Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Jackson, 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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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 Litchfield Nature Trail meanders through scenic property owned by the City of Litchfield, in some places adjacent to the St. Joseph (St. Joe) River. At one point, the trail passes through...
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The Kiwanis Trail occupies an old railroad bed between Adrian and the southern edge of Tecumseh. The trail is currently the only open component of a much longer proposed regional greenway trail. In...
The Kensington Metropark Trail forms a paved loop around Kent Lake in western Oakland County. The scenic area, which features 4,481 acres of hilly terrain around the large lake, is one of the most...
When complete, the Paul Henry - Thornapple Trail will be a 42-mile, multi-use recreation trail, extending from Grand Rapids to Vermontville; it eventually may be extended to Jackson. The trail is...
The Island Lake Pathway runs east–west through the densely-wooded landscape of the Island Lake Recreation Area southeast of Brighton. Although relatively short, the paved trail may prove a challenge...
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...
Paved and mostly flat, the Huron Valley Trail links several suburban communities, parks, and a large recreation area while providing connections to a growing network of trails. Forming a lowercase...
Planners in Jackson Michigan had originally wanted to build a rail with trail, but when they face resistance from the local railroad, they took a different route, one which gave us the Grand River...
The Martin Luther King Equality Trail, formerly called the Jackson Intercity Trail, follows the old rail bed of what was once the Michigan Central Railroad for 3.4 miles through the southwest section...
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Clocking in at over four and a half miles, the ITC Corridor Trail in Novi is a fantastic recreational asset for the community, providing a paved pathway that connects neighborhoods and recreation...
The Baw Beese Trail, named in honor of a former chief of the local Potawatomi population, connects the Michigan communities of Hillsdale and Jonesville. The paved trail is a model of efficient land...
The Border-to-Border Trail is a work in progress, which when complete, will stretch across Washtenaw County from its border with Livingston County in the northwest to Wayne County in the east. Much of...
The Russell Street to Patterson Street Trail links the two roads via a former railroad corridor in Tecumseh. Located in a residential area nearly equidistant between downtown Tecumseh to the north and...
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...
You won’t find this trail’s name on the ground: the continuous stretch is actually made up of the scenic trails within Oakwoods Metropark, Willow Metropark and Lower Huron Metropark, as well as a...
Tradition says that Michigan has 11,000 lakes. The eastern section of the Lakelands Trail State Park passes through a chain of them as it rolls from the town of Hamburg and Lakeland to Munith some 26...
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...
The Wabash Cannonball Trail in northwest Ohio is actually two trails in one: its North Fork runs east–west for 46 miles and its South Fork makes up the balance of this nearly 63-mile trail. The forks...
The I-275 Metro Trail began back in the 1970s as the Michigan Department of Transportation's response to the then-fuel crisis. The original trail linked Wayne, Oakland and Monroe counties along a...
The new Riverbend Preserve in southern Washtenaw County features 58 acres of wetlands on both sides of the Raisin River. The area is a common resting place for migratory birds on their trek across the...
The Baw Beese Trail, named in honor of a former chief of the local Potawatomi population, connects the Michigan communities of Hillsdale and Jonesville. The paved trail is a model of efficient land...
The Russell Street to Patterson Street Trail links the two roads via a former railroad corridor in Tecumseh. Located in a residential area nearly equidistant between downtown Tecumseh to the north and...
You won’t find this trail’s name on the ground: the continuous stretch is actually made up of the scenic trails within Oakwoods Metropark, Willow Metropark and Lower Huron Metropark, as well as a...
The Wabash Cannonball Trail in northwest Ohio is actually two trails in one: its North Fork runs east–west for 46 miles and its South Fork makes up the balance of this nearly 63-mile trail. The forks...
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 Kensington Metropark Trail forms a paved loop around Kent Lake in western Oakland County. The scenic area, which features 4,481 acres of hilly terrain around the large lake, is one of the most...
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...
When complete, the Paul Henry - Thornapple Trail will be a 42-mile, multi-use recreation trail, extending from Grand Rapids to Vermontville; it eventually may be extended to Jackson. The trail is...
The Island Lake Pathway runs east–west through the densely-wooded landscape of the Island Lake Recreation Area southeast of Brighton. Although relatively short, the paved trail may prove a challenge...
The Chelsea Community Wellness Path weaves through a large campus home to many of Chelsea’s amenities. Although the total length of the trail is less than 2 miles, it is divided into three separate...
The Border-to-Border Trail is a work in progress, which when complete, will stretch across Washtenaw County from its border with Livingston County in the northwest to Wayne County in the east. Much of...
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 Litchfield Nature Trail meanders through scenic property owned by the City of Litchfield, in some places adjacent to the St. Joseph (St. Joe) River. At one point, the trail passes through...
Planners in Jackson Michigan had originally wanted to build a rail with trail, but when they face resistance from the local railroad, they took a different route, one which gave us the Grand River...
