Bay City Loop (Bay County Riverwalk/Railtrail System):
Michigan
Trail Map
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Description:
The Bay County Riverwalk/Railtrail System's Bay City Loop shows community at its best, offering plenty of sights, sounds, and activities along its route through Bay City and its parks, and through the residential and agricultural areas of Portsmouth, Hampton, and Bangor townships. There are dozens of places to access and jump off the trail, and each one offers convenient parking and facilities, as well as clear signs to help you navigate the route. In the future, this trail system will extend south along the Saginaw River to link with additional communities.
The trail's striking scenery is as diverse as the type of path you will follow: As scenery changes from woodlands and marshes to riverfront views and ball fields, the trail surface changes from asphalt to sidewalk alongside major roads, to boardwalk along the waterfront, and back to asphalt through the residential neighborhoods and rural township lands.
The trail is shaped like a noose, with access points all aong it. One starting point is on the northern end at the Bay City State Park (fee parking) where you will be treated to a sweeping vista of Saginaw Bay and the adjacent Tobico Marsh. In the first mile, the path connects with hiking trails on your right and an overlook platform with views of the marsh and the bay. Keep your eyes out for the interpretive signs along the trail, and stop to visit the nature center with its exhibits on what there is to see while you are here in this unique topography.
After 2.5 miles, you leave the recreation area and travel through fields of wildflowers along an asphalt utility corridor that travels to downtown Bay City.
At mile 7, follow the wide sidewalk connectors to and through Bay City's commercial and entertainment district, where you can access ball fields, a skate park, and playgrounds at Defoe Park. A half mile later, you arrive at Liberty Bridge, which marks the start of the 9.5 mile Bay City Loop part of the system, which travels through downtown Bay City and the surrounding agricultural lands. A half mile into this loop, you reach the heart of downtown, where eateries will tempt you with a variety of ethnic cuisine.
From downtown, the trails continues to a bustling marina and the popular waterfront Veteran's Memorial Park, featuring beautiful gardens, riverside benches, and memorials of shipbuilding days gone by. The waterfront section features several ball fields, picnic areas, and playgrounds.
At mile 9, bird-watchers will enjoy the stretch of trail that follows a boardwalk for a few blocks over the Saginaw River. A mile later, the trail courses through a distinctly residential district, where private gardens are resplendent with delightfully bright blooms
After Youngs Ditch Road near mile 13, and about halfway through the loop, the corridor opens up for a smooth pass through agricultural lands and countryside that will appeal to nature lovers.
Be sure to print a copy of the rail-trail map at www.bayfoundation.org before you go. The map consists of two pages and covers the loop as well as the newer extension to the Bay State Recreation Area.

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Parking & Trail Access:
The easiest access point for the trail is in Bay City at Veterans Memorial Park. Coming from the north or south, take Interstate 75 to Bay City and take exit 162. Go east (toward Bay City) on Business I-75/State Highway 25 for 2.5 miles. This becomes Thomas Street in town. When you reach John F Kennedy Drive, you can turn left or right to either of the park's entrances.
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Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
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Great ride.
By sandy000 in May, 2009
I ride this at least 5 times a week all spring summer fall love this trail. It is easy to connect from this trail to the one that goes out to state park also using the light on Wilder Rd at Patterson you can see the trailhead of the other trail.
What a "Fun" ride
By avis1234 in July, 2008
I've ridden the Bay City loop twice, and loved it both times. It is nice to be make a loop without having to back track over the same trail to get back to the car. There is plenty of great parking spots along the river, and the trail goes through a combination of neighborhoods and a woods area. Another nice feature of this trail is that you can bike into downtown at both bridges where there are restaurants, ice cream shops, and shopping. Traffic in the city has been minimal on the two weekends I was there, and it was easy and safe to ride into the downtown area.
rails for trails
By rita gedert in June, 2006
"I was in Bay City today and explored a small distance of the trail. I was so facinated I came home and looked for the map on the internet since I plan to return and bicycle the whole trail this summer, I was disappointed that I can hardly read the map because the print is so small."
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