Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Ionia, 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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It's a nice easy ride and a great route for students commuting to and from campus. However, it's kind of squeezed between apartment complexes and residential areas in spots, which kind of cuts into the scenery a bit.
Nice, straight trail. Plenty of places for parking and amenities in each town. I wish it were paved all the way through, but in general the crushed limestone isn't a huge obstacle between towns. Highly recommend!
This is a nice trail, with offshoot branches that help to differentiate it from other trails.
Pavement is mostly sooth except in the last section, what I guess are plant roots cracking upwards the pavement so badly that it actually launched my bum off the seat an inch or two.
This short & smooth trail is a pleasant but very brief through a secluded marsh/wetland spot.
You might want to consider walking this one instead of another mode of transportation, as it's over before it really begins.
Still, I would recommend the trail to anyone looking for one.
There isn't too much to say about this trail except that it's an admittedly smooth ride for bike riders, but other than that, Valhalla doesn't offer interesting to either see or do; so if you aren't a local, I wouldn't bother. The experience is not even 3 full miles (round trip), so it's over before it even begins.
Too bumpy between GR and Belmont for a road bike. Not enjoyable. North of Belmont is great!
We road this trail in October for the leaf viewing. Wonderful! MI trails never disappoint It was a cool day, with people on the trail. The trails are within a park system so I could see it being very busy during the summer season We found the section at Johnson Park (where we parked) to be exciting with its hills and dense woods. As seniors, we bit the bullet and went e-bikes this year, wouldn’t have enjoyed those hills as much if hadn’t.
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.
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.
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.
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