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













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| Trail Image | Trail Name | States | Length | Surface | Rating |
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The Apple Blossom Trail connects the communities of Caspian and Iron River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It traces the banks of the Iron River (popular for trout fishing) and, for much of the way,...
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MI | 3 mi | Asphalt |
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Remoteness and solitude describe a trip along the 42.8-mile Betsie Valley Trail in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula. The trail slopes gently downhill in the Betsie River Valley through a state...
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MI | 42.8 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel |
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The Big Rapids Riverwalk travels alongside the scenic Muskegon River and connects downtown Big Rapids with several recreational amenities, including Hemlock Park, Northend Riverside Park, and Swede...
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MI | 3.8 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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Though the plan for a trail along the former Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena Railroad has existed since at least 2000, it took two decades to see the trail come to fruition. Thanks to the persistent...
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MI | 6.3 mi | Asphalt |
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Bruno's Run Trail is a 9-mile loop in the Hiawatha National Forest. The trail is open for mountain biking, hiking and snowshoeing. Because it's not groomed in winter, only advanced cross-country...
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MI | 9.25 mi | Dirt |
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The Clinton River Park Trail winds 10.2 miles along the east bank of its namesake river connecting three northern suburbs of Detroit: Shelby Township, Utica, and Sterling Heights.
About the...
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MI | 10.2 mi | Asphalt |
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Along its 3.5-mile paved route, the RiverWalk offers breathtaking views of the Detroit River and city skyline.
About the Route
Recreational opportunities abound as the trail links Milliken State...
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MI | 3.5 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
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Jackson County's Falling Waters Trail serves as an important community connector, linking the outskirts of the vibrant City of Jackson to the picturesque Village of Concord, which brims with Victorian...
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MI | 11.25 mi | Asphalt |
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The Iron Ore Heritage Trail traverses 47.8 miles across the Marquette Iron Range in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula. The rail trail, which was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2018,...
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MI | 47.8 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt |
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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 trail section...
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MI | 22.1 mi | Asphalt |
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A popular destination year-round for residents across the Detroit area, the Lake Erie Metropark offers a wide variety of activities and recreation sites across its 1600-plus acres. Nestled along the...
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MI | 3 mi | Asphalt |
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The 16.6-mile Leelanau Trail runs up a Lake Michigan peninsula that is known for its abundance of cherry orchards and Riesling grape vineyards. Located in northern Michigan, the paved trail connects...
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MI | 16.6 mi | Asphalt |
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Closure notice: Dangerous conditions due to erosion of the trail have necessitated a 1.25-mile closure of the trail between East Park and Magnus Park in Petoskey. Visit the trail manager's website for...
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MI | 26 mi | Asphalt |
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Mackinac Island is truly deserving of its status as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Michigan. Although small—less than 4 square miles—the island offers an abundance of natural and...
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MI | 8.3 mi | Asphalt |
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Marquette's Multi-Use Path encompasses 19 miles of paved trail that circles the city from Presque Isle Park in the north to the town of Harvey in the south. The trail provides access to neighborhoods,...
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MI | 19 mi | Asphalt |
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Muskegon's Lakeshore Trail provides scenic views of Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake, while also passing among beautiful sand dunes, lively parks, and the city of Muskegon itself. Small sections of the...
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MI | 11.2 mi | Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete |
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The nearly 75-mile North Central State Trail offers a multi-use trail adventure into the hills, agricultural areas, woods, and waterways of Michigan, with connections to well-established tourist towns...
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MI | 74.9 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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Closure notice: There is a trail closure due to a failed culvert approximately 5 miles southeast of the intersection of Mann Rd and the NEST. No detour currently available. Please check the trail page...
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MI | 71 mi | Crushed Stone |
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The North Western State Trail—formerly known as the Petoskey to Mackinaw Trail after its endpoints—passes through many communities along the way, including Conway, Oden, Ponshewaing, Brutus, Pellston,...
