M-119 Tunnel of Trees
The Tunnel of Trees, a hidden gem along the cliffs of Lake Michigan north of Harbor Springs, Michigan on the historic M-119, offers twenty miles of scenic tree canopies, charming small towns, and quaint restaurants all the way to Cross Village.
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“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.”
~Alice Walker
The Northwest Lower Peninsula of Michigan offers a vast array of beauty. The shores of Lake Michigan offer incomparable views along it’s mighty wild, rugged shorelines. The Tunnel of Trees, a hidden gem along the cliffs of Lake Michigan north of Harbor Springs, Michigan on the historic M-119, offers twenty miles of scenic tree canopies, charming small towns, and quaint restaurants all the way to Cross Village. It is not on my list of 5 WAYS TO ENJOY SUMMER, but it sure could be, if you are up for a beautiful scenic drive!
A playground for the financially elite, second home “up north” escape crowd, Northwest Lower Michigan has historically provided the beautiful backdrop for many to have an “up north” experience amongst this vast, rugged beauty where the access has been frozen in time with preservation of M-119 as a narrow low speed limit road along this twenty mile route.
No matter the season, the drive and the view offer an exceptional experience to leave you breath-taken and in awe from those views and beauty! Wide open spaces and the crystal clear water of lake Michigan draw many to this area as a travel destination.
This narrow scenic heritage route lacks a centerline and follows an ancient Native American trail along a northern bluff of Lake Michigan looking out towards Beaver Island. Spectacular fall foliage can be witnessed on this amazing route. Don’t drive here if you are in a hurry as the hairpin curves and lack of any kind of shoulder can be disconcerting! Bring your bike and enjoy the most fabulous biking route you will have ever experienced!
The homes along this drive are so interesting to view. From historic, rustic cabins to the amazing architecture of new construction. All the scenery will not disappoint! Time your drive to capture a SUNRISE or SUNSET if you can! It is spectacular!
Many homes are generational. They are passed down from generation to generation as a “cottage up north” to escape the mundane city life. Many families will pack up their city home and move “up north” for the summer away from the hectic school schedule once school lets out for the summer.
The tranquility of this location provides the scene for introspection or AN INNER STILLNESS QUEST if one is looking for solitude! Many search for a place “up north” to fill that ever elusive need for what they think is missing in their lives.
Many times the item that they think they are missing is simply tranquility and a closeness to God in their hearts that can be found through seeking out a TRAVEL DESTINATION TRANQUILITY. I hope you find what you are looking for and if it is rugged beauty, vast space, and a step back in time…this is your place!
I have fond memories of motorcycle riding with my husband and other couples along this route. It is a very beautiful ride along the shoreline and through the hardwood trees observing amazing Lake Michigan homes set in unforgettable scenery!
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Gorgeous views present themselves at different points along the drive. Wildlife is present, so be aware! If this is too tame for you, Perhaps you need to consult a SUMMER TRAVEL BUCKET LIST to find the travel idea that better suits you.
The intrigue of this area has been highlighted since 1968 due to an unresolved murder mystery. The Robison family murders, often referred to as the GOOD HART MURDERS, remains unsolved. Speculation of many theories followed and many questions remained unanswered. The GOOD HART MURDERS PODCAST shares this tragic tale. It is unbelievable that this really happened here in this amazing location! Each time I drive this road, I can’t help but think of this story, especially when I drive by the signs.
Northwest lower peninsula Michigan’s beauty has been a draw for vacationers for hundreds of years. Many tourists brought elements from the city with them when they would move into this rural area for the gorgeous summers in their second homes. Good and bad elements from the city have been introduced to this vast, rugged, escape location.
These quiet, quaint little communities explode in population density during these summer months. Local residents have endured this population intrusion historically. Commerce has evolved to become dependent on the summer residents. Tourism is a mainstay now in this locale. It is refreshing however to see this narrow route preserved as a historic scenic route without a centerline and shoulders. It is a super cool drive!
Do you have any historic scenic drives near you that you could re-explore and share? Tell me about it with a reply/comment below!
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Inspirationally Yours,
Barbara
BIO: https://www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com/about-us/
About Me
A 1993 graduate of Michigan State University, Barbara earned a BS in Social Science Pre-Law. She is a Business Manager/HR Director. Her passion is travel, discovering new places, experiences, cuisine, cultures while enjoying temperate climates. Barbara is a newly transitioning empty-nester who became a travel blogger. She’s a great photographer, talented writer, and has a great family to highlight in her high school/college athlete football sons.
