Michigan Trails Week – a time to celebrate our 13,000 miles of state-designated trails, thousands of miles of local, county and federally managed trails, and more rail-trail miles than any state in the nation – is Sept. 19-26.

It’s the perfect time to hit your favorite trail or find an all-new adventure. Join us to collectively travel 100,000 miles on trails across the state and earn badges (and maybe some prizes) along the way.

The 2021 Michigan Trails Week Challenge is open to trail veterans and newcomers alike – and it's free! Simply log your miles spent on any local, county, state or federally managed trail. For each badge earned, you'll be entered in a drawing for cool outdoor gear and Michigan-branded prizes!

Earn a badge when you register for the challenge and log at least 1 mile, and then every time you bike for 10 miles, horseback ride for 5 miles, paddle for 2 miles, ride (ORV, ATV or motorcycle) for 15 miles, or walk, run or hike for 5 miles.

Register for the Michigan Trails Week Challenge and help us hit 100,000 miles.

The Michigan Freedom Trail Commission's fourth annual Underground Railroad Heritage Gathering kicks off with weekly virtual presentations in September and culminates with a day-long event at the University of Michigan Oct. 2.

September virtual programs

To commemorate International Underground Railroad Month, four Thursday evening programs will explore the rescues of four enslaved people in Michigan in 1847. The programs, which run 7-8:30 p.m., are free and will take place via Zoom. Preregistration is required, and each presentation has its own registration link.

• Sept. 9 – Introduction and Background to 1847 Michigan Slave Rescues
• Sept. 16 – The Crosswhite and Robert Cromwell Cases
• Sept. 23 – Kentucky Raid and John Felix White
• Sept. 30 – The Impact of the 1847 Michigan Slave Rescues and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Annual Heritage Gathering

The annual daylong conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

Like in previous years, the day is aimed at networking, information sharing and developing next steps in a statewide Underground Railroad collaborative. Join us and become part of the conversation! Registration for the day is $12 and includes a boxed lunch.

Register for the Heritage Gathering.

Organizers are monitoring current developments with the COVID-19 pandemic and are investigating options to make virtual sessions possible in addition to, or in place of, an in-person event. More information will be available soon.

For more information about the Michigan Freedom Trail Commission and the fourth annual heritage gathering, visit Michigan.gov/FreedomTrail.

Join us at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon Sept. 24-26 for Family Tree: A Forest Health Education Event.

During this inclusive weekend education event, you can learn about forests and forest health from DNR experts – how DNR foresters care for and maintain forests and how you can care for the trees that live near your home. Let us know what you want to learn at this event by taking our survey.

Cost is $140 per person, which includes two nights of lodging, five meals, two bonfire snacks and all education experiences. Price reduced for children under age 10.

Book your stay by calling 989-821-6200 or emailing MacmullanCenter@Michigan.gov. For details about education activities, email HigginsL4@michigan.gov.

Nestled on the northern shore of Higgins Lake, the RAM Center is now open to families, individuals or small groups of up to two households to enjoy lodging and outdoor and education programs. Learn more at Michigan.gov/RAMCenter.