Explore the best rated trails in Okemos, MI, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail and Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail . With more than 53 trails covering 454 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.
There are a lot of great parks along this Trail. I have seen a lot of deep woods species like the Acadian Flycatcher and Wood Thrush and many warbler species as well during the spring and summer. One night in Spring when I was coming down the 76th street segment of the trail I also saw American Woodcocks doing their peenting calls and displays. I observed a Barred Owl and Wild Turkeys during a foray down the Kentwood Trail a couple of days ago. This trail takes you away from civilization and out into the wild, through farmland and through wooded areas. A great area to hike, bike and birdwatch in.
We parked at the Saranac trailhead and boat launch, across the street from Saranac depot and historical museum. There's a pavilion with restrooms. We went left from parking lot toward Ionia (right goes toward Lowell). Trail is smooth asphalt for first 1-2 miles, then turned to smooth, level crushed stone, then back to asphalt for 1-2 miles into Ionia. The trail is mostly tree-lined with a few bridges closer to Ionia, including one large bridge over the Grand River; only one significant road crossing after crossing the road in Saranac until Ionia. It was about 8.65 miles from parking in Saranac to an elevated bridge over a roadway near downtown Ionia. There's a pavilion with restrooms and designated trail parking after crossing the big bridge. Ionia has a picturesque downtown with a brick paved Main Street, historic store fronts and court house.
The trail is well maintained, and the pace was pleasantly fast for crushed stone surface; on gravel bikes with 42c tires.
So well maintained! Even not paved portions are excellent. The trail is beautiful, it offers a lot of shade, and has great trail heads with dining options along the way. There was plenty of restrooms too.
I wish I could give it 20 stars!! This beautiful park has summer and winter sports, gorgeous scenery year around. I encourage everyone to come and enjoy, even if aren’t able to walk, take a drive, have a picnic. You can sit and read, lay in a hammock, walk, run, bike, fish, play on a beach, walk through wooded areas and paved trails. There’s a nature center, a farm area, horse back riding, golf, canoeing, kayaking, boating, water park, beaches, picnic shelters and bathrooms everywhere, there is so many. A golf course, disc golf? ( not sure if that’s what it’s called!! I can’t list it all but I can say i absolutely find solace, peace and happiness here!!!!
Rode from Greenville to McBride. Recently resurfaced. Saw lots of wildlife, including sandhill cranes and a fox. Not very crowded, and brief road portion was easy and well marked. Recommend Holly’s in Stanton for a snack or meal.
In its day, you may have been able to ride a road bike on this rail trail. Unfortunately, it is primarily loose, broken asphalt. It would be a great ride if you have a mountain, fat tire, or e-bike with wider tires.
Wanting to ride only on the paved section, we hopped on in Hamburg and headed toward Pinckney. There is plenty of parking for the trail just kitty-corner from the Hamburg Pub. There is a lot of intermittent shade which helped on this 86 degree day. The trail is extremely well- maintained and we were on the paved section for about 8 1/2 miles till we started going through Pinckney. Then it turned to gravel so we turned around and headed back. We planned to eat at the Hamburg Pub but the Trump 2024 lawn sign at the pub was a turn-off so we instead headed a couple miles down the road to Zukey Lake Tavern. It was beautiful up on the deck. The food was OK and the cold draft beer was perfect.
July 2024 Rode from Alma to Cedar Lake and back for a total of 34 miles. The trail is tree lined with a total canopy of shade in several places; there are glimpses of farmland along the way and a wetland area near Cedar Lake. The asphalt was smooth and well maintained with only a few bumps. The trail is flat; a fast ride out and even faster on the way back with a nice west tailwind. The road crossings are mostly local county roads (several are gravel) with almost no traffic on a Saturday. All the crossings were a smooth transition from trail to road.
There’s a small parking area at Riverside Park, the actual start of the trail, then a mile or so on sidewalk/neighborhood roads (not well marked) to Alma College. There’s parking at the college in lots marked public access on the weekends (avoid the ones requiring a college permit).
The longest single connected trail I've ridden in Michigan so far. If you ride it all the way from Jackson to Brighton it's about 40 miles, but there's plenty of places to stop by in-between that show up about every 6 miles. Gregory is about halfway through and offers some good food options for anyone looking to make the full trek.
The trail from Hamburg MI going into Brighton is completely paved and beautiful. Everything from Hamburg going into Jackson is unpaved crushed limestone, and while there's beautiful wildlife around every corner the path can wear you out do the crushed limestone path. Still gives you a beautiful look at different Michigan biomes along the way and is in the middle of nature and away from the busy cityscape for most of the ride.
Well-maintained, quiet, smooth ride. Scenery of birds, bunnies, deer, marshes, grasses, wildflowers. Stopped to hear bullfrogs. Meanders along power line towers. Bring picnic for ITC park or Maybury.
Went here with the family. A few small challenging grades. There are some pretty views of the lake and a lot of shade. We saw deer, sandhill cranes, rabbits, swans, wild turkeys and a pilliated woodpecker.
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