Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in East Lansing, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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We parked at the former train station, looks to be kept up and refurbished, located on 2nd Street in Vestaburg. Biked to Alma for lunch and back. 13 miles one way. This part of the trail is in very good condition, well maintained and even a section recently sealcoated. Downhill glide from Vestaburg to Alma for steady gradual uphill climb back to Vestaburg. Trail passes through a few small old railroad towns. We also found this section to be very heavily wooded offering plenty of shade. Passes by open farmlands as well. We would definitely put this on our ride again list!
This is an okay trail with some slight elevation and good sights.
While traveling to the area, visited this trail and was pleasantly surprised. Paved trail runs 9.5 miles in length from St. Charles to Stroebel Road in Saginaw. This trail is basically flat, well shaded and passes through wooded areas and working farms. The trail surface is in good condition. Water level in the Bad River very low. We parked at Lumberjack Park on water street, under the water tower in St. Charles and biked to the Stroebel Road trailhead and back. The trail does have several road crossings, some of them had more cross traffic than others but still a great trail ride! Newly installed and beautifully painted fence separating the parking lot from the active rail line at the Stroebel Road trailhead. Along the trail there are several benches, trash cans and even picnic areas. Trail services in St. Charles include eateries. We also biked the connecting Thomas Trail for a few additional miles.
Biked the 8.4 mile loop today with great weather. Not too many others on the path with a mixture of walkers, bikers, and in-line skaters (bless their hearts). Today is Friday, September 12th. As such, while the beaches were open, no food facilities, rental facilities or other manned attractions were open. Having said that, the trail was magnificently maintained and I enjoyed the 1+ hour experience
This wonderful open air trail offers fantastic views for a pretty good trip and connects to the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail.
Rode from Greenville to 3 miles east of Edmore. Constant bumps from roots and separation in the pavement. Don't know how the other reviewers called it smooth. Scenery was wonderful.
Started at Bandamere Park through Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti. The signage through Ann Arbor was terrible especially at major cross roads. More signage and larger than 4x8” (sometimes so faded you couldn’t read them) placards at intersections would make using the trail more enjoyable.
Today’s ride from Pewamo to Ionia was quite nice. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of trail in the shade, riding next to the Maple and Grand Rivers. The trail (both asphalt sections and crushed/compacted stone) were in good condition and pretty much straight and flat. In Ionia we enjoyed an ice cream cone at Cooks
I went for an amazing bike ride on the Mike Levine Lakelands Trail on August 8th, 2025, starting early in the morning. I parked at the Village Trailhead since the far east end was under construction for a new roundabout. Once I was set up and ready to go, I headed west and rode almost all the way to Pinckney.
The trail is absolutely beautiful — smooth, peaceful, and full of variety. One of the best parts is how it weaves between so many lakes, giving you gorgeous views on either side as you ride. The scenery was incredible that morning, with blue skies and scattered clouds creating a perfect backdrop for the ride.
I can’t wait to come back and explore further west on my next trip. Whether you’re a casual rider or looking to put in some miles, this trail offers a perfect mix of nature, calm, and beauty. Highly recommended!
This nice and open trail is a pleasant but quick experience for locals wanting a fast ride.
Just an FYI that there is no parking at 84th Street and Patterson. The parking icon on the map is erroneous.
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