Traverse City Bike To Hikes With Bob Otwell

I wrote a story for the Traverse City Record-Eagle in October 2024 about biking to hike in Traverse City with my friend and neighbor, Bob Otwell.

Bob, who many know as a longtime Traverse City walk/bike advocate and community leader, is also an author. He recently published The Real Two Hearted — a heartfelt tribute to a special place in the Upper Peninsula. Today, we’re lucky to have many special places right here in Traverse City that are perfect for bike-to-hike adventures.

I asked Bob to choose three Traverse City hikes we could ride our bikes to, and true to form, he came up with three gems.

What’s a special Traverse City place you like to bike to hike?

Let me know at ty@goodworklab.org, and I’ll add it to our growing list of local adventures below.

HICKORY FOREST

Hickory Forest is just 2.7 miles west of Washington Street, where Bob and I both live. We pedaled through downtown, to the Slabtown neighborhood, and up Randolph Street until we reached the Hickory Lodge. From there, we hiked for just over an hour, taking in the beauty of this well-loved forest.

This special place exists because of Clarence Kroupa, a local conservationist with a deep love for the land. For over 50 years, Clarence and his family carefully stewarded this 76-acre forest, restoring it and protecting its natural beauty. Today, it stands as a testament to their dedication, with its rolling hills and towering sugar maples. We stopped to rest on a bench built by Bob’s longtime friend, BJ Ingwersen — a perfect spot to appreciate the magic of autumn in Traverse City.

Extras things about Hickory Forest that got left out of the story:

Bob rode the bakfiet cargobike he built with his dog Marta riding shotgun
Willow Creek’s headwaters are in Hickory Forect (Bob has been working with MDOT to daylight the creek as it runs into West Bay
Bob learned to ski at Hickory back in the day

*click images to see routes

REFITT NATURE PRESERVE

Refitt Nature Preserve is 4.1 miles east of Washington St. This preserve, created through the leadership of local businessman Ronald Refitt, offers a peaceful retreat near our bustling city. We parked at the trailhead at the end of Oak Drive off 4 Mile Road and hiked the full loop in just 35 minutes, marveling at the diversity of trees — pines, oaks, and tamaracks — and the wildlife that call this place home. Refitt Nature Preserve features remnants of a large dune and swale complex that once occupied the southern tip of East Bay. Almost 270 plant species have been documented at Refitt, of which 229 are native.

This special place is also a tribute to Ronald’s parents, George and Ada, and reflects the balance between development and conservation. As we walked, Bob pointed out how this preserve may one day connect to the Mitchell Creek Meadows, a promising sign for future trail systems and protected lands in the region.

Extras things about Refitt that got left out of the story:

Refitt is home to white-tailed deer, red and gray fox, beaver, raccoon, red, grey and flying squirrels, bobcats, bald eagles and a vast number of bird species
Harold and Margaret Burt also helped create this preserve when they donated land to the GTRLC that is now part of the preserve.

*click images to see routes

OTTAWAY RIVER TRAIL

The Boardman/Ottaway River Trail is 2.8 miles south of Washington Street. We hiked a 57-minute out-and-back route from the soccer fields near the old YMCA, enjoying the sights and sounds of the river. As we walked along, Bob shared stories about the area’s history, including Max Wysong, the Peninsula Asphalt Corp., and how the riverbed has changed since we put in (and then took out) the dams. He also pointed out where the proposed Hartman-Hammond bridge may one day cross the Ottaway.

This special place is part of a larger 24-mile trail system that follows the Ottaway River Valley, providing a way to connect with nature while preserving one of Michigan’s most outstanding natural features — the Ottaway River Watershed, which spans 287 square miles. After visiting our favorite cedar tree in one of our favorite cedar groves, we heard the call of a Wood Duck — the “prettiest bird in Michigan,” according to Bob.

Extras things about the Ottaway River Trail that got left out of the story:

Bob’s dad played tennis at the old YMCA back in the day
The Boardman/Ottaway River Trail Committee, composed of various partners and spearheaded by Dick Naperala, was formed in 2010 to explore feasibility of developing a 24-mile trail that follows the Boardman River Valley from Traverse City to the North Country Trail (NCT)

A state-designated ‘Natural River’ and a Blue Ribbon trout stream, the Boardman River is considered one of the top ten trout streams in Michigan and one of the most outstanding natural features of the Grand Traverse region.