WEBSITE: www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com
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Barbara Robinson
TRAVEL BLOG🛩 * ADVENTURE🛶 * INSPIRATION🌞 Thanks for exploring our travel blog! We hope to assist you in your next adventure through learning from ours! We are transitioning empty-nesters perpetually seeking our next luxury snorkeling adventure! Daily God’s awe inspiring inspiration surrounds us with all of His natural beauty in every direction if we but slow down to observe. Take a moment each day to ENJOY!
62 Comments
Jill DeMasi
Love the videos! I never knew Michigan was so pretty. The pictures capture it very well and make me want to add this area to my travel list!
Carey
Such a serene drive with a lot of history.
Danielle Ardizzone
Growing up, my entire street was a tunnel of trees. Driving through it, when the sun was coming down in splintered shafts, felt magical.
Barbara Robinson
THAT sounds beautiful! Glad you have an appreciation for this beauty!
Kay
My inlaws road is like this! It makes it so peaceful to drive down and just look at all the beauty and the sun peaking through the trees.
Holly
What a beautiful area! I have not spent a lot of time I. This part of the country, but I think I may add it to my list for next year! Thank you!
Jordan
I love a good scenic drive, and this one looks great. The perfect activity to get out of the house, but still maintain social distancing. And avoid the heat!
Marianne
Looks like a great drive… especially on a motorcycle… and maybe in the Fall!! Will have to look into it the next time we are in Michigan!
Britney
Beautiful views!! And I loved the video
Douglas Jasper
I love the photos. It looks very scenic!
Alexis Farmer
So beautiful! These videos are awesome, makes me definitely want to come up here
Kristin
I love taking a relaxing drive through trees. We once drove through a tunnel of trees in Kauai, and it felt so magical.
Barbara Robinson
I know the exact tunnel in Kauai you are referring to! YES! We enjoyed that drive each day going to Poi’pu to the beach! Tunnel of Trees is beautiful, for sure!
Jennifer Morrison
I have been to Michigan many times, but never to this particular area. I would love to take a leisurely drive down this road as tree bridges or paths are on of my favorite things! So peaceful and lovely. And I love that you shared the intrigue of the murder mystery!
Ramae Hamrin
What a lovely place! The only time I’ve been to that part of Michigan is back when I was in college. We had a lot of nordic ski meets in Michigan, and I thought it was so incredibly beautiful in the winter. Now I see it’s even more gorgeous in the summer. It reminds me a lot of northern Minnesota, especially along Lake Superior.
Barbara Robinson
YES! It is much the same! Hey! Headed Friday to MN!!! Tofte area on Lake Superior!!
Sara
Looks like a very scenic area!
Carmen
I’m an 87 grad of MSU! I love nothern lower Michigan! I wish I had traveled that way more as an adult before moving from Michigan. It’s so beautiful!
Barbara Robinson
GO STATE! 🙂
Tricia Snow
I am a tree geek too! I will video scenic roads like this. They are just so peaceful to me!
Chelsea
Wow. This historic route is lovely! I love tree lined roads but this takes the cake. Even though there isn’t a center lane, is it a road in both directions or is it one way?
Barbara Robinson
It is a 2 lane highway! Recommended speed limit 35…more bikers and pedestrians than cars, but yes on coming traffic was present!
Amy
Considering I’m from Michigan and lived there for over 20 years, I don’t know how I haven’t ventured here. Seems like a beautiful ride. Reminds me of when I was a little girl and taking random car rides with my dad and finding new adventures and places to explore.
Debbie
This looks like a drive I would enjoy, especially with the historic homes as a bonus!
Liz
Scenic drives through new places give an extra sense of adventure. I never know what is coming up ahead. I would love to do this with my bike!
Barbara Robinson
If you are a biker…this is a bikers dream!
Lisa Manderino
This would be a lovely drive I would love to take one day!
Suz
Wow, so lush and green! Living in New Mexico makes me appreciate that. We have a different kind of beauty here in the high desert; spare and sparse, red rock monuments, mountains. Our country is so special and diverse among all its different habitats and ecosystems.
Your photos are beautiful! And, I’m impressed at your videos…way to go!
Thank you for this post; I enjoyed it.
Santana
I love going for drives! This looks like a great way to spend an afternoon or evening with the family.
Suzan | It's My Sustainable Life
Love the video’s! What a scenic drive! It reminds me of many roads traveled when I was a child 🙂
Alyssa
I’ve never been to Michigan but if we ever go I know it will be beautiful, thanks for sharing!
