Baldwin serves as the county seat for Lake County and is known to outdoorsmen for its nearby rivers and wildlife. The community has a small main street area with shops, restaurants and family-owned businesses.
Baldwin Park
Baldwin has a nice community park with baseball diamonds, basketball courts, tennis courts, a small picnic shelter, and a playground. There are also several picnic tables located around the park. View a
map of Baldwin Park.
Pere Marquette Trail
The
Pere Marquette Trail goes from Baldwin to the edge of Clare and then from downtown Clare to Midland. From Baldwin to Farwell, the trail is very popular for snowmobiling; it's also used for mountain biking.
The trailhead park for the
Pere Marquette Trail is located off of Eighth Street, a block east of M-37. The park has a large parking lot that can accommodate several vehicles and snowmobile trailers. There are port-a-pots available on the edge of the parking lot.
The Pere Marquette Trail section between Baldwin and Reed City is commonly used by snowmobilers during the winter. The trail segment can also be used for mountain biking during the other months of the year.
More About Baldwin
Each year in mid-May, Baldwin hosts the annual "Blessing of the Bikes," where thousands of motorcycle riders gather in Baldwin to receive a blessing at the start of motorcycle riding season. The tradition started in 1972 with four bikes at St. Ann Catholic Church in Baldwin and has grown over the years to become a family-friendly event that attracts motorcycle riders from around Michigan. The event is coordinated by the
Para-Dice Motorcycle Club.
Baldwin also hosts the annual
Troutarama in July, which features a parade, youth fishing derby, a carnival, and much more.
Baldwin has a small downtown area with a few shops, gas stations, and restaurants. For lodging, there are a few campgrounds and cabin rental resorts near the Baldwin area.