Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area
Managed by City of Traverse City
183 acres9.4 mi of trail
Copper Ridge TrailOld Orchard TrailGarfield TrailMeadows Loop Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Phoenix-Five · CC BY-SA 4.0AOutdoors
Outdoors in Garfield Township
Garfield Township has 63 miles of mapped trails, 2.4 for every square mile of land
988 acres are parks and preserves, 50 per 1,000 residents. The biggest trail networks: Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area (9.4 mi), Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve (6.5 mi), Hickory Meadows (4.5 mi). 83% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Ahead of 89% of U.S. towns · #91 of 701 in Michigan. What drives it
Conserved land
5%
878 acres · of 26.6 sq mi of land
Trails
63 mi
2.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
988 ac
50 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
83%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
7.7 mi
0.5 mi lanes · 7.2 mi paths
Highest peak
988 ft
Hickory Hill
Lakes & rivers
5
2 beaches · 2 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Garfield Township?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Garfield Township have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Garfield Township is ahead of 89% of U.S. towns, #91 of 701 in Michigan. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; trail miles rank highest, conserved land lowest.
A
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Garfield Township’s overall grade.
Conserved land5% of the land · typical MI town 5% · U.S. 4%BTrails2.4 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (63 mi) · MI 0.3 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land50 acres of park per 1,000 residents (988 acres) · MI 33 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to home83% of residents within a half mile of a park · MI 50% · U.S. 72%B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 89%
LessMore
Michigan towns of 2,500+ (701)Ahead of 87%
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area, with 9.4 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve
Managed by Grand Traverse County
264 acres6.5 mi of trail
Boardman/Ottaway River TrailSabin Pond TrailBike River TrailFox Den Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Jack's Landing Parking LotWebsite ↗
Hickory Meadows
Managed by Grand Traverse Conservation District
102 acres4.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Miller Creek Nature Reserve
Nature preserve
114 acres3.5 mi of trail
Beech Ridge TrailMiller Creek TrailValley TrailSabin School Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Boardman Valley Nature Preserve
Managed by Charter Township of Garfield
136 acres2.9 mi of trail
Boardman/Ottaway River Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Hickory Forest Natural Area
Nature preserve
70 acres2.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Historic Barns Park
Managed by Traverse City Garfield Township Recreational Authority
52 acres2.2 mi of trail
Meadows Loop TrailCopper Ridge Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Silver Lake Recreation Area
Managed by Charter Township of Garfield
65 acres2.1 mi of trail
Silver Lake TrailMeadow Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 24 parks & preserves
Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area183 acres · 9.4 mi of trail · City of Traverse City
DirectionsGrand Traverse Natural Education Reserve264 acres · 6.5 mi of trail · Grand Traverse County
DirectionsHickory Meadows102 acres · 4.5 mi of trail · Grand Traverse Conservation District
DirectionsMiller Creek Nature Reserve114 acres · 3.5 mi of trail
DirectionsBoardman Valley Nature Preserve136 acres · 2.9 mi of trail · Charter Township of Garfield
DirectionsHickory Forest Natural Area70 acres · 2.4 mi of trail
DirectionsHistoric Barns Park52 acres · 2.2 mi of trail · Traverse City Garfield Township Recreational Authority
DirectionsSilver Lake Recreation Area65 acres · 2.1 mi of trail · Charter Township of Garfield
DirectionsRiver East Recreation Area59 acres · 1.8 mi of trail · Garfield Charter Township
DirectionsKids Creek Park21 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Charter Township of Garfield
DirectionsHeritage Estates Common Area7 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Common Park3 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Sunny Hollow Park3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Vista Manor Common Area2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Mitchell Creek Nature Sanctuary128 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Grand Traverse Regional Land Convervancy
Medalie Park7 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Grand Traverse County Parks & Recreation
DirectionsNature Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsCanfield Park6 acres
Shadyland Park3 acres
Silver Lake Boating Access Site3 acres · Michigan Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsOrthwoods Park3 acres
Carriage Hill Park2 acres
DirectionsWarren Field1 acres
Gladewood Place Park1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
878 conserved acres
5% of Garfield Township’s land. Who manages Garfield Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
County295 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits237 ac
Private owners223 ac
