Trails & Tours in West Branch, MI
A great way to spend your day in West Branch!
Looking to experience everything West Branch has to offer? Our trails and tours are a great way to pack all the sights and experiences of Ogemaw County into one adventure! With our trails, you can learn about our area’s colorful history, view a collection of man-made barn quilt paintings, tour some of our best breweries, and more! Check out some of the amazing tours and trails you can enjoy during your stay.
Sunrise Side Wine & Hops Trail
Sunrise Side Wine & Hops Trail runs throughout most of Northeastern Michigan, and is now one of the most popular wine trails in all of Michigan!
The trail attracts thousands of visitors each year, and boasts six wineries and three micro-breweries. Visitors will discover an array of attractions including Saganing Eagles Landing Casino, the Au Sable River Queen riverboat, Charity Island Dinner Cruise, Alpena Shipwreck Tours, and Elk-viewing by sleigh or carriage at Thunder Bay Resort, plus beautiful scenic views only Northeastern Michigan can offer.
ORB Geo Tour
The Ogemaw and Roscommon Visitors’ Bureau’s have joined together to create the ORB Geo Tour! Between Ogemaw and Roscommon County, there are 30 geocaches hidden in our forests, parks, and cities! If you’re intrepid enough to discover all 30, you’ll earn the coveted Gold Explorer’s Badge. Geocaching is great for the whole family!
Get started on the ORB Geo Tour at https://www.geocaching.com/play
ORB Geo Tour
The Ogemaw and Roscommon Visitors’ Bureau’s have joined together to create the ORB Geo Tour! Between Ogemaw and Roscommon County, there are 30 geocaches hidden in our forests, parks, and cities! If you’re intrepid enough to discover all 30, you’ll earn the coveted Gold Explorer’s Badge. Geocaching is great for the whole family!
Get started on the ORB Geo Tour at https://www.geocaching.com/play
Ogemaw County Barn Quilt Tour
Ever seen those big art prints on barns? Barn quilts are a national tradition that farmers participate in across the country. Take our self-guided tour and check out all of the various art prints on barns across Ogemaw County!
Barn quilts are commissioned and created in partnership between West Branch Area Chamber of Commerce, Ogemaw Genealogical and Historical Society, and the West Branch Creative Arts Association.
Ogemaw County Fall Color Tour
Beginning mid-September and stretching through the end of October, the colors of autumn peak at varying times across Michigan. The AuSable Forest especially transforms into a symphony of bright and wonderful colors. The Ogemaw County Color Tour consists of two looping paths that feature five distinct “sections” to view.
Loop A is an approximately 27 mile drive centered around West Branch.
Loop B is a 30 mile loop that covers the land between West Branch and Rose City and can be enjoyed on its own or combined with Loop A.
Tour Sections C, D and E are extensions of Loop B that can be explored for even more visual beauty. These sections extend the Color Tour to the Rifle River Recreation Area and the communities of Mio and Fairview.
Ogemaw County History Tours
Take a drive into the past with Ogemaw County’s historical driving tours. They will take you back to another time when early Michigan settlers were still forming a functioning society in West Branch.
The Ogemaw County Genealogical and Historical Society has four different guide books available to guide your own tour! Tour books can be purchased at the Historical Society, the Chamber office and across several retailers in West Branch.
Tour 1: Ghost Towns & Legends
This tour features seeing a real ghost town, historic cemetery, and plenty of tales from the past, including one story of a homicide!
Tour 2: Barons, Bosses & Scoundrels
Learn about some of Michigan’s earliest villains. This area has a long history with the railroad industry and potential corruption.
Tour 3: First People: An Ancient Journey
Ogemaw gets its name from Chief Ogemaw, leader of the first native people in this area. Learn about how these first people lived in the area.
Tour 4: Architectural Jewels of Ogemaw County
See all of our area’s finest architectural accomplishments! Locations include homes, state buildings, schools, banks, resorts and more!