Bay View Farm Loop

Bay View Farm Loop is the easy, 2.4-mile circuit in the north end of the Bay View trail network. It passes old farm fields and the historic Port Oneida School before reaching Lookout Point on the wooded ridge. From Bay View Trailhead, a short Farms Trail approach is shared in both directions; the inner loop uses Farms Trail and Ridge Trail. This is the farm circuit, not the separate 4-mile Ridge Loop or the whole Bay View network.

Most of the route is mowed grass, with uneven footing and a few hills steeper than a 5 percent grade. It’s a pleasant choice when you want a shorter walk with a bit of history, but don’t expect pavement or a completely flat stroll. Allow about an hour and a half if you stop at the school and lookout.

The Port Oneida School is the clearest reminder that these open fields were a lived-in farming landscape, not just a scenic clearing. The loop moves between meadow and woods, then follows the bluff-top edge above former farmland and wildflower fields.

Lookout Point looks toward Lake Michigan and the surrounding countryside, with South Manitou Island visible on clear days. Trees frame the water, so think of it as a lake view through the canopy rather than a bare, open bluff. If you’re composing a photo, the best view is the blue water beyond the autumn-colored treetops.

Start at the gravel Bay View Trailhead on South Thoreson Road, just off M-22. A park pass is required for trail use. Stay on the path near the bluff and don’t descend the slope. Dogs must be leashed outside the winter ski restriction; pets are prohibited on this trail from December 1 through March 31.