Trails throughout the region, both over land and water, are poised for development and recognition. The ability to achieve common and related goals can be enhanced significantly by working collaboratively to support projects that further our mission. Together, we can develop and distribute outreach, interpretive, and educational materials, tools, and programs that enhance, enrich, or promote the Eastern U.P. Regional Trail System.
In 2014-15, the EUP Regional Planning & Development Commission partnered with numerous stakeholders and received a MDEQ Coastal Zone Management grant to inventory access sites along the Lake Superior shoreline from Grand Marais to Sault Ste. Marie, and the St. Marys River shoreline from Sault Ste. Marie to DeTour Village.
Tasks included public input meetings; inventory and assessment of access sites; gap analysis; development of water trail planning language for inclusion in local recreation plans; gathering of cultural, historical, environmental, and safety information; and development of a website – www.upwatertrails.org.
This project completed the inventory of the EUP shoreline including Lake Michigan and Lake Huron shorelines. Don’t forget to check out the Lake Superior East Water Trail and St. Marys River Island Explorer Water Trail public access inventory and analysis for the entire EUP region.
The MDOT regional bicycle map shows road surface types, traffic volumes, paved/unpaved trails with regional significance, recreational facilities, points of interest, and other facilities and amenities which make cycling across the Eastern Upper Peninsula more enjoyable.
You can view PDF files of both the front and back of the EUP Bike Map below.
Eastern U.P. Main Page (5mb PDF)
Eastern U.P. Map Insets (3mb PDF)
Maps may also be available at Michigan Welcome Centers or your local Chamber of Commerce. If you would like to request a free map, please contact us.
Adventure Cycling Association and several other organizations have teamed up with AASHTO (American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials) to develop a U.S. Bicycle Route System. With staff support from Adventure Cycling Association, AASHTO’s Task Force on U.S. Bicycle Routes is developing a corridor-level plan and designation scheme for this system.
The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a proposed network of bicycle routes of national and regional significance. These routes are selected by the State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and designated and cataloged by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
You can explore the statewide Route in the map below or check out the project’s Google Map.
Bay Mills Community College EUP Recreation Guide
The following walking and biking brochures for Kinross Township and the City of Sault Ste. Marie were created as a result of a collaboration between the Chippewa County Health Department (CCHD) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) with the objective of increasing awareness about the health benefits of walking and physical activity as a means to reduce and manage chronic disease through the Active Living Grant Project. The Active Living Grant Project was developed by the MDHHS Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention Program to develop sustainable projects that promote active living.
After many years of partnering with local stakeholders to develop water trails, create non-motorized transportation plans, develop land-use policy, and digitally map routes and trails, the Eastern U.P. Regional Planning & Development Commission (EUPRPDC) is working to continue bringing together like-minded individuals and groups to further common goals.
Often, trails do not naturally terminate or redirect with municipal boundary lines, thus, as a multi-county agency, the EUPRP&DC has taken a lead coordinating role in developing a draft Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) and formally bringing together stakeholders with similar visions and missions to discuss issues and projects, develop policies, and implement strategies.
Participation in the Eastern U.P. Regional Trails Consortium in no way obligates members to any financial commitments. In this initial stage of coordination, we ask those interested in participating in the Eastern U.P. Regional Trails Consortium to please sign and return the representative contact information form, review the draft MOU document and provide any feedback to us on it.
EUPRP&DC has completed a two-year planning effort funded by the Michigan Department of Transportation. The purpose was to develop a comprehensive, regional Non-Motorized Transportation Plan and Investment Strategy for MDOT’s Superior Region. This region includes the entire U.P. Together, our agency, with the Central and Western U.P. Planning Commissions, have developed a product that can be used by the Michigan Department of Transportation and local officials to prioritize projects, identify funding sources, and guide investment in the region’s non-motorized transportation system.
We have gathered information on existing and future trails from each of the county, township, city, and village parks and recreation commissions, planning commissions and staff, and board members. Subregional meetings have taken place with trail organizations, groups, and stakeholders to review the proposed trail maps for their input.
Adventure in the Eastern Upper Peninsula using trails, routes or water:
Starting June 6, 2020: each Monday in the month of June, a drawing will be held in which a lucky participant from the prior week’s posts will win a prize. Announcements of winners will be posted on Trails of the Eastern U.P. Facebook page the following Wednesday.
Download the 2020 List of EUP Trails
It is still widely recognized that getting out into nature is an important way to stay healthy during these difficult times. Here are some guidelines to help you stay safe:
