Heritage Routes

The Michigan Heritage Route Program, created by the Public Act 69 of 1993, is designed to identify, inventory, protect, enhance, and in some cases, promote state trunklines and adjacent land with distinctive or unique scenic, cultural, or historic qualities. The normal process for Heritage Route nomination within the Michigan Heritage Route Program follows a standard eight-step procedure: formation of a nominating team, identification of potential routes, evaluation of the highway using a roadside inventory, selection of route to be nominated, preparation of a management plan, evidence of local support, preparation of nomination/application, and submission of application.

There are three categories of heritage routes:

• Scenic - a state highway having outstanding natural beauty;
• Historic - a state highway having outstanding historic buildings, and resources along its length; and
• Recreational - maintained not only to serve the recreational driver, but also to capture that recreational setting of the facility or area itself, and set the mood for the recreational experience. (Source: MDOT.)

Additional Information

• Heritage Routes - information from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
• The Benefits of Heritage Routes - from MDOT.
• How to Apply for a Heritage Route - from MDOT.

Scenic
Heritage Routes

S'western end:

Village of Empire

S'eastern end:

Jct M-72 northwest of Traverse City

Length:

64 miles

Notes:

From MDOT: "M-22 in Leelanau County acts both as a major transportation artery for the county, and as a corridor for viewing some of the country's most scenic and diverse vistas. It is because of the scenic attributes and rural characteristics that a concerned group of residents sought and achieved Heritage Route designation. This distinction would ensure that the rural character of the county would remain in its current state and would be managed in a manner that highlight the intrinsic qualities of the peninsula."

Weblinks:

• Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route - an excellent website from the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route Committee.

• Scenic Heritage Route M-22 Leelanau County Guidebook from the Leelanau County website.

• M-22 in Leelanau awarded National Scenic Byway funding from MDOT.

• M-22 Route Listing

Southern end:

Traverse City north city limit (just northeast of Peninsula Dr & Center Rd intersection)

Northern end:

Northern terminus of M-37 at the Old Mission Lighthouse

Length:

17.26 miles

Notes:

From NWMCOG: "It is because of the unique charm and breathtaking views that so many people visit the Old Mission Peninsula. Tourism is an integral part of the local economy, mainly agri-tourism. Because of the scenic attributes of inherent beauty and the rural characteristics displayed along this particular stretch of M-37, a concerned group of Peninsula Township residents and Township officials in 1995 began investigating the possibility of officially acknowledging the distinctiveness of this segment of roadway by designating it as a Michigan Scenic Heritage Route."

Weblinks:

• M-37 Heritage Route Management Plan - from the Peninsula Township website.

• "M-37 on Old Mission Peninsula may soon be scenic route" from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

• M-37 Route Listing

Southern end:

Houghton

Northern end:

Jct M-26 in Copper Harbor

Length:

47 miles

Notes:

From MDOT: "The first road designated as a Scenic Heritage Route was the eighteen-mile segment of US-41 from Central to Copper Harbor in Keweenaw County in the Upper Peninsula. The uniqueness of this road is its forest and how the trees, some as close sas three feet from the edge of the pavement, form a complete canopy over most of the entire length of the Heritage Route. This road provides access to such recreational resources as Lake Superior beaches, Copper Harbor, Historic Fort Wilkins state park, hunting, fishing, and fall color touring."

The first 18 miles of the route were designated as a Scenic Heritage Route in 1994 from Central to Copper Harbor, then extended southwesterly to Mohawk in 2002 and then to Houghton in the spring of 2004.

Weblinks:

• Copper Country's U.S. 41 named National Scenic Byway from Keweenaw Now, a September 23, 2005 article regarding the designation of this route.

• Copper Country Trail from Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

• US-41 Route Listing

Southern end:

Harbor Springs

Northern end:

Northern terminus of M-119 in Cross Village

Length:

19 miles

Notes:

Officially designated a Scenic Heritage Route in June 2003. This is the famous "Tunnel of Trees" route connecting Harbor Springs with Cross Village in Emmet Co.

Weblinks:

• Journey on Michigan's Newest Scenic Byway from the State of Michigan website (via the Internet Archive).

• M-119 Tunnel of Trees Heritage Route from the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments.

• M-119 Heritage Route Management Plan from the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments.

• Public invited to celebrate in Cross Village at M-119 'Tunnel of Trees' dedication ceremony from MDOT.

• Beauty at Risk: Protecting M-119 Corridor from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

• M-119 Route Listing

Western end:

Jct CR-500 in eastern Luce Co, west of the Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Southern end:

Southern boundary of Tahquamenon Falls State Park, south of Paradise

Length:

27 miles

Notes:

The portion of M-123 designated as the Scenic Heritage Route is that part running through the Tahquamenon Falls State Park in the Paradise area.

Weblinks:

• M-123 Route Listing

• Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Historic
Heritage Routes

Western end:

Iron River

Eastern end:

Crystal Falls

Length:

16 miles

Notes:

From MDOT: "US-2's Iron County Heritage Trail is 16 miles long and the perfect place to learn the story of iron mining in Michigan. It is an amazing story, started some 1.2 billion years ago, that involves rift minerals, prehistoric mining tools, copper and bronze age, the industrial revolution and world conflicts."

