Cedar River Natural Area

Hiking & Trails · Traverse City, MI

The Cedar River winds through this hidden gem in Grand Traverse County, where local families have been creating memories for generations. Native Ottawa tribes once traveled these same riverbanks, and you can still see the ancient cedar groves that gave this area its name. The gentle trails wind through wetlands and hardwood forests, making it accessible for grandparents pushing strollers and kids on their first real hike. Spring brings wildflowers and migrating warblers, while autumn transforms the maples into a canopy of gold and crimson that reflects in the quiet waters below.