The I-275 Metro Trail began back in the 1970s as the Michigan Department of Transportation's response to the then-fuel crisis. The original trail linked Wayne, Oakland and Monroe counties along a...
Paved and mostly flat, the Huron Valley Trail links several suburban communities, parks, and a large recreation area while providing connections to a growing network of trails. Forming a lowercase...
Tradition says that Michigan has 11,000 lakes. The eastern section of the Lakelands Trail State Park passes through a chain of them as it rolls from the town of Hamburg and Lakeland to Munith some 26...
The Martin Luther King Equality Trail, formerly called the Jackson Intercity Trail, follows the old rail bed of what was once the Michigan Central Railroad for 3.4 miles through the southwest section...
Clocking in at over four and a half miles, the ITC Corridor Trail in Novi is a fantastic recreational asset for the community, providing a paved pathway that connects neighborhoods and recreation...
Clocking in at over four and a half miles, the ITC Corridor Trail in Novi is a fantastic recreational asset for the community, providing a paved pathway that connects neighborhoods and recreation...
The new Riverbend Preserve in southern Washtenaw County features 58 acres of wetlands on both sides of the Raisin River. The area is a common resting place for migratory birds on their trek across the...
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...
Tradition says that Michigan has 11,000 lakes. The eastern section of the Lakelands Trail State Park passes through a chain of them as it rolls from the town of Hamburg and Lakeland to Munith some 26...
When complete, the Paul Henry - Thornapple Trail will be a 42-mile, multi-use recreation trail, extending from Grand Rapids to Vermontville; it eventually may be extended to Jackson. The trail is...
The Wabash Cannonball Trail in northwest Ohio is actually two trails in one: its North Fork runs east–west for 46 miles and its South Fork makes up the balance of this nearly 63-mile trail. The forks...
Paved and mostly flat, the Huron Valley Trail links several suburban communities, parks, and a large recreation area while providing connections to a growing network of trails. Forming a lowercase...
The Border-to-Border Trail is a work in progress, which when complete, will stretch across Washtenaw County from its border with Livingston County in the northwest to Wayne County in the east. Much of...
The Martin Luther King Equality Trail, formerly called the Jackson Intercity Trail, follows the old rail bed of what was once the Michigan Central Railroad for 3.4 miles through the southwest section...
The Island Lake Pathway runs east–west through the densely-wooded landscape of the Island Lake Recreation Area southeast of Brighton. Although relatively short, the paved trail may prove a challenge...
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...
You won’t find this trail’s name on the ground: the continuous stretch is actually made up of the scenic trails within Oakwoods Metropark, Willow Metropark and Lower Huron Metropark, as well as a...
The Chelsea Community Wellness Path weaves through a large campus home to many of Chelsea’s amenities. Although the total length of the trail is less than 2 miles, it is divided into three separate...
The I-275 Metro Trail began back in the 1970s as the Michigan Department of Transportation's response to the then-fuel crisis. The original trail linked Wayne, Oakland and Monroe counties along a...
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 Baw Beese Trail, named in honor of a former chief of the local Potawatomi population, connects the Michigan communities of Hillsdale and Jonesville. The paved trail is a model of efficient land...
The Kiwanis Trail occupies an old railroad bed between Adrian and the southern edge of Tecumseh. The trail is currently the only open component of a much longer proposed regional greenway trail. In...
The Litchfield Nature Trail meanders through scenic property owned by the City of Litchfield, in some places adjacent to the St. Joseph (St. Joe) River. At one point, the trail passes through...
Planners in Jackson Michigan had originally wanted to build a rail with trail, but when they face resistance from the local railroad, they took a different route, one which gave us the Grand River...
Lived in Flat Rock for four years.Ran these trails 4-5 days each week.Varied which Metro Park trail I ran each time.Bought the Metropark annual pass which is a great bargain.The two mile connecting trail from Flat Rock makes access easier.If you bike the entire trail you'll only cross two major roads and one active rail track.These trails are beautful,rarely very crowded,and well maintained.After a heavy snow,the trails are usually plowed within a few days.No longer live in the area but sure do miss running these trails.
I drove half an hour to try out this trail, and ended up riding only 3 miles before turning back. Poorly marked trail and detours made it a chore to stay on course, then when I finally got to what looked like the most interesting section, there was a sign stating bicycles were not allowed. On the bright side, most of the people were friendly, and the students painting the underpass were so nice that I wanted to park my bike and help them paint!
PS: The parking lot at Huron Bridge Park is small, but if you cross the bridge into Bandemer Park, there is much more parking available.
Watch for deer this time of year. Saw 5 yesterday.
We attempted to ride this trail in two different towns. The trail has not been kept up. Some areas had Thick Loose gravel and other areas it was a grassy field with no path. We couldn’t ride it. No stars can be given!
