Ionia, MI Birding Trails and Maps

528 Reviews

Looking for the best Birding trails around Ionia?

Find the top rated birding trails in Ionia, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
36 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Buck Creek Trail (MI)

2.5 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Cannon Township Trail

4 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Boardwalk

East West Trail

2.7 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail

41.3 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Fred Meijer Flat River Trail

6.5 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Rail Trail

15.5 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Ballast, Crushed Stone

Fred Meijer Heartland Trail

41.9 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail

9 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Fred Meijer Standale Trail

4.9 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Concrete

Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park

92.6 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Ballast, Crushed Stone, Gravel

Fred Thwaites Grand River Trail

3.2 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Grand River Edges Trail

5.4 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Granger Meadows Park Trail

1.9 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Kalamazoo River Valley Trail

20.9 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Kent Trails

22.1 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Portland Riverwalk

9 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Sycamore Trail

2.1 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Upper Macatawa Greenway Trail

2.8 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Dirt

Valhalla Trail

1.3 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Battle Creek Linear Park

25.9 mi
State: MI
Asphalt
Accordion

Calhoun County Trailway

5.3 mi
State: MI
Crushed Stone

Fred Meijer Kenowa Trail

9.8 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete

Holland Metro Trails

150 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Lansing River Trail

25.3 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Musketawa Trail

25 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Northern Tier Trail

6.6 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Paul Henry-Thornapple Trail

31.1 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone

Plaster Creek Trail

2.7 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Ram Trail

1.8 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Butterworth Trail

3.5 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Concrete

Fred Meijer M-6 Trail

9 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Fred Meijer Millennium Trail

11 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone

Interurban Trail (Kent County)

2 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Idema Explorers Trail

16.8 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Interurban Trail (Allegan County)

1.3 mi
State: MI
Dirt, Grass, Gravel
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
Following the north side of the creek, the Buck Creek Trail provides a pleasant route through Grandville's neighborhoods and, with a newer extension, connects the downtown area with a network of...
MI 2.5 mi Asphalt
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...
MI 4 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk
The East West Trail follows an electric utility corridor for more than 2 arrow-straight miles through Kentwood, Michigan. The trail runs along a creek for a short distance and features some short...
MI 2.7 mi Asphalt
Overview 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...
MI 41.3 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Overview 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...
MI 6.5 mi Asphalt
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...
MI 15.5 mi Asphalt, Ballast, Crushed Stone
Overview The paved Fred Meijer Heartland Trail rolls for nearly 42 miles through farmland and forests in central Michigan as it links a half-dozen rural towns with recreational...
MI 41.9 mi Asphalt
The Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail is the last trail of a dozen trails in western Michigan to be named after philanthropist and Rail-Trail Champion Fred Meijer. The trail is an important connector...
MI 9 mi Asphalt
The Fred Meijer Standale Trail—one of several trails in western Michigan named for the grocery magnate and philanthropist who donated generously to their development—connects retail, civic and...
MI 4.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete
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...
MI 92.6 mi Asphalt, Ballast, Crushed Stone, Gravel
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...
MI 3.2 mi Asphalt
The Grand River Edges Trail runs in loops on the east and west banks of the Grand River near downtown Grand Rapids. At the south end, the trail crosses back and forth over the river via pedestrian...
MI 5.4 mi Asphalt
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...
MI 1.9 mi Asphalt
When complete, the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail will run for 35 miles throughout Kalamazoo County. Currently, the trail consists of two continuous segments connected by bike lanes: one segment extends...
MI 20.9 mi Asphalt
Overview An easy, flat, and well-maintained trail system, the Kent Trails provide transportation and access to nature in the bustling, second-largest metropolitan area in Michigan. The southern...
MI 22.1 mi Asphalt
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...
MI 9 mi Asphalt
The Sycamore Trail, which opened in October 2014, provides an important connection between two other trails in Delhi Charter Township, on the south end of Lansing. At the trail’s northern end, it...
MI 2.1 mi Asphalt
The Upper Macatawa Trail is sited within the stunning natural area of the same name, in Zeeland, Michigan. The trail runs 2.8 miles and offers a sensory as it passes through hardwood forest, verdant...
MI 2.8 mi Asphalt, Dirt
The Valhalla Trail runs for just over a mile in Delhi Charter Township, a southern suburb of Lansing. Its northern half is wooded and winds through Valhalla Park, which offers a swimming beach,...
MI 1.3 mi Asphalt
The Battle Creek Linear Park trail encompasses nearly 26 miles of connected trails in Battle Creek. Residents use the loop trails to put some snap, crackle, and pop in their exercise routines, while...
MI 25.9 mi Asphalt
Accordion
If you’re looking for a rustic escape form the din of everyday life, consider the Calhoun County Trailway. The Trailway weaves through three of the county’s four parks. The 5.3-mile trail kicks off in...
MI 5.3 mi Crushed Stone
Overview The Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail links the cities of Lowell, Belding, and Greenville in Kent, Ionia, and Montcalm counties, respectively. Running along a former railroad...
MI 21.6 mi Asphalt
The Fred Meijer Kenowa Trail begins in the rural community of Jamestown southwest of Grand Rapids and travels nearly 10 miles west, primarily along existing roads, to Zeeland Township. Passing by one...
MI 9.8 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete
To be in Holland, Michigan, is to experience authentic Dutch culture in the American Midwest, from dikes and canals, to tulip fields and even a windmill. The city sits on the Lake Michigan shoreline...
MI 150 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone
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...
MI 25.3 mi Asphalt
The Musketawa Trail is one of the best places to get away from it all if you live and work in the western Michigan population centers of Muskegon or Grand Rapids. The 25-mile paved rail-trail rolls...
MI 25 mi Asphalt
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...
MI 6.6 mi Asphalt
Overview The Paul Henry-Thornapple Trail is a 31-mile, multi-use recreation trail, extending from Grand Rapids to Vermontville.  The trail passes through farmlands, woodlands, and small towns,...
MI 31.1 mi Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone
The Plaster Creek Trail provides a non-motorized way to access Grand Rapids neighborhoods via a pleasant, tree-lined route. The path meanders along a tributary of the Grand River from Ken-O-Sha Park...
MI 2.7 mi Asphalt
The Ram Trail is a close to 2-mile trail beginning at Holt High School where there is access to tennis courts, soccer fields, softball and baseball diamonds and playgrounds. The trail runs eastward...
MI 1.8 mi Asphalt
The Butterworth Trail connects several neighborhoods in Grand Rapids on both sides of the Grand River. The majority of the paved trail loops through a large swath of land formerly home to the...
MI 3.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Fred Meijer M-6 Trail runs for 9 miles, paralleling Michigan Highway 6/Paul B. Henry Expressway south of Grand Rapids (a.k.a. the M-6). As such, it's not the quietest of trails, but it still...
MI 9 mi Asphalt
The Fred Meijer Millennium Trail courses through the 1,500-acre Millennium Park in Walker, a community southwest of Grand Rapids. The trail network has both paved and crushed stone trails, allowing...
MI 11 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone
The City of Wyoming’s Interurban Trail follows a former interurban railroad corridor through the heart of the community just south of Grand Rapids. Trains between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo ceased...
MI 2 mi Asphalt
Overview The Idema Explorers Trail is a multiuse, ADA-accessible trail that will connect communities, parks, other trails and more between Grand Haven at the edge of Lake Michigan and Grand Rapids,...
MI 16.8 mi Asphalt
Allegan County’s Interurban Trail runs north-south through the City of Wayland. The trail follows a former interurban railroad corridor through the heart of the community between Grand Rapids and...
MI 1.3 mi Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Recent Trail Reviews

Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park

The trail is paved and mostly flat. Lots of trees and birds. The trail is not busy but there are friendly bikers and walkers along the way.

September, 2024 by marisstellamary

The trail is paved and mostly flat. Lots of trees and birds. The trail is not busy but there are friendly bikers and walkers along the way.

Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail

Nice ride through farmland

September, 2024 by dhalblei

Rode this trail Sept 2024 from St Johns Depot parking lot 18 miles west toward Ionia, stopping soon after the bridge over the Maple River. It was well maintained, firm crushed stone with asphalt passing through towns. Not a problem for my gravel bike with 42 tire. As noted in other reviews, there are a few softer spots that could be a problem for thinner tires. The trail was mostly tree lined, except the section between Fowler and Pewamo is more open farmland with a view of M-21. The road crossings were smooth with almost no traffic. Stopped at the Pewamo Depot restrooms. The restrooms at St Johns Depot were locked.

Paul Henry-Thornapple Trail

Great for birding and biking and hiking

September, 2024 by gvsucaptain

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.

Accordion

Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Rail Trail

Beautiful quiet ride

September, 2024 by dhalblei

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.

Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail

Nice ride on a gravel bike

September, 2024 by dhalblei

Rode this trail from Lowell north toward Belding about 8 miles one way. We parked in Creekside Park off Gee Drive; rode sidewalk about ½ mile to the Foreman St trailhead. Since it was Saturday, it looked like we could have parked at Cherry Creek Elementary School less than a block from trailhead or Lowell Middle School also off Foreman St. The trail starts next to a private residence; there's a small sign identifying the trail.
The trail was smooth asphalt for first mile; then turned to recycled asphalt which is like gravel. It was fairly firm in most spots, not a problem for our 42c tires, the pace was a bit slower. The intersection at McPherson Rd was very loose, otherwise the trail was level and good for our gravel bikes. The trail is mostly tree-lined, at least on the west side, passing through woodland, marsh, and farmland.
A nice, quiet ride with infrequent road crossings and very few people.

Upper Macatawa Greenway Trail

I love this place! Never too busy. I take the paved trail. I go all the way through and back. Only takes 90 minutes. Very scenic.

September, 2024 by markpaz49323

I love this place! Never too busy. I take the paved trail. I go all the way through and back. Only takes 90 minutes. Very scenic.

Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park

Big rapids to Reed city is only good for walking, for biking it is very rough I don't recommend. Starting in Reed City going North is much smoother.

August, 2024 by mojohoover

Big rapids to Reed city is only good for walking, for biking it is very rough I don't recommend. Starting in Reed City going North is much smoother.

Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park

White Pine Trail

August, 2024 by khamel2_tl

This trail saved my sanity during Covid and I've returned to ride it multiple times. I start at the newly renovated trailhead in Cadillac outside the Depot. Usually ride to Tustin and back. It's a slight downhill grade to Tustin and then uphill going back. Surface varies. Mostly forest but there are small farms and homes to see along the way. I have seen turtles twice on the path. Shoutout to Madeline Krentz for her description of this trail. My husband did have a spill once on roots that had pushed up the asphalt but fortunately no injury.

Fred Meijer Flat River Trail

Nice loop

August, 2024 by couillarjg

Well marked and smooth surfaces. East side along riverside is more attractive than West side, which goes along city roads. Connects to Heartland Trail to extend the duration.

Fred Meijer Heartland Trail

nice country ride

August, 2024 by couillarjg

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.

Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail

Not Road Bike Friendly

August, 2024 by cycle4michael

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.

Fred Meijer Heartland Trail

A lovely ride from Alma

July, 2024 by dhalblei

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).

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