TRAVERSE CITY — Since the end of COVID, hundreds of thousands of people have been spending more and more time outside.
According to data from the Michigan DNR, an average of 30 million people have visited Michigan state parks per year.
While the number may not be as high for Grand Traverse County, Kate Lewis from TART Trails says their trails have seen over five hundred thousand visitors per year.
With that many visitors, Kate says it is important to practice trailhead etiquette
“And we focus on three things courtesy, caution and control. When you’re out on the trail, whether you’re a cyclist or a walker, you have a dog with you all users, we just need to respect each other’s space.” Kate tells us, adding “ We need to follow kind of a set of accepted rules, like saying to the right and passing on the left, using your bell when you’re passing someone picking up after your dog, not littering,”
Kate also recommends that if you are unsure if you should be doing something, watch what others on the trail are doing, chances are they are practicing the correct etiquette.