Quick Facts

Location:

Boyne Country The Petoskey-Harbor Springs-Boyne City area, called Boyne Country, is a 30-mile corridor located in Northern Michigan along U.S. 131 near Little Traverse Bay. It stretches from Boyne Falls and Boyne City at the south end to Petoskey and Harbor Springs in the north.

Distance to the Petoskey area:

Area Description:

Bay Harbor Aerial

Petoskey and Harbor Springs are on the shore of Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay. Boyne Falls is located south of Petoskey, and Boyne City is on the southern tip of Lake Charlevoix. The area is characterized by rolling hills, wooded terrain and inland lakes, including a 38-mile inland waterway. The Petoskey area includes Bay Harbor Resort and Marina  with luxurious amenities and private yacht club. There is world-class golf at Bay Harbor Golf Club and upscale lodging and dining at The Inn at Bay Harbor - A Renaissance Golf Resort.  The area is also home to the internationally-known Boyne USA ski and golf resorts, Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands, as well as Nub's Nub, the area's third ski area.

Accommodations:

More than 2,800 rooms in the area. Ranges from hotels, condominiums, country inns and four-season resort complexes to budget motels. Many offer meeting rooms and convention facilities.

Transportation:

Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County is served by Northwest Airlink. The Petoskey Bus Station is by serviced by Indian Trails. Rental cars are available. Air strips for non-commercial planes are located at Boyne Mountain and in Boyne City and Harbor Springs.

Boyne City Airport:  231-582-0377

Boyne Mountain Airstrip: 231-549-6000

Harbor Springs Airport:  231-347-2812

Northwest Airlink: 1-800-225-2525

Pellston Regional Airport: 231-539-8441

Petoskey Bus Station: 231-347-4400

Outdoor Recreational Activities:

Warm weather recreation in Boyne Country includes fishing, canoeing, boating, sailing, beachcombing, golfing, hiking, cycling, in-line skating, camping, picnicking, and mushroom hunting. Winter activities include Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, snowshoeing and ice fishing. The area also features exclusive shops and boutiques, dining and entertainment facilities.  Check out our Things To Do section

Skiing:

Boyne Highlands - 600 Highlands Drive, Harbor Springs 49740
1-800-GO-BOYNE (U.S. and Canada).
55 runs, 8 chairlifts, 430 skiable acres, 552 feet vertical drop, 45 kilometers of cross-country trails. 2 snowboard half pipes and an expertly groomed Zaugg Halfpipe. Tubing park and FREE 16 acre ski and snowboard area for beginners. Ability to transport 17,400 skiers per hour.

Boyne Mountain - One Boyne Mountain Road, Boyne Falls 49713
1-800-GO-BOYNE (U.S. and Canada).
59 runs, 11 chairlifts, 415 skiable acres, 500' vertical drop. Boyne Nordican Center with 35 kilometers of tiller-groomed cross-country trails, five kilometers lighted for night skiing. Snowboard half pipe and an expertly groomed Zaugg Superpipe. Complete rail yard and glade skiing terrain. Tubing park. FREE 14 acre ski and snowboard area for beginners. Ability to transport over 19,000 skiers per hour.

Nub's Nob - 500 Nub's Nob Road, Harbor Springs 49740
1-800-SKI-NUBS or 231-526-2131.
53 runs, 8 chairlifts, 427 feet vertical drop, 28 kilometers of power-groomed cross-country trails with 2 kilometers lighted for night skiing. Superpipe arena for snowboarders rated best in North America by readers of Ski Magazine.  FREE Learn-to-Ski area. Ability to transport 15,000 skiers per hour.
 
 

Cycling/In-line Skating:

Great scenery make biking here even better

Cycling and in-line skating are permitted in all 5 state parks on interior roads. Fisherman's Island and Wilderness State Parks have designated "non-motorized" trails. Several bicycle and rollerblade rental companies in the area. Shoreline Cycling Tours - spring, fall. Tours start in Harbor Springs and run through the Tunnel of Trees route.

Boating:

Crafts of all types are available throughout the region including canoes, kayaks, power, sail, pontoon and aluminum boats. . Other water activities to enjoy: jet skiing, tubing, water skiing. Free public launch sites throughout the region. Popular areas include the Bear, Sturgeon and Pigeon Rivers. Also the Inland Waterway.

