Mountain bike in Aspen Park, check out the local elk, and backpack in the untouched Pigeon River Country. These are just a few of Otsego County’s favorite things. Due to its central location along I-75, Otsego County is a business hub for Northeast Michigan. Home to numerous lakes—including the beautiful Otsego Lake, Otsego County has fishing, boating, paddling, and swimming options for every water lover. Although Gaylord is considered a golf mecca, summer is not the only season to enjoy in Northern Michigan. Snowmobiling is a popular winter activity, along with downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Regardless of the season, Gaylord’s swiss alpine look will be sure to charm you. For the full effect, participate in the annual Alpenfest event in July! Come ready to see the locals sporting dirndls and lederhosen as they celebrate the much-anticipated event.
Get to Know the Communities: Overview
- Elmira
- Gaylord
- Johannesburg
- Vanderbilt
- Waters
- Otsego County
Area Attractions
- All Outdoors: Get Outdoors
- Aspen Park
- Big Bear Lake
- Big Bear Lake State Forest Campground
- Deadman's Hill, Jordan River Valley
- Gaylord Car
- Gaylord Elk Park
- Gaylord Golf Mecca
- Iron Belle Trail
- Jordan River National Fish Hatchery
- Louis Groen Nature Preserve
- North Central State Trail: Gaylord to Mackinaw City
- Otsego County Historical Museum
- Otsego Lake
- Otsego Lake County Park
- Otsego Lake State Park
- Otsego Resort
- Pigeon River Country
- Treetops Resort
- Treetops Spa
- Wah Wah Soo County Park
Entertainment
- Arts & Culture
- Sports & Fitness
- 45th Parallel Dance
- Big North Barbell
- Développé Dance Company
- FitBody Bootcamp
- Gaylord Blue Devils & High School Hockey
- Gaylord Bowling Center
- Gaylord Snow Semi Professional Hockey Team
- Gaylord Ultimate Frisbee
- Gaylord Volleyball Leagues
- Hayastan Grappling Michigan
- Hockey Leagues
- Racquetball or Wallyball
- Otsego County Community Center (and Rec League Info)
- Otsego County Sportsplex (swimming, ice skating, hockey, tennis, pickleball, fitness)
- Pickleball & Tennis
- Pine Squirrel Gaylord (softball leagues)
- Powerhouse Gym
- Yoga 45
- Bavarian Falls Park: Go Carts and Adventure Golf
- Beginning to End Christian Bookstore
- Call of the Wild Museum and Gift Shop
- Energy Outlet (playground and skate park)
- Escape the Cabin (Escape Rooms)
- Gaylord Area Shopping
- Gaylord Cinema West
- Gaylord Downtown Merchant Association
- Maple Ridge Stables - Horse Back Riding Adventures
- Plot Bound Bookstore
- Splash Pad, Otsego Lake Township Park/Memorial Park
Food & Beverage
Farms/CSAs/Meat
- Alpine Maple Farm
- Maple Syrup
- Cook Family Farm
- Beef, Pork, Poultry, Lamb, Dairy Products, Eggs, Bulk Meat, Breads, Jams, Honey, Maple Syrup, and other local products
- Elder Farms Microgreens
- Microgreens
- Estelle Farms
- U-Pick Strawberries
- Fleming Farm
- Pumpkin Patch, Hayride, Corn Maze, Freezer Beef, Club Lamb
- Hammerhead Shark Ranch
- Specialty Berries, Strawberries, Jellies, Cut Flowers, U-Pick Raspberries and Strawberries
- Home Comfort Farm
- Fruit, Vegetables, Nursery Plants
- K&O Farms
- Eggs, Pork, Poultry
- Liberty Valley Ranch
- Dairy, Horse Services
- Rolling R Farm
- Pork, Dried Beef, Berries, Vegetables
- Up North Blueberry Farm
- U-Pick Blueberries
Places to Stay
Campgrounds
Please see "Camping" under #OptOutside Summer Activities
#OptOutside Spring, Summer, Fall Activities
Biking
- Aspen Park Trails
- Big Bear Lake Pathway
- Gaylord Area Biking Info
- Gaylord Community Pathway
- Gaylord Gateway/Iron Belle Trailhead
- High Country Pathway
- High Country Pathway - DNR
- Louis M Groen Nature Preserve
- Louis M Groen Nature Preserve (Map w/Bike Route)
- Midland to Mackinac Trail
- North Central State Trail
- Pickerel Lake Pathway
- Pigeon River Country
- Pine Baron Pathway
- Shingle Mill Pathway
- Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association High Country Pathway FB Group
Hiking/Backpacking
- Big Bear Lake Pathway
- Big Lake Preserve
- Five Lakes Natural Area - Nature Trails
- Gaylord Area Trails
- Gaylord Gateway/Iron Belle Trailhead
- High Country Pathway
- Inspiration Point Pathway, Pigeon River Country
- Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve
- Michaywe Cross Country Skiing and Hiking Trails
- North Central State Trail
- Pigeon River Country
- Sturgeon River Preserve
Horseback Riding
- Big Bear Lake Nature Pathway
- Elk Hill Equestrian River Trail Camp
- Elk Hill Equestrian River Trail Camp (B)
- Equestrain News Pigeon River Country State Forest Facebook Group
- Gaylord Equestrian Center
- Liberty Valley Ranch
- Louis M Groen Nature Preserve
- Maple Ridge Stables
- Midland to Mackinac Trail
- Midland to Mackinac Trail Facebook Page
