Explore the best rated trails in Alma, MI. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Chippewa Trail and Saginaw Valley Rail Trail. With more than 30 trails covering 437 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The Fred Thwaites Grand River Trail, also known as the Ionia River Trail, travels for just over 3 miles along the edge of Grand River. The paved pathway begins at Quarry Road and travels to the Ionia...
The Big Rapids Riverwalk travels alongside the scenic Muskegon River and connects downtown Big Rapids with several recreational amenities, including Hemlock Park, Northend Riverside Park, and Swede...
The largely unimproved Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail links the cities of Lowell, Belding and Greenville in Kent, Ionia and Montcalm counties, respectively. While plans call for the eventual...
The Northern Tier Trail winds through East Lansing on the outskirts of Michigan's capital, offering miles of paved pathway through tree-lined areas and wetlands. The 10-foot-wide trail connects...
The Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Rail Trail is one component of a network of trails in mid-west Michigan that, when complete, will stretch 125 miles from Alma to Owosso. The trails are named after...
The Thomas Township Trail provides a paved, north-south route of just over 2 miles through this Michigan community. It begins at a connection with the popular Saginaw Valley Rail Trail, which heads...
The George Atkin Jr. Recreational Trail winds along scenic Pine Run Creek in the City of Clio. From a hub downtown at Clio Park, the paved trail branches out through the city, providing access to a...
_138798_sc.jpg)
The Trolley Line Trail, which opened in 2009, runs north from the City of Clio to the Saginaw County line at Willard Road in Vienna Township. It is so-named because it occupies a corridor that once...
Eastern Michigan's 7-mile Saginaw County to Bay County Connector is lined with trees and traverses picturesque farmland. The paved rail-trail follows the former Detroit and Mackinac Railway, which...
The Harger Line Rail-Trail runs for an arrow-straight 10 miles through farmland in rural Saginaw County. The trail opened in 2008, two years after the underlying Harger Line Railway corridor was...
The Hampton Township Nature Trail is a 2-mile gravel trail that begins at Finn Road Park winding through marshy areas, woods, skirts farm fields, and ending at a boat launch on Jones Road. Along the...
The Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee (CIS) Rail Trail stretches 41 miles between the mid-Michigan towns of Ionia and Owosso, offering a mix of pastoral and wooded landscapes. It crosses three...
The Lansing River Trail traces the course of three waterways for more than 25 miles across Michigan’s capital city. Visiting all four main points of the compass in Lansing, the trail provides a route...
The paved Fred Meijer Heartland Trail rolls for 42 miles through farmland and forests in central Michigan as it links a half-dozen rural towns with recreational opportunities. Its route follows the...
The Chippewa Trail offers a paved 4-mile route from Midland to the Chippewa Nature Center, part of a beautiful 1,200-acre preserve, where you'll find a wildlife viewing area, river overlook and...
The Saginaw Valley Rail Trail offers a year-round rural retreat from the urban confines of Saginaw. Rolling through a continuous woodsy border past farms, fields, and game areas for 11 miles, the...
Freeland Pathway is a 2.5 mile trail in Tittawabassee Township in Freeland, Michigan. The trail is a smooth ribbon of asphalt paralleling Midland Road (SR 47), and features some inclines, although it...
Beginning near downtown Midland, the Grand Curve Trail travels east for over 4 miles. The trail starts at the rotunda that hosts the Midland Area Farmers Market, near the Tridge, a three-way bridge...
The shared use trail snakes across the township hitting its most important landmarks in the process, including Saginaw Valley State University in the north, Krossroads Park in the east, and Kochville...
Many factors contribute to the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail’s popularity. It runs for 30 miles on smooth asphalt that is well maintained and, at 14 feet, wide enough to ride or walk side-by-side. At...
The Fred Meijer Flat River Trail connects 2 mountain bike trails and 5 city parks in Greenville. The trail follows the winding Flat River, offering scenic views and incorporating forest and wetlands....
The Fred Thwaites Grand River Trail, also known as the Ionia River Trail, travels for just over 3 miles along the edge of Grand River. The paved pathway begins at Quarry Road and travels to the Ionia...
Eastern Michigan's 7-mile Saginaw County to Bay County Connector is lined with trees and traverses picturesque farmland. The paved rail-trail follows the former Detroit and Mackinac Railway, which...