Fishing:

Abundant in fishing waters: trout, bass, panfish, walleye, salmon, steelhead. Rivers: Maple, Bear, Jordan, Boyne. 2 main charters available: Trout and Salmon Charters-Ruddy Duck, Petoskey; Ward Brothers, Charlevoix-Trout, salmon and walleye.

Camping/Hiking:

5 state parks feature campsites: Petoskey, Burt Lake, Fisherman's Island, Young and Wilderness State Parks. Most parks offer swimming, picnicking, hiking and boating. For State Park reservations anywhere within Michigan, 1-800-44-PARKS.

Petoskey's KOA RV & Cabin Resort - Award-winning!  One mile from Lake Michigan. Several amenities. 231-347-0005.

Magnus City Park Campground - On Little Traverse bay close to downtown. 231-347-1027.

Avalanche Mountain Preserve - Boyne City's jewel - take the long way up via trails or climb 462 steps to the top of this outlook point.  Views of Lake Charlevoix make it worth while either way.

Little Traverse Conservancy Nature Preserves - Protects 40,000 acres of land. Activities to enjoy: educational walks, birdwatching, nature study, photography.

Golfing:

Numerous championship courses throughout the area. Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands offer eight 18-hole championship courses. Golf Digest named Boyne's Heather course and the Donald Ross Memorial among America's 75 best Resort Courses. Plus, Bay Harbor's three 9-hole courses are currently available for play. Golfweek says Bay Harbor is one of the most picturesque golf sites in the country.

Dining:

More than 50 restaurants in the area. Everything from fastfood, to gourmet to casual family dining. Chinese, Italian, Mexican and more!

Shopping:

The area features about 90 specialty shops in Petoskey's Gaslight District and in downtown Harbor Springs and Boyne City. Upscale shopping is also offered at the Village at Bay Harbor. Boutique type shopping in each area including high-fashion, specialty foods, unique gifts, art galleries, sportswear and sports equipment.

Petoskey Stones:

Petoskey Stones

Michigan's state stone, the Petoskey stone, is actually fossilized coral thought to be at least 350 million years old. The Petoskey State Park Beach and Magnus Park are two of the few places in the state where the coral pieces can be found.

Inland lakes:

From small lakes to large. Walloon Lake is surrounded by 52 miles of wooded shoreline, and Lake Charlevoix is the third largest inland lake in Michigan. Boyne City is on Lake Charlevoix's southern tip. Approximate maximum depths (in feet): Crooked Lake - 61; Pickerel Lake - 70; Walloon Lake - 100; Lake Charlevoix - 150.

Inland waterway:

A series of lakes and rivers once used by Indians, French voyageurs, loggers and fishermen to travel along the lower peninsula. This 38-mile water route is located 25 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge, 15 miles west of Interstate 75 and Indian River. Today it provides a leisurely waterway for family boating fun. The Inland Waterway is considered federal waters. It begins in Crooked Lake, connects through Crooked River with Burt Lake to Indian River, then Mullet Lake. Finally, the waterway connects with Cheboygan River out to Lake Huron. Boats up to 30 feet in length may travel the waterway.

Fishing:

Anglers can fish in Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix for chinook salmon, lake trout, blue gill, bass, perch, walleye and steelhead as well as brook, brown and rainbow trout. Trout can also be found in the Maple, Jordan, Boyne and Bear Rivers.

Crops and products of the region:

Strawberries, apples, pears, sweet corn, morel mushrooms in the wild and maple syrup. Local products include custom wood furniture, plastic products, cedar and log homes and specialty foods.

Weather Information:

Average Temperatures - Highs/Lows
January 28/15; February 29/12; March 38/21; April 51/32; May 63/42; June 72/52; August 77/58;
September 69/51; October 58/42; November 45/32; December 33/21

Average Rainfall:
May 2.5"; June 2.60"; July 2.8"; August 3.0"; September 3.9"

Average Snowfall:
October .5"; November 8.9"; December 30.0"; January 37.0"; February 20.0"; March 12.0"; April 4.0"