Hike 100 Challenge: Cunningham Rd to Starvation Lake Road ORV Parking

Grand Traverse Chapter's 2025 Hike 100 Challenge - Starvation Lake to Cunningham Road! Hike Leader: Sally Dykhuis

Join Grand Traverse Chapter for our final Hike 100 Challenge of 2025! We’ll be exploring the northernmost reaches of our chapter’s 107 mile section of the North Country National Scenic Trail! Let’s finish those miles together!
This hike has been split into 2 sections. Each section will be one-way with shuttles.
We will meet at Pickerel Lake SFCG at 10:00 a.m. , then shuttle in a few cars north to Starvation Lake ORV Parking and hike back south to Pickerel Lake SFCG. This portion of the hike is 6.8 miles long. We’ll hike past several lakes and ponds and through a hilly forested section, stopping to eat our lunches along the way. If you are ending your hike at this point, please plan to shuttle the original drivers back to their cars at Starvation Lake ORV Parking before heading home. This section of the hike will take about 3-4 hours, plus an additional 30 minutes for shuttles.
If you would like to get a few more easy NCT miles, a shuttle to Cunningham Rd will be provided for the gravel road walk back to Pickerel Lake SFCG which adds another 4.0 miles. Congratulate yourself for being such a hardcore hiker!
You should bring water, lunch or snack, hiking poles, rain gear, and good footwear. PLEASE RSVP via MeetUp which allows notification if plans change or the hike is cancelled.
Directions to Pickerel Lake State Forest Campground
Pickerel Lake SFCG = Q2WG+HFM Manistee Lake, Michigan
From the corner of M-72 and US-131 in Kalkaska, continue east on CR612 for 6 miles. Turn left (north) on Darragh Road and go 2 miles. Turn right (east) on County Rd 612 NE and go 2 miles. Turn left (north) onto Sunset Trail Rd NE and go 4.1 miles until you reach Pickerel Lake SFCG on the left side.
Directions from Pickerel Lake SFCG to Starvation Lake ORV Parking Area:
Starvation Lake ORV Parking Area = V32C+97, Lakes of the North, Blue Lake Township, MI
Continue north (left when leaving Pickerel Lake SFCG) on Sunset Trail Rd NE and go 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Twin Lake Rd NE and go 0.2 mile along Twin Lake. Bear left at the Y back onto Sunset Trail Rd NE, following the lake shore. Then go 2.3 miles until you hit Starvation Lake Rd. Turn right and drive 1.5 miles until you see the ORV parking lot on your right. (Its entrance is directly across the road from the Sand Lake Road entrance.)