IMGO August DRAFT

If your Labor Day travel plans include crossing the Mackinac Bridge Monday, Sept. 3, please remember that the Mackinac Bridge Authority will close the bridge to vehicle traffic from 6:30 a.m. to noon.

The brief closure is for the safety and security of 2018 Annual Bridge Walk participants. The walk will begin at 7 a.m. in both St. Ignace and Mackinac City, but no busing will be available to transport walkers across the bridge.

Want to make the best of your extra time? Take time to explore one of many outdoor destinations in the Upper Peninsula, including Fayette Historic State Park or Palms Book State Park (home of Kitch-iti-kipi). Or, spend some extra exploring the Tip of the Mitt, including the North County Trail or Ocqueoc Falls.

Every runner has their favorite routes – the one with the perfectly located scenic overlook, or the road with the breeze off the lake, or simply the route with a great mix of scenery and geography to create an exhilarating challenge. 

Michigan Runner Girl, an online community for Michigan running enthusiasts, is teaming up with the DNR to create an online guide of the best running routes in Michigan from the runners who know Michigan best…you! 

Share your favorite routes to help visitors “know before they go” so they can be more confident in exploring some of Michigan’s most beautiful places. These spots can be in a Michigan state park or trail, your nearby hometown or favorite vacation spot. Submit as many running routes as you want, and you will be entered to win either a Michigan Runner Girl or Michigan state park sweatshirt!

Rockport State Recreation Area sets the scene for this off-road triathlon in Alpena Aug. 18, and the event's name could not be more fitting. 

The one-of-a-kind XTERRA Rockport Rugged Triathlon incorporates all the unique aspects of the park, such as uneven terrain, dirt, rocks, tree limbs and Lake Huron waves. Registration is still open and proceeds support the Friends of Rockport Recreation Area.

Don't forget that Michigan residents and out-of-state visitors can explore DNR-designated routes and trails without purchasing an ORV license or trail permit Aug. 18-19. All other ORV rules and laws still apply, and the Recreation Passport is required where applicable.

Explore the thrill of the ride yourself or take time to introduce friends and family to Michigan's 3,700 miles of off-road trails and/or the state’s five scramble areas (St. Helen’s Motorsport Area, Black Lake Scramble Area, Silver Lake State Park, Bull Gap and The Mounds).