Beginning near downtown Midland, the Grand Curve Trail travels east for over 4 miles. The trail starts at the rotunda that hosts the Midland Area Farmers Market, near the Tridge, a three-way bridge...
The Thomas Township Trail provides a paved, north-south route of just over 2 miles through this Michigan community. It begins at a connection with the popular Saginaw Valley Rail Trail, which heads...
The Granger Meadows Park Trail forms a loop around the 76-acre park in DeWitt Township, just north of Lansing. The park was built and donated by Granger III and Associates, a local trash and recycling...
The Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Rail Trail is one component of a network of trails in mid-west Michigan that, when complete, will stretch 125 miles from Alma to Owosso. The trails are named after...
The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park connects a bustling Grand Rapids community to the forests, farmlands, and friendly towns of Northern Lower Michigan. At nearly 93 miles, it is the state’s...
The paved Fred Meijer Heartland Trail rolls for 42 miles through farmland and forests in central Michigan as it links a half-dozen rural towns with recreational opportunities. Its route follows the...
The Harger Line Rail-Trail runs for an arrow-straight 10 miles through farmland in rural Saginaw County. The trail opened in 2008, two years after the underlying Harger Line Railway corridor was...
The Northern Tier Trail winds through East Lansing on the outskirts of Michigan's capital, offering miles of paved pathway through tree-lined areas and wetlands. The 10-foot-wide trail connects...
The Lansing River Trail traces the course of three waterways for more than 25 miles across Michigan’s capital city. Visiting all four main points of the compass in Lansing, the trail provides a route...
The Portland Riverwalk ushers visitors around the charming town of Portland on 9 miles of paved trail. Also known as the Rivertrail Linear Park, the trail connects a handful of parks, scenic views...
The Big Rapids Riverwalk travels alongside the scenic Muskegon River and connects downtown Big Rapids with several recreational amenities, including Hemlock Park, Northend Riverside Park, and Swede...
The Trolley Line Trail, which opened in 2009, runs north from the City of Clio to the Saginaw County line at Willard Road in Vienna Township. It is so-named because it occupies a corridor that once...
The shared use trail snakes across the township hitting its most important landmarks in the process, including Saginaw Valley State University in the north, Krossroads Park in the east, and Kochville...
Many factors contribute to the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail’s popularity. It runs for 30 miles on smooth asphalt that is well maintained and, at 14 feet, wide enough to ride or walk side-by-side. At...
The Bay County Riverwalk/Railtrail System connects a nature trail in a wildlife refuge on the shores of Lake Huron to a loop trail around the bustling port of Bay City. From the same 17-mile paved...
This trail continues right where the Kochville Township Multi-use Pathway, on Tittawabasee Road. (In fact, the two trails are sometimes referred to as the Kochville-Saginaw Pathway). It occupies the...
The George Atkin Jr. Recreational Trail winds along scenic Pine Run Creek in the City of Clio. From a hub downtown at Clio Park, the paved trail branches out through the city, providing access to a...
The Island Lake Connector Trail allows cyclists, pedestrians, and other residents of Green Oak Township to connect to the Island Lake Recreation Area. The trail sits on a converted railroad bed, and...
The Chippewa Trail offers a paved 4-mile route from Midland to the Chippewa Nature Center, part of a beautiful 1,200-acre preserve, where you'll find a wildlife viewing area, river overlook and...
Many factors contribute to the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail’s popularity. It runs for 30 miles on smooth asphalt that is well maintained and, at 14 feet, wide enough to ride or walk side-by-side. At...
The George Atkin Jr. Recreational Trail winds along scenic Pine Run Creek in the City of Clio. From a hub downtown at Clio Park, the paved trail branches out through the city, providing access to a...
The Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee (CIS) Rail Trail stretches 41 miles between the mid-Michigan towns of Ionia and Owosso, offering a mix of pastoral and wooded landscapes. It crosses three...
The Lansing River Trail traces the course of three waterways for more than 25 miles across Michigan’s capital city. Visiting all four main points of the compass in Lansing, the trail provides a route...
Freeland Pathway is a 2.5 mile trail in Tittawabassee Township in Freeland, Michigan. The trail is a smooth ribbon of asphalt paralleling Midland Road (SR 47), and features some inclines, although it...
The Fred Meijer Flat River Trail connects 2 mountain bike trails and 5 city parks in Greenville. The trail follows the winding Flat River, offering scenic views and incorporating forest and wetlands....