Weblinks:

• Iron County Heritage Route website from the Friends of the Heritage Trail group.

• US-2 (West Section) Route Listing

Western end:

New Buffalo

Eastern end:

Downtown Detroit

Length:

209 miles

Notes:

While two short segments of US-12 has been previously designated as Historic Heritage Routes, in Saline and Clinton/Clinton Twp, on June 9, 2004 the entire length of US-12 from New Buffalo on the Lake Michigan shore to the eastern terminus of US-12 in downtown Detroit was designated as a Historic Heritage Route in its entirety.

From MDOT: "US-12 is among the oldest road corridors east of the Mississippi River and accesses some of the most extensive and significant historic, cultural, scenic and recreational resources in Michigan," said Pete Hanses, MDOT's Heritage Route manager. "It begins in downtown Detroit, just blocks from the Detroit River, and extends through southern Michigan to the Michigan/Indiana border south of New Buffalo. It was originally a network of centuries-old trails created by Native Americans. Over the years it has had many names such as Sauk Trail, Chicago Road, and Michigan Avenue."

Weblinks:

• US-12 Heritage Trail website from the Southwestern Michigan Commission

• US-12 Heritage Trail website from the St Joseph County MSU Extension Office

• "US-12 historic designation approved by Heritage Route Committee" press release from MDOT.

• "US–12 Heritage Trail Seeks Designation As A Michigan Historic Heritage Route" from the Michigan Tourism Business publication.

• US-12 Route Listing

Western end:

Saline west city limit

Eastern end:

Saline east city limit

Length:

~1 mile

Notes:

This earlier Historic Heritage Route designation has been superceeded by the 2004 designation of the entire route of US-12 in Michigan as a Historic Heritage Route.

From MDOT: "US-12 (Michigan Avenue) through Saline follows the route of the historic Sauk Trail, a Native American trail that was to later become the Detroit and Chicago Road. Orange Risdon the founder of Saline was the original surveyor for the Detroit and Chicago Road. The portion of Michigan Avenue in Saline designated as a Heritage Route has several historic attractions. The old Schuyler Mill (now Weller's) is located near the intersection of US-12 and the Saline River. Henry Ford converted this Mill in 1937 to a soybean processing plant for the manufacture of auto paint and auto parts. The Saline Downtown area is a historically significant and vibrant downtown area. Oakwood Cemetery, Curtiss Mansion and the Rentschler Farm museum are other important attractions."

Weblinks:

• US-12 Route Listing

Western end:

Cnr US-12 & N Adrian Hwy just east of jct M-52

Eastern end:

Clinton east city limit

Length:

~2.5 miles

Notes:

This earlier Historic Heritage Route designation has been superceeded by the 2004 designation of the entire route of US-12 in Michigan as a Historic Heritage Route.

From MDOT: "US-12 in Clinton and Clinton Township are part of the historic Sauk Trail. Typically, Clinton was founded on the convergence of a road, the Chicago Military Road and a river, The Raisin. The original community was called Oak Opening because of its location in a natural opening in the dense oak forest. Clinton soon became the greatest trading point west of Detroit with ten general stores several blacksmith shops a hardware store, the Clinton Inn, Atlas Mill, and the Clinton Woolen Manufacturing Co. with 200 employees. Today many of the buildings in the Village of Clinton and Clinton Township are faithfully preserved, but with modern conveniences to better serve today's customer."

Weblinks:

• US-12 Route Listing

Western end:

Madison Ave in downtown Bay City

Eastern end:

Bay City east city limit

Length:

1.5 miles

Notes:

From MDOT: "M-25 through Bay City was designated as a Historic Heritage Route. The City of Bay City in conjunction with MDOT nominated the 1.5 miles long portion of M-25 which runs from Madison Avenue to Livingston Avenue. Visible from the road is the Bay County Building, which is on the National Register for Historic Places. The area also contains 48 pre-1900 and 32 1900-1929 structures, which are also on the National Register as part of the Center Avenue Historic District."

Weblinks:

• Bay City Celebrates Designation Of M-25 (Center Avenue) As City's First Heritage Route from MDOT.

• M-25 Route Listing

Western end:

Marshall west city limit

Eastern end:

Marshall east city limit

Length:

2.3 miles

Notes:

Designated as a Historic Heritage Route on January 11, 2001.

From MDOT: "Territorial Road (I-94BL) is the location of the country's largest National Historic District in the small urban category. This 14 block area has no fewer than 14 official Michigan Markers. These locations reflect Marshall's early importance in Michigan history, especially in areas of government, education, abolition, railroads, unionism and architecture."

The portion of BL I-94/Michigan Ave in Marshall designated as a Heritage Route is the only such route signed in its entirety along an Interstate Business Connection.

Weblinks:

• "MDOT And City Of Marshall Join Efforts To Preserve City's Culture" press release from MDOT.

