No matter how you spell it -- Petobego, Ptobago or Tobeco -- this state game area offers a nice hike to a beautiful, secluded beach along East Bay.
On a regional map of the Grand Traverse area that I possess, I found all three spellings. It was called Petobego State Game Area, Ptobago Pond and the creek that flows under U.S. 31 into the pond was Tobeco Creek. On the east side of the road there used to be a flooded area that offered some good paddling and duck hunting.
The dam that held the flooding was removed last year by the DNR in anticipation of a controlled burn that was prescribed for the area. The burn has not taken place, because prime conditions have not happened yet.
A beautiful trail begins across U.S. 31 from the parking area on the east side of the road. It meanders along the creek, through meadows and woods before coming out on a beautiful stretch of secluded East Bay beach. It's located about halfway between Acme and Elk Rapids.
I had hiked up the shoreline from the Maple Bay Farm Preserve to this same beach, but had never hiked in from U.S. 31. Kathie Carpenter from Elk Rapids had sent out an email to a hiking list announcing that she intended to do the hike and anybody was welcome to join her. Three of us, I, Mona Liska from Traverse City, and Marilyn Hoogstraten from Interlochen joined her and found it to be a wonderful hike.
It's not a long hike, probably about three miles round-trip, but a nice leisurely trek through a striking environment. The beautiful, deserted beach where you end up is definitely worth the time and effort. Because it isn't long, it works well for a late afternoon, after-work type hike. Catching the setting sun as it drops below Old Mission Peninsula across the bay is a nice plus.
The trail begins at the end of a guard rail on the west side of the road across from the parking area. It drops down a quick, steep bank and into the woods on the other side of the road. There are no trail markings so it's a little bit of an adventure. Multiple trails lead down to the beach.
If you stay to the left you will follow a beautiful little, up and down trail that meanders along the stream bank. If you stay to the right, which is a little better trail, it cuts through deep woods and across some fern-laden meadows.
Carpenter said the last time they had hiked the trail a sandhill crane, with a little one nearby, came swooping across the meadow at them.
"It was a little disconcerting to see this large bird come flying at you," she laughed. "We quickly figured out that she was protecting her young one, and we kept going back into the woods. They can sure be loud when they honk at you."
Eventually all the trails merge and you hike along the pond, which you can catch an occasional glimpse of through the woods. You get a much better view of the pond from the swale of dunes that lies between it and East Bay once you reach the beach.
As you round the north end of the pond follow the trail to the left, which leads down to the beautiful, deserted beach. To the right is private property and a few houses that you barely catch a glimpse of as you head south along the beach.
Looking south you won't see any sign of civilization, just a lovely stretch of beach as far as you can see that's just made for beach strolling. Carpenter said a friend of hers has found Petoskey stones along here.
Walking up into the small dunes it's just a short hike to some beautiful views of Ptobago Pond and surrounding woods on the far side. Standing here it's hard to believe that less than a mile away -- as the crow flies -- busy U.S. 31 leads hordes of people to Elk Rapids and Traverse City. You don't hear any traffic noise down here, and at one point, although we couldn't see them, we heard loons calling.
Standing there it wasn't hard to imagine how early explorers to this area must have felt when they first landed upon a shoreline and stood surveying it and the surrounding area. It probably doesn't look much different than it did a couple of hundred years ago.
I imagine the name and various spellings were an attempt by early settlers to this area at interpreting a Native American name for the creek and pond.
Whichever name you choose to call it, get out and see this lovely area. It's an easy hike with big rewards in views and habitat, and it's so close.
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