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MI | 32 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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The aptly-named North-South Connector Trail provides a paved trail connection between the communities of Gibraltar and Trenton, in the area south of Detroit known as the Downriver. Part of a...
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MI | 3.5 mi | Asphalt |
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An extension of the paved paths that connect the Oakwoods, Willow, and Lower Huron Metroparks, the Oakwoods Metropark to Flat Rock Trail allows you to continue your trail experience into the small...
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MI | 2 mi | Asphalt |
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Even though the Paint Creek Trail is Michigan’s oldest nonmotorized rail-trail, the occasional face-lifts and renovations keep it looking as young as ever. Established in 1983, the crushed-limestone...
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MI | 8.9 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Many factors contribute to the Pere Marquette Rail Trail’s popularity. It runs for 30.1 miles on smooth asphalt that is well maintained and, at 14 feet, wide enough to ride or walk side-by-side. At...
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MI | 30.1 mi | Asphalt |
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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...
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MI | 9 mi | Asphalt |
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The Saginaw Valley Rail Trail offers a year-round rural retreat from the urban confines of Saginaw. Rolling through a continuous woodsy border past farms, fields, and game areas for 11 miles, the...
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MI | 11 mi | Asphalt |
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The Southern Links Trailway is a 10-mile rail-trail that connects the communities of Columbiaville, Otter Lake and Millington in central Michigan. While the trail is paved with smooth asphalt, an...
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MI | 10.2 mi | Asphalt, Woodchips |
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The northern section of the Spoonville Trail cuts between the golf course and the ravine with several bridge crossings. Winding through a lovely natural area, the new trail section crosses I-96 on a...
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MI | 4.3 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
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The Battle Creek Linear Park 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...
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MI | 25.9 mi | Asphalt |
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Closure notice: The Border to Border Trail between Gallup Park and Parker Mill is temporarily closed for construction from June 30 to Mid-July 2026.
The section of the trail between between...
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MI | 35.2 mi | Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone |
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The Bridge to Bay Trail is a diverse trail system of boardwalks, river walks, rail trails, and bike paths that extends along 50+ miles of shoreline across St Clair County, Michigan. Heading north, the...
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MI | 42.1 mi | Asphalt |
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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...
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MI | 2.5 mi | Asphalt |
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The Clinton River Trail is a 17-mile recreational trail on an abandoned rail line through the heart of Oakland County, including the cities of Sylvan Lake, Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, and...
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MI | 17 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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The Flint River Trail system encompasses 27 miles of multi-use, paved trails stretching across Genesee County. Meandering alongside the Flint River and C.S. Mott Lake, the trail passes through a...
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MI | 27 mi | Asphalt |
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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...
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MI | 11 mi | Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone |
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Grand Haven's Waterfront Trail is scenic route from the shore of Lake Michigan inland along the Grand River a short ways. You'll find shops and eateries, as well as plenty of boats, on the Grand...
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MI | 2.5 mi | Asphalt |
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Paved and mostly flat, the 13.5-mile Huron Valley Trail links several suburban communities, parks, and a large recreation area while providing connections to a growing network of trails.
About the...
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MI | 13.5 mi | Asphalt |
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The Irons Area Tourist Association maintains 60 miles of groomed trails for snowmobiles and ATVs in the Manistee National Forest. For more information, contact the tourist association or the national...
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MI | 60 mi | Ballast |
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The Lakeside Trail system offers more than 25 miles of paved paths through the villages of Fruitport, Ferrysburg, and Spring Lake. Its main loop circles Spring Lake (the lake) and encompasses spur...
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MI | 25.9 mi | Asphalt |
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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...
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MI | 25.3 mi | Asphalt |
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The Peshekee to Clowry Rail-Trail is straight and flat, following an old railroad grade that parallels Ida Road north of the town of Champion. The trail crosses the Escanaba River in several places as...