Leeandra
This looks like a beautiful drive!
Lisa Shivel
What a beautiful, scenic view and drive! Thank you for sharing.
Emily Ackerman
Very cool! We have “World’s Most Beautiful Drive” or Grandview drive. It is a very pretty drive over the river valley in Illinois.
judean
The only Michigan city I have been too….Detroit. For everything related to the Red Wings…and I have a friend from there as well. It is nice to learn about other areas. Our next trip to Michigan will have to entail this lovely area!
Barbara Robinson
Please don’t judge Michigan by Detroit. 85% of Michigan is more rural, natural and beautiful. I avoid Detroit…way too many people, cars, crime, and concrete (completely my opinion)! The airport (5 hour drive) is the only time I venture that way…or shopping malls once or twice a year on the outskirts. If you live in Michigan North of Lansing… you get used to a long drive for pretty much everything! 🙂
Lina
This is so beautiful! I love scenic drives!
Alice
I love this area! During the early 1990’s I lived summers with my now ex-husband at the University of Michigan Biological Station near Pellston, MI. We explored the area. Somewhere around there is a unique German restaurant I have been to a few times. It is on lake Michigan. I don’t remember the name. If you know please let me know. I would love to visit again if I ever get the chance. The food was wonderful!
Barbara Robinson
https://www.facebook.com/legsinn/
Address: 6425 N Lake Shore Dr, Cross Village, MI 49723
It’s on this drive that I video’d SMALL WORLD!!!!
Beth Shields
Love the trees and have always enjoyed driving through areas where the trees have grown into a tunnel. Several areas where I used to live and they were just beautiful So green and lush. Thanks
Kendra
What a beautiful scenic drive! I love tunnels of trees. We have a beautiful tunnel of aspen trees on the way up to one of our favorite camping spots in the mountains of Colorado. It’s really awesome during the Fall changing of the leaves!
Jane
My kind of roadtrip – scenic! It’s great to see the other side of Michigan. The landscape and the trees are just stunning. I can imagine how it looks like during Fall season.
Annette
This post brought me back to my childhood days where we would have roads with tunnel trees!! Such a great memory!! Currently, there is a section of my road that is a tunnel of trees. I love seeing this tunnel with snow on the limbs – such an old fashion feeling.
Sandi
I’m a sucker for a beautiful drive. When we go someplace new, we tend to get lost on purpose. Thanks for shairing.
Charlene Hartley
I worked the concert venues at Interlochen Arts Academy in the mid-90s and I loved this corner of Michigan. It is so peaceful and served as a nice break from working the crazy hours as a stage hand. I took many walks and drives to clear my head in between gigs!
Barbara Robinson
I love concerts at Interlochen! The outdoor venue is so perfect and quaint. Cool that you worked there!
Linda Egeler
We love the Tunnel of Trees! A beautiful drive in every season of the year.
Angela
What a beautiful area. There is a tunnel of trees we love in Kauai too. Thanks for the podcast info, I will check it out.
Alison
What a beautiful drive! We’re so close to Michigan and haven’t had an opportunity to explore the area. I think we need to get up there now too – I bet it’s even more stunning in the fall!
Missy
So beautiful. We enjoy drives with trees. When you visit AZ, we can share some great drives but they will be of cacti. LOL
Shirley
I always seek out interesting roads wherever I’m traveling. This one looks quite lovely!
melissa
What a gorgeous ride with interesting history! I would love to see it in person. Hopefully, we will make it out there some day!
Stacey Billingsley
What a beautiful area! I haven’t been to Michigan yet, but I really want to go. I’d love a road like this next to the shore. I’ll have to remember this!
Chantelle
This is absolutely gorgeous! It’s so green and peaceful!
Cas
Looks like a lovely way to spend a day!
Myrka
I didn’t realize how green Michigan was! It reminds me of the trials in Georgia! I’ll have to read more about the murder crime. I love a good mystery!
Cindy
I love driving on tree canopied roads! So magical.
Michele
What a beautiful drive. I love the massive old trees. We have lots of them near us in Savannah and Charleston.
Cindy Mailhot
We were traveling this weekend and I was just saying during that trip how much I love the small roads that have trees growing over them creating a tunnel. They are especially beautiful in the snow-though I hate driving in it.
Trisha
I have lived in Michigan my entire life and this drive still takes my breath away. Each season brings a different type of beauty to the trees. Can’t wait to head up there in a few weeks.
Barbara Robinson
So glad that you enjoyed this!
Leeanne
I’d love to explore this park. What a beautiful area of the country.