• BL I-94 (Marshall) Route Listing

Southern end:

Monroe south city limit

Northern end:

Monroe north city limit

Length:

1.5 miles

Notes:

From MDOT: "M-125 through the City of Monroe was designated as a Historic Heritage Route. The City of Monroe in conjunction with MDOT nominated the portion of M-125 which runs through the Old Village Historic District, and is contiguous to the East Elm - North Macomb Historic District, and the Custer Equestrian Monument."

Weblinks:

• M-125 Route Listing

Recreational
Heritage Routes

Southern end:

I-75/Fisher Frwy in downtown Detroit

Northern end:

Downtown Pontiac

Length:

25 miles

Notes:

From MDOT: "Woodward Avenue (M-1), southeast Michigan's Main Street is home to many of Michigan's historic, recreational and cultural jewels. This 28 miles of asphalt ribbon is rich in 200 years of urban history, bright with city lights and shaded in suburban green. That ribbon entwines Detroit's theater, art, education and medical centers with neighborhoods both grand and faded. It ties together stable suburban middle class residential streets and wealthy enclaves and links strips of independent retail shops with landscaped professional office centers, bustling small downtown districts and industrial giants."

The Woodward Ave Recreational Heritage Route is actually longer than M-1. Technically, the designated Heritage Route extends northerly from M-1's northern terminus at Bloomfield Hills into downtown Pontiac via BL I-75/BUS US-24. However, since the vast majority of the route encompasses M-1, that designation is used here as the primary highway route.

Weblinks:

• Woodward Heritage: A Cruise Through Time from the Woodward Heritage organization.

• M-1 Route Listing

• BUS US-24 (Pontiac) Route Listing

• BL I-75 (Pontiac) Route Listing

Southern end:

Ortonville in northern Oakland Co

Northern end:

Northern terminus of M-15 east of downtown Bay City

Length:

60 miles

Notes:

From MDOT: "M-15, '...86 Miles of Smiles' is Michigan's first Recreational Heritage Route. This 90 [sic] mile route has many surprises for the visitor willing to divert from their normal course of travel."

Weblinks:

• M-15 Route Listing

Southern end:

Standish

Northern end:

Mackinaw City

Length:

193 miles

Notes:

On May 6, 2004, US-23 from Standish to Mackinaw City was officially designated as a Recreational Heritage Route and given the moniker "Sunrise Side Coastal Highway."

From MDOT: "Initiated by Rep. Sheltrown and Tom Ferguson of Michigan's Sunrise Side Travel Association in the summer of 2001, the process began with the collection of resolutions of support from local units of government along the route. Northeast Michigan Council of Governments and East Michigan Planning & Development were contracted to develop a management plan for the route with the guidance and advice of local volunteers."

Weblinks:

• US-23 Sunrise Coastal Highway website from a local citizens group.

• US-23 Sunrise Side Costal Highway website from the Michigan's Sunrise Side Travel Association.

• US-23 Sunrise Side Coastal Hwy Study from NEMCOG.

• US-23 Route Listing

Southern end:

Southern entrance of I-69 at the Indiana state line near Kinderhook

Northern end:

Calhoun/Eaton Co line southwest of Olivet

Length:

~47 miles

Notes:

On October 8, 2004, I-69 in Branch and Calhoun Co was officially designated as a Recreational Heritage Route in a ceremony held at the newly-reconstructed Coldwater Welcome Center south of Coldwater.

Regarding the dedication ceremony, Calhoun Co Community Development notes: "The ceremony included the history of the formation of the I-69 Recreation Heritage Route Management Team, as well as information about the program, its partnership with MDOT, some of its planned projects and the unveiling of the new sign designating the area a Recreation Heritage Route. During his speech, Mike Boyce, Convis Township Supervisor and manager of the Baker Bird Sanctuary, spoke about a future project of the I-69 RHR Management Team and its intention of placing Kestrel nesting boxes within the I-69 corridor right-of-way to encourage the increase of nesting opportunities and habitat of Kestrels."

Weblinks:

• I-69 Recreation Heritage Route - information from the Calhoun County Community Development website.

• I-69 Recreation Heritage Route Designation Ceremony - photos and information from the October 2004 dedication of the route in Coldwater.

• I-69 Route Listing

Western end:

Western terminus of M-179 at US-131 near Bradley south of Wayland

Eastern end:

Eastern terminus of M-179 at jct M-43 west of Hastings

Length:

17 miles

Notes:

From MDOT: "The natural beauty of the Chief Noonday Trail (M-179), coupled with its many recreational and historic sites, make this an outstanding Heritage Route. This area was once the hunting ground for native woodland Indians. It continues to heavily wooded and inhabited by a wide variety of wildlife. A large portion of the road is bordered by state owned land. This is the gateway to the Yankee Springs Recreational area and the Barry State Game Area. The combination of state and local facilities provide the visitor a wide variety of recreational and historic opportunities. Activities available include camping, hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, biking, horseback riding, water an cross country skiing, berry and mushroom picking, photography and visits to historical sites and museums."

Weblinks:

• M-179 Route Listing

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