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MI | 6.1 mi | Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel |
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The Shingle Mill Pathway is a series of trail loops for hikers, cross-country skiers and mountain bikers. Horses and snowmobiles are not permitted on the Shingle Mill Pathway.
All the loops begin...
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MI | 12 mi | Dirt |
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The pleasant little Albion River Trail runs along the south bank of the Kalamazoo River through the town of Albion. The trail runs between McClure Riverfront Park on the west end and Victory Park on...
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MI | 1.6 mi | Asphalt |
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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...
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MI | 10.9 mi | Asphalt |
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The rail-trail between Chassell and Houghton roughly parallels US 41 on one side and the shore of Portage Lake on the other. This trail is open to snowmobiles in the winter and walkers/hikers and...
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MI | 8.6 mi | Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass |
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Running from the city of Monroe's popular Munson Park, through the city's charming historic downtown, and out to Sterling State Park - one of the most-frequented of Michigan's state parks - the River...
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MI | 7.5 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
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The St. Ignace to Trout Lake Trail is located almost entirely within the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The follows an abandoned rail corridor from the town of St. Ignace...
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MI | 26 mi | Dirt, Gravel |
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The Tyoga Historical Pathway is a remote, 1.4-mile loop trail deep in the woods of northern Michigan. From State Route 28 (M-28), the trail is about 2 miles north on North Point Road (Laughing...
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MI | 1.4 mi | Ballast, Dirt, Grass |
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The Watersmeet to Land O'Lakes Trail follows a former railroad corridor between the towns of Watersmeet, in the north, and Land O'Lakes, in the south. The trail is used by snowmobiles and ATVs, as...
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MI | 8.8 mi | Ballast |
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Alpena's Bi-Path covers 14 miles of ground in an urban landscape, taking in scenic views of Lake Huron and Thunder Bay River, as well as skirting Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary. The paved trail follows a...
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MI | 14 mi | Asphalt, Cinder |
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Opened in 1970, the Haywire Trail was the first rail-trail in Michigan; it follows the former Manistique and Lake Superior Railroad. The multi-use pathway is primarily used by ATV riders in summer and...
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MI | 33 mi | Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Sand |
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Beaver Pete's Trail follows portions of an old railroad corridor in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The trail is popular in winter with snowmobilers. For more information, contact the city of Iron...
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MI | 20 mi | Ballast |
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The Coalwood Trail runs eastwest for 26.4 miles between the Cusino State Wildlife Research Area and the town of Chatham. The trail traverses wooded and open terrain in parts of the Hiawatha National...
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MI | 26.4 mi | Ballast |
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The Harbor Beach Bike-Pedestrian Path links the North Park Campground with the bathing beach by the pier at the end of Trescott Street. It also provides access to the marina.
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MI | 1 mi | Asphalt |
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The L'Anse to Big Bay Trail is a popular snowmobile trail in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The trail runs between the town of L'Anse and Big Bay, along the shore of Lake Superior through Sawyer Lake...
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MI | 54 mi | Dirt |
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The Little Falls Trail is located on the southern end of Bond Falls Flowage in the Watersmeet Ranger District of the Ottawa National Forest. Contact the national forest for more information.
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MI | 6.5 mi | Ballast, Grass |
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The extensive Hartwick Pines State Park is one of the largest in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The scenic region is marked by rolling hills overlooking the valley of the east branch of the Ausable...
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MI | 2.3 mi | Dirt, Grass, Gravel |
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This is a great asphalt trail. The trail goes to Presque Isle park (no car’s allowed on the park loopafter6pm). Very busy trail with walkers, so be prepared to go relatively slow and share.
The MLK trail has been redone and is a great place to start off of West Ave. if you want to extend the Falling Waters Trail. So nice now. Makes trails about 15 miles one way. Such a peaceful scenic ride.
This trail is well kept and beautiful scenery. I cannot wait to ride it again in the fall when the colors are full.
Great trail! Loved the scenery.