through the land and many take to two wheels to explore the county. When describing the state of biking in the county, Nick Wierzba the owner of local bike shop, Suttons Bay Bikes, said it has, “Never been better.” 07/10/2024 03:48 PM

DeYoung Natural Area is managed by the Leelanau Conservancy and includes lakeshore, cedar forest, naturalized fields, and active farmland. Pictured here are parts of the edible forest stationed along the trail at the natural area that people will see. Enterprise photos by Meakalia Previch-...

Trail finds in Leelanau County

The trails and natural areas of Leelanau County are filled with eye-catching scenery all yearlong, but perhaps one of the most interesting parts about the land are the plants, flowers, insects, and animals that inhabit it. 07/10/2024 03:48 PM

Members of this family can explore Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore as one group thanks to the Friends of Sleeping Bear. Courtesy photo

Volunteers improve park access

Laurie Pope, co-chair of the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes accessibility committee, said that the organization is in the process of acquiring a wheelchair bike that will park users will be able to reserve online, like their track chairs. She said they hope to make this service available to the national lakeshore’s visitors in the coming months. 07/10/2024 03:48 PM

Trailblazers on the Heritage Trail

Trailblazers on the Heritage Trail

Being a trailblazer in Leelanau County means embracing the area’s natural beauty by hiking and biking on its local trails. Traverse City native Jim Hirtreiter and Bob Resh spent their Sunday cruising down the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail from Bohemian Road to Glen Arbor and back. 07/10/2024 03:48 PM

Jim DuFresne, author of “The Trails of M-22: 48 of the Most Beautiful Paths Along Michigan’s Most Beautiful Highway,” stands at Isle Royale National Park. DuFresne recently retired after 45 years of writing guidebooks and settled down at the family cottage in Elk Rapids. DuFresne’s bibliog...

Book focused on 48 trails off M-22

After writing guidebooks for nearly 45 years, Jim DuFresne decided to hang up his hat and retire across Grand Traverse Bay in Elk Rapids. He sat down with the Leelanau Enterprise to talk about his career, writing process, and one of the bestselling guidebooks for Leelanau County. 07/10/2024 03:48 PM

Cherryland Cares awards to non-profits

Cherryland Cares awards to non-profits

Cherryland Cares awarded a total of $15,230 to six northwest Michigan area non-profit organizations last quarter. Child & Family Services of Northwest Michigan will use funding to promote their summer Brown Bag Campaign. 07/10/2024 03:48 PM

Kara Gregory stands on the far left inside the PoWeR! Book Bags office in Suttons Bay alongside volunteers and the organization’s one employee, Gabrielle David, second from right. The three volunteers, from left, are Lucy Crandell, Guy Plamondon, and Gloria Dean. Enterprise photo by Zachar...

S-B woman lends PoWeR! to children

Many people in Leelanau County are engaged in volunteer activities, but Kara Gregory of Suttons Bay started a nonprofi t organization that stretches beyond Leelanau County and now reaches most of northern Michigan. 07/10/2024 03:48 PM

Jim Hirtreiter and Bob Resh spent their Sunday cruising down Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail on their recumbent bicycles. See story on page 2. Enterprise photo by Brian Freiberger

Jim Hirtreiter and Bob Resh

Jim Hirtreiter and Bob Resh spent their Sunday cruising down Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail on their recumbent bicycles. 07/10/2024 03:48 PM

Judy Egeler and her late husband, Cliff, are pictured on July 4, 1998 when they were crowned queen and king at the Leland Fourth of July parade. Courtesy photo

Longtime 4th of July parade-goers take delight in festivities

While hundreds of people are anticipated to show up at local Fourth of July parades set throughout Leelanau County this week, many longtime attendees are also ready to get out there to celebrate the festivities once again. 07/02/2024 05:21 PM

Leland’s Fourth of July parade welcomes children who bring their own vehicle or ride their decorated bikes. Enterprise file photo

Committee helps coordinate, celebrate Leland parade

The Leland Fourth of July parade is set to be held on Wednesday, July 4 at 3 p.m. once again, with much of the organizing in part thanks to a committee that works together to coordinate the celebratory event every year. 07/02/2024 05:21 PM

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SBDNL) float, pictured here in 2023, is a returning participant in the Stan Brubaker Fourth of July Parade in Glen Arbor. The SBDNL staff brings out their park themed float as well as their noticeable Bear Force One van, which serves as a mobile...

Parade float makers ready for the 4th

Fourth of July parade floats are often one of the most exciting parts of attending any event. At parades in Leelanau County this year, while there are sure to be new floats and cars decorated creatively, people can expect many participants and their entries in the lineup to look familiar. 07/02/2024 05:21 PM

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