The Harger Line Rail-Trail runs for an arrow-straight 10 miles through farmland in rural Saginaw County. The trail opened in 2008, two years after the underlying Harger Line Railway corridor was...
The paved Fred Meijer Heartland Trail rolls for 42 miles through farmland and forests in central Michigan as it links a half-dozen rural towns with recreational opportunities. Its route follows the...
The Big Rapids Riverwalk travels alongside the scenic Muskegon River and connects downtown Big Rapids with several recreational amenities, including Hemlock Park, Northend Riverside Park, and Swede...
In just 4 miles, visitors to the Cannon Township Trail are able to experience a variety of landscapes. The greenway begins in the Cannon Township Center, and travels through pine forests, grassy...
The Hampton Township Nature Trail is a 2-mile gravel trail that begins at Finn Road Park winding through marshy areas, woods, skirts farm fields, and ending at a boat launch on Jones Road. Along the...
The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park connects a bustling Grand Rapids community to the forests, farmlands, and friendly towns of Northern Lower Michigan. At nearly 93 miles, it is the state’s...
The Northern Tier Trail winds through East Lansing on the outskirts of Michigan's capital, offering miles of paved pathway through tree-lined areas and wetlands. The 10-foot-wide trail connects...
Eastern Michigan's 7-mile Saginaw County to Bay County Connector is lined with trees and traverses picturesque farmland. The paved rail-trail follows the former Detroit and Mackinac Railway, which...
The Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Rail Trail is one component of a network of trails in mid-west Michigan that, when complete, will stretch 125 miles from Alma to Owosso. The trails are named after...
The Bay County Riverwalk/Railtrail System connects a nature trail in a wildlife refuge on the shores of Lake Huron to a loop trail around the bustling port of Bay City. From the same 17-mile paved...
Beginning near downtown Midland, the Grand Curve Trail travels east for over 4 miles. The trail starts at the rotunda that hosts the Midland Area Farmers Market, near the Tridge, a three-way bridge...
The largely unimproved Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail links the cities of Lowell, Belding and Greenville in Kent, Ionia and Montcalm counties, respectively. While plans call for the eventual...
Road the entire trail and back on Sunday. It was awesome and well worth the 2 hour drive to get there. We will be back!
Road bike (15mph) from Jackson Landing to Stanton. Trail in good condition with some cracks at regular intervals. Leaves covering some of those cracks made it interesting at times. Peaceful setting.
We parked at the Trailhead just South of Cadillac. Biked 2 miles into the city of Cadillac for lunch. There's also some great little shops in Cadillac.
Biked from Cadillac to LeRoy and back, approx 35 miles round trip.
Trail is very nicely paved asphalt through open areas and wooded areas.
Great ride on the Northern section of the trail.
Between Cadillac and LeRoy you will pass through Tustin which has a few small stores if you need anything.
Along the trail there are wooded sections of huge white pine trees.
We parked at the Jackson's Landing Trailhead in Greenville. Biked a few miles North on the Heartland Trail. This was after we biked on the Flat River Trail.
The Heartland Trail is newly paved and in very good condtion.
In Greenville there are places to eat and other services.
Hope to do more of this trail in the future.
We parked at Jackson's Landing trailhead. Large paved lot and portable restroom.
Trail is asphalt paved and plastic decking. The plastic decking sections are extensive and very rough and bouncy if traveling at a decent speed.
The trail goes along the Flat River. Coming out of Greenville the trail is more of a paved sidewalk, up near the High School.
Trail services include eateries nearby since most of this trail is within the city limits.
You can also access the Heartland Trail from Jackson's Landing trailhead.
As I am still a beginning cyclist with this being only my 3rd trail, I have come to appreciate the signage and directions each trail posts to help you stay on the right path. We parked at the Chippewa Nature Center & rode into Midland where the Tridge begins. As we came up to town, even though there was a slight detour due to construction on M20, it was well labeled. We rode to Sanford and found some special treats along the way. Looking like a scene from "Bridges of Madison County", I loved the different bridges along the way. At the Veteran's Memorial if you look closely, draped around the boot statue are the dog tags with a solider's picture on it which was such a nice tribute. We stopped at The Cottage Creamery which is accessible from the trail or Saginaw Rd. and tried the Apple Crisp ice cream. We got another treat as we sat on the back deck when the cute little chipmunks playfully ran around waiting for me to drop my ice cream. It is a pretty straight trail, but there is a lot to appreciate on this trail, and it's very bike friendly. I would like to finish the trail and head to Clare from Sanford. Walking or riding, people passing by are very friendly, and if you take a few breaks, there's definitely some awesome photo opportunities. Great Job Pere Marquette!! We'll be back for sure.
