MDOT's PURE MICHIGAN Byways Program

In 1993, the state legislature passed Public Act 69 that directed MDOT to establish a program of identifying, promoting, and protecting roadways to be known as Heritage Routes. In 2014, Public Act 445 was passed to rename the program Pure Michigan Byways. Public Act 445 aligns the program with the award winning Pure Michigan Campaign and statewide travel and tourism initiatives. Click here for more information on MDOT’s Pure Michigan Byways Program.

 

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Northwest Michigan's Byways

 

M-119 Tunnel of Trees

The M-119 Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route is a narrow, winding roadway famous for its canopy of trees that create a "tunnel" effect along the Lake Michigan bluff. Running between Harbor Springs and Cross Village, it provides access to historic and cultural destinations. The route emphasizes preservation, with efforts centered around protecting its unique character and limiting overdelevopment.

To learn more, please visit the M-119 Tunnel of Trees website.

For historic meeting materials, please visit the M-119 Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route Page.

To view the M-119 Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route Corridor Managment Plan, click here.

 

M-22 SCENIC Byway

The M-22 Scenic Byway is one of Michigan's most icionic coastal routes, tracing the shoreline of Lake Michigan through small towns, forests, and dunes. It is widely known for its scenic beauty and offers access to destinations like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The byway is home to numerous recreational, historical, and cultural destinations .

To learn more, please visit the M-22 Byway website.

For historic meeting materials, please visit the M-22 Byways Page.

To view the M-22 Benzie and Manistee Pure Michigan Byway Corridor Management Plan, click here.

To view the M-22 Leelanau Pure Michigan Byway Corridor Management Plan, click here.

 

M-37 SCENIC HERITAGE ROUTE

The M-37 Scenic Heritage Route is a dedicated segment of Michigan's M-37 state highway, recognized for its exceptional natural beauty and cultural value. Traversing the Old Mission Peninsula, it offers sweeping views of farmland and the shorline of the Grand Traverse Bay.

For meeting materials, please visit the M-37 Scenic Heritage Route Page.

To view the M-37 Old Mission Peninsula Pure Michigan Byway Corridor Management Plan, click here.

 

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For more information on Northwest Michigan's Byways, please contact:

Cassidy Robarts
Transportation Planner
(231) 492-5043
Contact Form