- Missy Plauman Serenity Ranch
- North Central State Trail
- Pigeon River Country
- Pine Baron Pathway
#OptOutside Winter Activities
Cross Country Skiing
- Aspen Park
- Five Lakes Area Nature Trail
- Gaylord Area Cross County Skiing
- Gaylord Area Nordic Ski Trails and Facilities
- Gaylord Area Trails
- Gaylord Gateway/Iron Belle Trail Head
- Green Timbers Trail
- High Country Pathway
- High Country Pathway Map
- Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve
- Michaywe Cross Country Skiing and Hiking Trails
- Midland to Mackinac Trail
- North Central State Trail
- Otsego Resort
- Pickerel Lake Pathway
- Pine Baron Pathway
- Shingle Mill Pathway
- Sturgeon River Preserve
- Treetops Resort
Outdoor Gear and Outfitters
- Boathouse Marine and Power Sports
- ​Snowmobile Rentals, Gear
- Dunham's Sports
- E-Bike Adventures of Gaylord, MI
- Extreme Power Sports
- ORVs/ATVs, Snowmobiles, Watercraft
- Gaylord Area Bike Rentals
- Gaylord Area Recreation Rentals
- Gaylord Area Ski and Snowshoe Rentals
- Headwaters Land Conservancy
- Snowshoe Loaner Program
- Jay's Sporting Goods
- Mega Powersports and Marine
- ATVs, Snowmobiles, Boats
- Outdoor Adventures: Benjamin's Beaver Creek
- Snowmobile Rentals
- Sled Shed
- All Things Snowmobile
- Up North Paddlesports
- Canoes, Kayaks, Paddleboards, Bikes, Delivery Available
- White Birch Outfitters
- Outdoor Gear, Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Rentals
- YouEBike Michigan
- Gaylord/Atlanta 1 hour Rentals Weekends only
Buy MINE Local
Businesses with locally (NE Michigan) produced products:
- 45th Parallel
- Albie's
- Alpine Chocolate Haus
- Alpine Maple Farms
- Barden Woodworking
- Cooper Standard
- Creative Pursuit
- D&S Custom Art Design
- Decal Freakz
- Gaylord Area Council for the Arts
- Gaylord Machine and Fabrication
- H&H Tube
- Image Factory
- Isabella's Copper Pot
- Kitchen Farms
- K&M Mercantile and Gifts
- Lilac & Lemon
- Livnfresh
- Mayfair Plastics
- Mid-North Printing, Inc.
- North Star Gardens
- Nowicki's Sausage Shop
- Ruffled Feather
- Shirtworks Racewear
- Sklarczyk Seed Farm
- SunFrog Solutions
- Sharon Wade Art
- The Holistic Spa
- The Old Spud Warehouse
- Up North Candles by Melissa
- White Birch Outfitters
Get Connected
Gaylord
- Churches & Places of Worship
- Volunteer Opportunities, Non-Profits, & Charities
- Gaylord Area Non-Profits & Charities
- Gaylord Area Non-Profit Organizations (Chamber Listing)
- Family, Community, & Civic Organizations (Chamber Listing)
- Big Ticket Festival
- Child & Family Services
- E-Free Food Truck (Food Pantry)
- 4-Paw Love
- Gaylord Area Council for the Arts
- Headwaters Land Conservancy
- Otsego Community Foundation
- Otsego Conservation District
- Otsego County Commission on Aging
- Otsego County Economic Alliance
- Otsego County Food Pantry
- Otsego County 4-H
- Otsego County Library
- Otsego County Habitat for Humanity
- Otsego County United Way
- Volunteer Match
- Volunteer Services of Otsego County
- Women's Resource Center
- Get Connected
- 4:45 Club through Otsego County Economic Alliance (Entrepreneurs)
- Alpine Regional Tennis Association
- Alpine Edge Figure Skating Club
- Gaylord Chamber Service Clubs
- Otsego Community Connection Clubs & Organizations
- American Association of University Women (AAUW) - Gaylord Branch
- Fourge: Gaylord's Remote Worker Community
- Gaylord Alano Club
- Gaylord Area Council for the Arts
- Gaylord Area Meetups
- Gaylord Area New & Used Everything Facebook Group
- Gaylord Disc Golf Club
- Gaylord Helping Gaylord Facebook Group
- Gaylord Helping Gaylord Facebook Group (2nd Group)
- Gaylord Lions Club
- Gaylord Soccer League
- Gaylord Ultimate Frisbee
- Gaylord Volleyball Leagues
- Kiwanis Club of Gaylord
- My Gaylord
- NMI 1000 Hours Outside Challenge
- Northern Michigan Remote Worker's Meet Up & Slack Workspace
- Otsego County Community Center (youth and adult recreational league info)
- Otsego County (Gaylord) Sell, Trade, and Buy Facebook Group
- Rotary Club of Gaylord
- Sports Gear Buy/Sell/Trade Facebook Group
- Zonta International - Gaylord Chapter
Vanderbilt (also see Gaylord)
- Churches & Places of Worship
- Volunteer Opportunities, Non-Profits, & Charities
- Get Connected
Johannesburg (also see Gaylord, Lewiston)
- Churches & Places of Worship
- Volunteer Opportunities, Non-Profits, & Charities
- Get Connected
Education
- Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle ESD
- Gaylord Community Schools
- Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools
- Kirtland Community College M-TEC in Gaylord
- North Central Michigan College Gaylord
- Otsego Christian School
- Otsego County Education Info
- Otsego County MSU Extension
- St. Mary Cathedral School
- University Center Gaylord
- Vanderbilt Area School
