Portland Riverwalk:
Michigan
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Description:
Portland, Michigan, is known as the City of Two Rivers, and the 8-mile Portland Riverwalk could well be called the Trail of Two Rivers. The paved rail-trail serves as a spine for a series of connecting trails, loops and city paths that circle Portland for approximately 15 miles. Locally, the trail is also called Rivertrail Linear Park.

The trail is suburban by location but quiet enough to make you think you are in the country. Built and maintained by the Portland Parks and Recreation Department, the path connects schools and five parks, and follows the Grand and Looking Glass rivers. Be sure to bring your camera because there are four historic bridges, one railroad trestle bridge and three steel-truss bridges over the rivers and through the woods along the river.

A good place to start is at Portland High School, where a slight downhill carries trail users through a canopy of maples and pines. After only 0.75 mile you can choose to turn onto a spur trail that enters the Bogue Flats Recreation Area of soccer and baseball fields, and then follows the Grand River for a short distance, with many scenic turnouts overlooking the river. Stop, sit on a bench and listen to all that nature has to say.

Returning to main trail, 0.5 mile farther along than where you left it, a lovely old railroad bridge takes you over the Grand River. This is the first of three bridges, all of which allow fishing; you will likely see anglers casting for smallmouth bass, perch or trout from the structures. On the far side of the bridge another spur loops through a residential area and back to the trail; a spur from that loop heads into the historic part of town for shopping, restaurants, banks and insurance offices.

Back on the main trail, you follow the Looking Glass River for a short distance and pass an observation deck and gazebo, where you can relax. As the trail continues at the south end of town, you pass under the interstate, where the trail turns right and leaves the old railroad bed to become a city trail. The trail continues along, separated from the road until you make another right turn and go back under the interstate again.

When you return to the city trail behind the elementary school, it is smooth sailing. Trees lining the trail provide a picturesque tunnel back to the Grand River. Now used exclusively for trail travel, the third steel truss bridge you've crossed transports you across the river. At this point, Mile 11, you head back into town within feet of the Grand River and cut through Brush Street and Thompson parks. A fourth steel truss bridge, built at the turn of the century, returns you to the main trail. When you reach the main trail again, turn right (west) and follow the trail back through the tree canopy straight to your starting point.

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Parking & Trail Access:
This trip is a loop. To reach the main trailhead, take Exit 77 off of I-96. Turn right on Grand River Road and go 1.25 miles to Water Street/Lyons Road. Turn right and follow the road for 1 mile to Portland High School. Turn left into the school driveway then right to stay on the west side of the school.

The trail starts on the west side of the school between the football field and tennis courts. Parking is available in the school parking lot. The Bogue Flats Recreation Area has restrooms and parking.

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Reviews: [2 trail ratings]
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Very enjoyable bike ride - distance may not be accurate
By glacial_erratic in October, 2011
Very nice trail. Fully paved (asphalt) and all off-road. Nice variety of scenery - river, woods, meadows, bridges to go over, passes under the highway, some city, etc. Easy to ride, with a few hills to keep it interesting.

The trail map on TraiLink.com says it is 14.85 miles, but we did the complete trail (starting at the high school, went around the loop and back to the high school in 45 minutes. Our usual biking pace is about 10 mph, so either we were going a lot faster than usual (we weren't) or the trail is shorter than 14.85 miles - we are wondering if the trail is actually 14.85 kilometers?

I also see that someone else mentioned an additional loop that is not on this map, and we saw some turn-offs along the trail, but they were not marked and we didn't know there was possibly another loop.
Perfect city trail
By MrsBug in July, 2011
This is a great trail for a relaxing family bike ride or walk. My husband and I rode from the high school around the entire length of this on our bikes the other weekend and it was great. It's close enough to the city that you can walk into downtown and grab an ice cream or a bottle of water. We'll definitely be riding here again. It's proximity to the river allows some great bird watching too.

Please note that the high school was not easy to find. The sign is on the left side of the road and it's down a side street. Also, the trail maps near downtown show "to be completed" sections still, although the sections are completed.
4th. of July weekend Portland Riverwalk ride
By brianeyre in July, 2011
This is a great ride . I ride a lot of rail trails and this is a good break from the straight and flat trails I'm use to . This trail has it all , bridges , curves , twist , hills , boardwalk , and wildlife . The surface is smooth asphalt and you no longer have to go on any streets , the loop has been completed . Portland has a beautiful city park on the Grand River with a little bit of history too. The trail could be longer , just under 15 miles , but that is my own preference . Great trail , would ride it again .
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