The Lone Pine Trail is part of the 500-acre County Parkland known as the Natural Education Reserve. It is managed by the Grand Traverse Conservation District. The Lone Pine Trail is a paved, handicapped accessible trail located about four miles south of Traverse City on Keystone Road. Beginning at the parking lot, the trail passes a single old White Pine and gradually angles to the right, following along the shore of the Boardman River. On the left, steps lead down to a canoe portage and deck. The trail continues following the river through a hardwood forest and then above the banks of the river. Native species found here include Sugar Maple, Basswood, Ironwood, White Birch, Red Oak, White Pine, Red Pine, Trillium, False Solomon’s Seal, Partridgeberry and Wild Columbine. A buffer strip of trees and shrubs are on the riverside and open meadow with small conifers are opposite. Native species include Red Osier dogwood, Highbush Cranberry, Ground Juniper, American Bittersweet, and Sand Cherry. The Lone Pine Trail is about .5 mile long, one-way. A non-paved trail connects the Lone Pine and Oleson Bridge Trails near the parking lot at Lone Pine. The trail travels south along the river, with stairs leading down to a wetlands area. Native species found here include Water Cress, Polygala, Foamflower, Trillium, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and Wild Columbine. A series of foot bridges and short boardwalks crosses the wetlands and leads to steps that bring the trail up to the top of the ridge. On the right, a scenic overlook sets at the base of an oxbow in the Boardman River. The trail continues on a short ways to connect with the parking area at the Oleson Bridge Trail. This connecting trail is about .3 mile long.



