The Tunnel of Trees — Twenty Miles of Crooked Road
Twenty miles of the most famous two-lane road in America — M-one-nineteen, the Tunnel of Trees, the only Michigan state highway with no center line. A car-free town of millionaires who still ride a horse-drawn bus, a driftwood castle roofed in cast-iron stove legs, a village named after a post-office typo, and the Odawa homeland of the crooked tree, still here today. Most of what the Bad Historian tells you is true. A little of it he made up — you find out which at the end.
What You'll Experience
Plan your walk
Know the route before you buy
- Starts at
- Introduction
- Ends at
- The Reveal
- Walking plan
- 33 min at your own pace
- Schedule
- Start, pause, and resume anytime
Included in the app
- Professional narration
- GPS-triggered stops
- Downloadable tour audio
- Ask the Historian Q&A
- Optional end-of-tour reveal
- All 9 story stops
A taste of what you'll hear
9 stops, each with its own story. Here's a preview.
"You're in Harbor Springs, at the bottom end of one of the most famous stretches of road in America — twenty miles of two-lane highway called M-one-nineteen, though everybody calls it the Tunnel of Trees."
"Slow down. The road is about to double back on itself in one of the sharpest curves on the whole route, a real white-knuckle hairpin, and there's a name for this spot that the highway crews and the locals have used for well over a century."
"You made it to the end of the road, so let me settle the bill. All the way up these twenty miles, I've been slipping things in — mostly true, occasionally not — and I promised I'd tell you where."
Tour itinerary
Every stop on this walk
Explore the route before you go. Each stop has its own story preview, location details, and place in the larger tour.
- 11IntroductionYou're in Harbor Springs, at the bottom end of one of the most famous stretches of road in America — twenty miles of two-lane highway called...45.4306, -84.9848 Read this stop
- 22Harbor Springs — Andrew Blackbird and Ephraim ShayYou're on Main Street in Harbor Springs — flower baskets, boat masts down at the marina, a genteel little resort town that's also, and this...45.4306, -84.9848 Read this stop
- 33Harbor Point and WequetonsingAs you leave Harbor Springs along the bay, you're passing two of the oldest and most exclusive summer colonies in the Midwest — Wequetonsing...45.4188, -84.9782 Read this stop
- 44Thorne Swift Nature PreserveA few miles up, the canopy has really closed in over you now — that green tunnel the road is named for — and this is a good place to pull...45.4525, -85.0625 Read this stop
- 55Devil's ElbowSlow down. The road is about to double back on itself in one of the sharpest curves on the whole route, a real white-knuckle hairpin, and...45.5185, -85.1210 Read this stop
- 66Middle Village — St. Ignatius Church and the CemeteryThis stop is the quiet one. Pull off at Middle Village, and I want you to slow everything down, because you've arrived at the heart of this...45.5516, -85.1152 Read this stop
- 77The Good Hart General StorePull over at Good Hart, because you've reached the coziest spot on the whole road and it has one of the best name stories in Michigan.45.5766, -85.1147 Read this stop
- 88The Legs Inn, Cross VillageYou've reached the end of the road. Cross Village. The tunnel of trees opens up, the big lake spreads out below the bluff, and standing...45.6412, -85.0335 Read this stop
- 99The RevealYou made it to the end of the road, so let me settle the bill. All the way up these twenty miles, I've been slipping things in — mostly...45.6412, -85.0335 Read this stop
Stories first
Every stop is built around people, conflict, ambition, and consequences—not a plaque read aloud.
Most of it is true. The extra mischief is just a wink at the end, but the story is what carries the walk.
Have questions? Just ask.
Curious about something you heard? Want to know more about a place? Ask us anything — we have a lot to say. It's more fun when it's a conversation.
Ready?
Download the app, head to the starting point, and press play. The stories start themselves.
Get the AppBefore you go
Quick answers
How much is this tour?
$9.99 as a one-time purchase in the iOS app. The Northern Michigan city pack is $14.99 and includes every currently available tour in the city.
Can I use it with spotty cell service?
Download the tour audio on Wi-Fi before leaving. Cached narration plays without streaming; map tiles and other online features may still need a connection.
Do I have to start at a specific time?
No. Start when it suits you, pause for a detour or meal, and resume later. Check the opening hours of any venue you personally plan to enter.
Are admission tickets included?
The purchase covers the Bad Historian audio experience. Transportation, food, and admission to third-party attractions are not included.
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The Tunnel of Trees — Twenty Miles of Crooked Road
$9.99 · one-time