at Pentwater Pathway

General Information

Pentwater Pathway

There are 7.8 different trail miles here. If you ski each loop, duplicating some legs the total is about 11 miles. These trails are within the Pentwater River State Game Area, just south of Pentwater. (Trail numbering system and entrance/parking location were changed in 2018. Older maps will be incorrect.)

Skiing

Skiing- The primary use of this trail is for skiing. See trail descriptions under Hiking.

Hiking

Pentwater Pathway

The numbered circles on the map correspond to the numbered junctions of the trails. The green circle denotes easy trail, the blue square- medium difficulty, the black diamond- difficult. There are laminated locator maps on the junction posts. There are benches (high- for skiers) at some junctions, and in some other locations.

Point 1 denotes the parking lot. Trail kiosk and map is on left at point 1
Green Loop is enclosed by points 1,2,9 - easy, 1.1 miles.
Blue Loop is enclosed by points 2,3,4,8,9 - medium, 2.6 miles.
Yellow Loop is enclosed by points 4,5,7,8 - medium, 2.1 miles.
Red Loop is enclosed by points 3,5,4 - difficult, 2.0 miles.
Purple Loop is enclosed by points 5,6,7 - easy, 1.9 miles.

Point 1 to 2
0.4 mile. Enter the clearcut which is growing up thickly in cottonwood. Briefly parallel the road and then turn east. Reach Point 2.

Point 2 to 3
0.7 mile. Cross the logging access road. In a couple of minutes re-enter the mature woods. There is a bench here. Begin crossing some small ridges, two of which have short steep downhills. Reach point 3.

Point 3 to 4
0.2 mile . Continue along the top of a ridge for this short distance, with a gradual ascent and descent. Reach Point 4.

Point 3 to 5
1.2 miles. There is a sign here saying "caution" and "by-path." The primary trail goes straight down the north side of the ridge on the longest, steepest hill in this entire Pathway. The by-path is just slightly to the west and is somewhat shorter, but not less steep. It quickly rejoins the main path. From this point on the trail crosses 11 small ridges and hills. At the top of the 3rd hill the trail turns to the east. At the top of the 4th hill cross a sand road. The 5th hill is longer with a gradual climb, short level space, and a steeper climb to the top. The trail begins to turn south at the top of the 6th hill, and there is a bench here. Follow the top of a ridge which drops off steeply to the left and more gently to the right. The descent of hill 7 is named "Deano's Downhill" with a marker sign most of the way down it. Private property signs to the left. At the bottom of hill 8 pass through a clearing. The single tree in the middle of the clearing is a serviceberry which is beautiful in spring. Enter slightly more dense woods than the rest of this section. Cross 2 undulations that don't really count as hills. Hill 9 is more gradual and there is also more red pine. Parallel 60th Ave to the top with small undulations. At the top of hill 10 cross a sand road, and at the top of the 11th hill you reach Point 6.

Point 5 to 4
0.5 mile. Take the westward trail and descend to a level area, cross two small humps, and at the top of the third hump take a definite turn to the northwest. Continue mostly level, climb one more ridge and follow the top of that ridge. This is a very pretty section of trail. Reach Point 4.

Point 5 to 6
0.6 mile (11 minutes). Descend slightly through open woods to level trail. Cross sand 60th Avenue and descend gently through mixed white pine and oak with private property on the north, pass a porcupine tree- a 2-foot diameter white pine leaning to the east on the north side of the trail. Turn south through red pine on the level. Reach Point 6.

Point 6 to 7
1 mile. This section has the potential for seeing the most wildflowers of any on the Pathway. There are wintergreen and blueberries everywhere, but this section also has some trailing arbutus, wood betony, and lupine. Almost immediately cross sandy Wayne Road. The terrain is slightly rolling and follows a broad low ridge southward. There are ephemeral wetlands on each side of the trail. In about 8 minutes turn the sharp corner at the bottom of the loop, continue on the level, and after a short northward swing, turn west and cross another sand road. Reach point 7.

Point 5 to 7
0.3 mile. Take the southern trail which winds through medium density white pine and oak. This trail is narrower and used less than some of the others and has more of a foot-trail "feel." Although short, it is very pretty. There are some small undulations, but descends gradually, crossing the access road to reach Point 7.

Point 4 to 8
0.6 mile. Descend southward from Point 5 and then climb slightly through red and white pine, with oak and servicberry. Pine needles carpet the pathway as you cross a low hill. The young white pine become much thicker, cross a low ridge and drop to cross the sand access road. The red pine plantation with small white pine intermingled begins south of the road. Climb to Point 8.

Point 7 to 8
0.7 mile. Take the western fork at Point 7. Begin in a red pine plantation with white pine grown in among them. Some of the red pine are 15-18 inches in diameter. Mostly flat with slight undulations and then climb to the southern point on the trail, where there is a bench. Turn to the northwest and continue on the level ridge top. To the south is an ephemeral wetland. On the north side of the trail you pass a huge dead white pine about 3 feet in diameter with a small red cedar beside it. Begin climbing gradually and to the south of the trail (about 50 feet away) there is a large silver maple that is an active porcupine tree. Climb almost immediately to the top of the next ridge and stay on this ridge till you reach Point 8.

Point 8 to 9
2.1 miles. Descend slightly and continue on the level through open woods. You begin to see a large wet meadow through the trees to the right full of big bluestem grass. Some 2-track road leads into this because it has been blocked with posts to prevent vehicles from entering the ski trail. Cross a small seasonal stream that feeds into the wet meadow. Turn to the north and join what looks like an old grass farm lane. There are wetlands on the west. The lane proceeds on a raised berm with wetland on each side of the trail. There are more cottonwoods here. Re-enter the woods and begin to see through the trees to the right a clear-cut that is growing up with saplings. Point 9.

Point 9 to 1
0.2 miles. Continue to cross the sand access road and reach the parking area at Point 1.

Bicycling

Bicycling- The trail is managed primarily for hiking and cross-country skiing, bicycling not permitted.

Camping