Very good trail and lake, great workout and beautiful scenery.
Only ride thru the park/lake area. If you leave the park it’s all sidewalks and main streets. The lake is beautiful to look at but that’s about it!!
At the east end this trail starts near On The Dunes bar and sports venue. Lots of room for parking. The trail ends in Wixom, with several good options for snacks or a beverage. Our choice was the Drafting Table Brewery. Lots of other cyclers were headed further west for more drinking in South Lyon. Had a bite at On The Dunes when we got back to our car. As others have said, those with kids or serious riders may want to avoid due to the many roads that are crossed.
Excellent and easy to access through Hudson mills metro park; poor signage through Dexter. The portion that is marked is fabulous.
We get there and like one reviewer said, a lady told us not to go one way it’s a little dangerous. Jackson needs to fix that. Sad this day and age we still have places in America tha are unsafe to be even in the middle of the day. So instead we went towards Spring Arbor and Concord. Swam at Lime Lake. Beautiful. Not very good markings telling us where to go but nice people willing to point the way. Shout out to Cadet Tavern in Concord. You were the only place open on a Sunday. One review mentioned a place to eat and it was closed. Everything was. So if you’re riding on a Sunday and want to eat, Cadet Tavern is the place to go. And it was good!
There are some pluses and minuses -- both big and small -- to this trail, speaking specifically for cyclists, and mostly for cyclists seeking intermediate workouts.
First, the hills -- there are some HUGE hills. Like, if you encounter them on the tail end of your ride, or aren't in workout mode, you'll have to walk. Or, you'll have to generate almost an unadvisable degree of speed on the preceding downhill. None of which are pleasant really. Related to this, as I still like the trail, I would start in Dearborn Heights (though parking might be harder) so the return trip is more downhill. If you do the whole thing, you're gonna be nearing 35/40 miles, which for me is rather long.
I did notice that most of the other, more pro, cyclists (road bikes, biking jerseys) are on the road itself. There is enough room for one rider, two super confident, to ride on the shoulder. But that's not my thing. The cars zip along at 50 even 60mph at times ... and I don't need to be the tertiary casualty in some auto mayhem.
That's related to another not so awesome aspect. This bike trail is alongside a busy road for most, if not all, of the path. The road does go through a series of amazing parks -- but you're still kinda next to a road. I think its single lane, no massive trucks, but people speeding, revving things, etc. There are some beautiful views ... but you're never really surrounded by nature at all, except for a few spots, mostly when you're going over or around highways. Also, if you take a little detour -- it's not really easy to get back to the bike path. I got lost and ended up coming back the same way I came whenever I tried this.
Back to the parks -- I saw about 15 little parks on my 30 mile back and forth ride. They were all beautifully maintained and had some sick cool gear. I think I even saw a mini skate or BMX park. So if you're looking to casually cruise and find some jungle gyms and other non-traditional park stuff. This could be fun. They also have so many (in one particular area) of those cross fit type workout stations ... like 10/12 of them. So if you want to be all Rocky/Drago and squeeze in some strength training, this is ideal. Most seem to be well maintained, a couple of the boring ones had more weeds.
In terms of nature -- I saw some HUGE blue heron, a curious bunny, and some green heron ... some beautiful finches kept racing me, and a little turtle on a log, who ran for it when I circled back around to try to take a pic. So, you can see lots, but you're not totally surrounded by it, or enveloped in it like some other trails.
There are some turns in the path -- across intersections -- that could be marked WAAAAAY better. I can't recall seeing a bike path sign at two of the more confusing ones. I had to kinda hop off and look for the asphalt.
The path can be REALLY narrow around turns ... like dangerously so. Some turns are on park paths, but quite a few -- 3 to 4 -- are on underpasses and bridges. There is room enough for only one bike total -- I biked on a hot humid mid-Day weekday ... so it was not crowded, but these could be REALLY scary. And, I saw only one, walk your bike sign ... for these 4 spots. if you're not paying attention and its feeling sparse, but actually not, you could eat it so badly and end up over your bars on the road! So, yeah, walk your bike ...
Several spots flood significantly -- in my 30 mile ride, I had to go around twice ... like massive mini-pond length 200 feet of water, deeper than 3-4 inches. Also, there were at least 6-7 spots where runoff/sediment was significant enough that I had to slow down totally or risk sliding/falling on my hybrid bike. Like 20-30 foot patches of dried mud tracks, loose sand and gravel.
Ok, so this sounds like a lot of downers, so why the 4? Most of the above is just stuff to know so you'll be safe or choose a path wisely. I didn't mind most of what I listed -- and on the plus side, if you prep for the hills or even know about them. This is a GREAT intermediate verging on expert 40 mile workout ... that still, even with the road, gets you close to and enjoying SE Michigan's lovely flora and fauna. I'll do it again but not gonna be one of my faves.
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