AVID ADVENTURER

All Ways Exploring

The Avid Adventurer is:

Outdoor Adventurous
Escapist/Curious
Seeking Authentic Experiences
Winter Warrior
High Tech Gear Researcher
Travel Planner
Nomad/Backpacker/Camper
Jeep/ATV/ORV Driver
Sports Enthusaist

Taking on Cadillac, One Trail at a Time!

Avid Adventurer: Grab your gear, map your route, and point the GPS toward Cadillac Michigan. Escape from the grind and quell your thirst for adventure. No matter the time of year, Cadillac’s central location has just what you are looking for: multi-terrain trails, ORV/ATV off-road adventure, rustic campgrounds, and access to major rivers and inland lakes.

And when the snow flies, we have the best of what Northern Michigan has to offer the winter warrior: 200 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, 34 downhill ski runs, and 60+ miles of XC and snowshoe trails. Explore the great outdoors, All Ways in Cadillac!

Take Me There

Destination: Cadillac.

Just Your Style.

Explore area destinations selected just for you to make the most of your Cadillac outdoor adventure!

Miles of Multi-Terrain Trails

Major Rivers

Miles of ORV Trails

Campgrounds

ORV/ATV

Fat Tire Biking

MCCCT Off-Road Trail System

Manistee River Trail/North Country Trail Loop

Fife Lake Loop

North Country Trail System

MacKenzie Trail

Big-M Recreation Area

Cadillac Stories

Find the latest news and stories about adventure in the Cadillac region. Our team of local writers dig deep into the region’s recreation and provide our travel community the latest about exploring the area, trails, seasons and so much more.

We welcome you to explore Cadillac.

Out and About, Fishing Hotspots for Free Fishing Weekend

By Dave Foley: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has designated June 10-11 as Free Fishing Weekend. That’s right, no license needed. Residents and out-of-state visitors may fish fish for free on both inland and Great Lakes waters, but fishing regulations...

Paddling 5 Northern Waterways This Fall In Cadillac

You don't have to go north to Ontario or the Upper Peninsula to enjoy a wilderness-like paddling experience. In less than an hour's drive from Cadillac, one can find stretches of the Pine and Manistee River as well as the Tippy and Hodenpyl backwater impoundments...

Out & About, Prime Paddling Season is Upon Us!

By Dave Foley If you were hesitant about joining the throngs of paddlers that fill popular rivers like the Manistee and Pine on summer weekends, take heart, the pressure on these streams is noticeably less after Labor Day. Only a few canoe liveries are...

Horizontal Glide – XC Skiing in Cadillac

Cross County Skiing in Cadillac While Caberfae Peaks offers plenty of thrills for alpine skiers, cross-country skiers can delight in a trio of free, groomed, public trail systems in the Cadillac area. Nearest to Caberfae Peaks is the 10 mile-long McKenzie Trail. Local...

#ExploreCadillac Bucket List Item – The Walk Around Lake Cadillac

For years, I told my husband Mike that we should trek the 7+ mile walk around Lake Cadillac. We revisited the topic, picked a day where the weather looked great, and planned for it. Having it coincide with Michigan Trails Week was a nice addition, as the path...

Birders Flock To These 8 Locations in and Around Cadillac

By Dave Foley With its mixture of lakes and streams as well as forests, meadows, marshes, and agricultural lands, Cadillac is a natural gathering point for birds, both migratory, and year-round resident flocks. I have worked with veteran local birder, Dave Newhouse,...

5 Walking Trails That Won’t Disappoint Fall Color Seekers

by Dave Foley When the sumac bushes turn crimson and the maple leaves burst forth in red, I adjust my priorities. Being indoors when nature is staging its annual leafy color show is just wrong. Starting in the last days of September the dominant woodland green starts...

Lace Up Those Shoes for a Week’s Worth of Trails in Cadillac, MI!

Tired of running the same old routes? If you're looking for different views of Cadillac here is a plan for your week - never run the same route twice and start each run within five miles of downtown!Sunday McKellop Walkway Probably the best known is the McKellop...

Out & About, Steelhead on the Move

By Dave Foley Rivers like the Pere Marquette, as well as the Big and Little Manistee, get a little crowded after Labor Day as thousands of salmon leave Lake Michigan to push up these steams to spawn. From late August until September king and coho salmon dominate the...

Urban Escapes: 3 Short Walks Close to Cadillac

When you think of getting out for some exercise in the Cadillac area, the favorite places are the White Pine Trail, the paths at the Carl T. Johnson Outdoor Center, the Clam River Greenway, and the Keith McKellop Walkway. But there are several other local nature...