State natural resources73 ac
Other state land49 ac
U.S. Forest Service1 ac
Local Conservation Area · 288 acPrivate Park · 223 acPrivate Conservation · 120 acState Park · 73 acUnknown Easement · 62 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 165 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Education Reserve Local Conservation Area | County | 288 | Open |
| Mitchell Creek Nature Preserve Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 120 | Open |
| Crown Golf Course Private Park | Private owners | 110 | Restricted |
| Traverse City Golf and Country Club Private Park | Private owners | 108 | Restricted |
| Meyer & Keystone Soccer State Park | State natural resources | 73 | Open |
| Medalie Park Local Park | County | 7 | Open |
| Bay Meadows Golf Course Private Park | Private owners | 5 | Restricted |
| Manistee National Forest National Forest | U.S. Forest Service | 1 | Open |
Things to do
58 places to go in Garfield Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Garfield Township
2 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Public pools in Garfield Township
1 public pool without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Garfield Township
19 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks in Garfield Township
Bark Park
DirectionsOff Leash Dog Park
DirectionsPlus 3 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Garfield Township
Silver Lake Boat Launch
DirectionsPlus 1 boat launch without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Garfield Township
2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Garfield Township
Cherry Lane Overlook
DirectionsPlus 17 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Garfield Township
Hickory Hill988 ft elevation
DirectionsMcCrea Hill935 ft elevation
DirectionsWayne Hill912 ft elevation
DirectionsPlus 4 peaks without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Garfield Township
1 picnic area without a name on the map.
Disc golf in Garfield Township
Hickory HillsHours: sunrise-sunset
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 5 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 15.0 miUnpaved · 31.7 mi
Boardman/Ottaway River Trail2.9 mi
Copper Ridge Trail0.9 mi
Valley Trail0.8 mi
Old Orchard Trail0.8 mi
Beech Ridge Trail0.7 mi
Sabin Pond Trail0.6 mi
Meadows Loop Trail0.6 mi
Hilltop Adventure Trail0.6 mi
Miller Creek Trail0.6 mi
Bike River Trail0.6 mi
15 more trails
Garfield Trail
0.5 miBrake Check
0.5 miSabin School Trail
0.5 miSilver Lake Trail
0.5 miCistern Spur
0.5 miDC-TC Trail
0.4 miGT Wellness Trail
0.4 miMeadow Trail
0.4 miStreamside Loop Trail
0.4 miCedar Cathedral Trail
0.3 miMiller Creek Trail / Valley Trail
0.3 miTanglewood Trail
0.3 miFox Den Trail
0.2 miMiller Creek Nature Reserve Trail
0.2 miNature Trail
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
7.7 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
0.5 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
7.2 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
35Tennis
33Soccer
12Tracks
10Pickleball
8Baseball
7Basketball
5Football
4Equestrian
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Garfield Township: May to August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| High (°F) | 29 | 31 | 40 | 53 | 66 | 76 | 80 | 78 | 71 | 57 | 44 | 34 |
| Rain (in) | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 2.6 | 2.1 |
February is the driest month (1.3 in) and July the warmest (highs of 80 °F). 3.9 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Garfield Township →
Next door
Garfield Township and its neighbors
Garfield Township has the second most mapped trails of the 6 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
East Bay Township143 miGarfield Township63 miLong Lake Township45 miBlair Township39 miTraverse City12 miChums Corner1.6 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield Township | 5% | 2.4 | 50 | 83% | A |
| Traverse City | 3% | 1.4 | 13 | 99% | A− |
| Blair Township | 5% | 1.1 | 51 | 59% | A− |
| Long Lake Township | 4% | 1.5 | 88 | 48% | A− |
| Chums Corner | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| East Bay Township | 5% | 3.6 | 212 | 64% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Garfield Township
Where can I hike in Garfield Township?
The longest trail networks: Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area, 9.4 miles; Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve, 6.5 miles; Hickory Meadows, 4.5 miles; Miller Creek Nature Reserve, 3.5 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Garfield Township is conserved land?
5% of its land, against a typical 5% for a Michigan town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Garfield Township’s trails?
Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area and Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Garfield Township?
7.7 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.5 of painted or protected lanes and 7.2 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Garfield Township?
8,250 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Garfield Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 989 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Garfield Township have?
Ahead of 89% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #91 of 701 in Michigan. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Garfield Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →