Discover Wexford County
Accommodation in Wexford County
Wexford County combines extensive trails, two distinctive lakes and vivid insights into the history of northern Michigan. The William Mitchell State Park between Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac is particularly diverse: across its 770 acres, water activities and nature trails take center stage. This allows you to shape your stay in very different ways depending on your interests—with a day by the water, a longer tour or cultural discoveries in and around Cadillac.
Lakes, Canal and Activities on the Water
The Clam Lake Canal connects Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac. The historic canal is approximately 400 meters long and was built in 1873 to connect Big and Little Clam Lakes—Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac—and enable the transport of logs to the railroad. Today, the Clam Lake Canal is an illustrative place where the landscape and its history of use come together. Shore fishing is popular along the canal; paddling is also possible on the 0.25-mile-long waterway.
Lake Cadillac and Lake Mitchell are also suitable for fishing for perch, walleye, pike, various sunfish species and largemouth bass. William Mitchell State Park provides boat access to both lakes. Lake Mitchell also has a swimming area separated by buoys. Those looking for a vacation rental for a stay combining different interests can therefore take their preferred focus into account when choosing a location: water activities, fishing and paddling offer a different emphasis than extensive trails or historical sightseeing.
Trails for Active Days
The paved Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park is available for longer tours. The rail trail is 92 miles long and connects Comstock Park near Grand Rapids with Cadillac. The Cadillac Trailhead can be reached from US 131 via Exit 177, Mitchell Street and Chapin Street. Scenic overlooks, picnic areas and opportunities for wildlife viewing are among the trail's described features.
The Mitchell State Park Heritage Trail and the Cadillac Pathway offer shorter or differently structured nature experiences. The Heritage Trail comprises 3.5 miles of nature trails with bridges, boardwalks, opportunities for wildlife viewing and interpretive information panels. The Cadillac Pathway runs for 11.3 miles in six loops through hardwood forest. The Clam River Greenway connects the trails at Lake Cadillac with the soccer and baseball fields of the Cadillac Area Sports Association. It also connects to the Keith McKellop Walkway and the White Pine State Park Trail.
West of Cadillac lies the MacKenzie Trail, 15 miles from the town. It offers more than 10 miles of non-motorized trails beside the Caberfae Peaks Ski Resort. The entrance is on 38 Mile Road, one mile west of Caberfae; the trail leads into the National Forest. In winter, it becomes a groomed classic cross-country ski trail system. These differences help with planning: you can choose accommodation according to your preferred pace—with an emphasis on lakes, forest trails, long distances or winter cross-country skiing.
History in Cadillac and the Surrounding Area
The WCHS Museum covers 5,000 square feet. On display are artifacts, photographs, maps, paintings and documents, as well as exhibits on everyday life in northern Michigan that reflect the community's history since the 1870s. Six historical markers are located on the eastern shore of Lake Cadillac. A restored Shay locomotive is also on display in Cadillac's City Park.
The locomotive leads to Ephraim Shay: he perfected his Shay locomotive in 1878. The design was particularly well suited to handling steep grades and overcoming sharp curves and uneven sections of railroad track. Together with the Clam Lake Canal, built in 1873, it creates a tangible picture of the region's transportation and logging history.
Choose the Right Base
When searching for a vacation rental in Wexford County, it is worth first organizing the experiences you want. Water enthusiasts can focus their plans on Lake Mitchell, Lake Cadillac and the Clam Lake Canal. Those who enjoy hiking, cycling or exploring nature trails can include Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park, the Heritage Trail, the Cadillac Pathway or the MacKenzie Trail in their itinerary. For culture-focused days, the WCHS Museum, the historical markers at Lake Cadillac and the Shay locomotive offer distinct points of interest.
For further orientation among the locations, you can also compare Boon, Cadillac and Harrietta.
For the overarching travel overview: Michigan.
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