My sister talked me into doing the Lansing Riverwalk trail a week ago, and I was hooked for my first time ever riding a bike on a trail. As I impatiently waited for our next trail ride to Bay City, we looked up reviews, and I'm glad we did. Thankfully, we were prepared for the challenges. We parked at Veteran's Memorial Park and headed out from there. As several reviews stated the trail was poorly marked, so our first stop was not far at the ice cream shop where we asked for directions. As we got a little further into an industrial section, a gentleman passing by overheard us question if we were going the right way, so he casually responded, yes you are. After crossing a couple busy intersections with traffic, we rode until we came to the state park, and when the water view emerges, the view is breathtaking and worth the ride. Our view & course changed again when we entered into a forest area. Again, it was breathtaking, even with a few bouts of challenging sand. Once we got back to our starting point, we rode a little further the other way, and discovered a whole new area of beauty on the waterfront. We kept getting an aroma in the air of what smelled like peanut butter, but was informed by some locals it was the sugar beet plant. Overall we rode 25 miles, and for only my 2nd course and a few challenges, I am even more hooked now. The fact that it does not cost a cent, you get to see some really cool things along the way, meet some amazing people, and the memories are priceless make it well worth the adventure. We also decided to start trying new eating spots as well before our ride, so this time we stopped at Mr. Hot Dog in Bay City. Food was awesome and it was actually cheaper than stopping at fast food. Our Lansing ride took us to The People's Kitchen which I gave 5 stars!!! I think if you plan ahead for this one by printing the trail maps and know that you will be going through a variety of terrain & a mixture of city and trails, stay hydrated, and don't get frustrated, you're in for some real treats with the views. I cannot wait to get a few more trails in this fall, and look forward to our next adventure with the leaves changing color. Happy riding. :)
We arrived late in the day just as storm clouds were rolling in, but we managed a ride to Riverdale and returned to Alma just after sunset (17.5 miles). The trail appeared to have been recently re-sealed and, except for a 100 yard section west of Warner Road, it was buttery smooth. The only hazards encountered were the numerous bunnies running across the trail in front of us.
Planned and completed the entire trail starting from Grand Rapids Comstock Park to downtown Cadillac and back, last weekend. Was riding a gravel bike and can say that the gravel sections including the paved were so much fun to ride on. That being said, there are some deeper gravel and sand sections, mainly in the smaller cities at the crosswalks, so beware. Not bad, but you’d want to keep your eyes out for it. A fair amount of restroom stops, if you plan them. Highly recommend stopping in Rockford for a brew. Abundant campgrounds in Cadillac. Very much a friend and family group area though, so a little clustered. Stayed the second night at the Young’s Lake Campground and I could not recommend more! Very friendly owners greet you at the front and it’s not too big. It has its own little beach right in front of a lake. Some winding roads to get there, but super worth it. The stars were amazing. Great trail throughout, but when they do get to paving the entire trail, I’m sure it’d make the distance a lot easier and more accessible (although I personally liked the silence with no one else around but nature) FYI saw some Blue Racer snakes on the trail near Cadillac. Nonpoisonous, but you’ll be surprised. Recommend friendsofthewhitepinetrail.com for more details along the trail.
We rode from Alma to Erdmore and back.
The first 5 miles (or so) headed westward are smooth, but after that the trail deteriorates with frequent hard bumps (much repair is needed). The entire trail is over-grown and we were constantly dodging branches and thick weeds (again, attention needed). Few restrooms. No mile markers.
A high spot - 3D ice cream and pizza in Vestaburg. Great food, especially the ice cream, at reasonable prices.
Rode from Reed City to Leroy. Nice trail except for the third of a mile south of Sylvan Rd. For some inexplicable reason this section is still unpaved and is loose gravel. Not only is it dangerous for road bikes the sharp stones caused my wife to get a flat tire. Tried to do a little research on why but came up empty. Would recommend walking this section for safety.
Get Your 2018 RTC TrailNation Jersey!
Download the TrailLink mobile app and take TrailLink with you!
Donate and Get a FREE 2018 RTC Guidebook!
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Map Search
_138798_st.jpg)
