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Print Friendly MapIf 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 the Battle Creek Linear Park in the north, traveling through the Ott Biological Preserve, where users experiences ranging from hardwood canopies to reedy marshes. The diversity of flora and fauna makes this park Calhoun County’s “hidden gem”. The route continues southward, passing through Kimball Pines County Park and then southeast to the entrance of Historic Bridge Park. The trail is 10-feet wide, with a surface of crushed gravel and suitable for multiple uses including biking, walking, and wheelchair access. It includes a number of elevated boardwalks along its length. The Trailway allows for recreational and educational opportunities for users of all ages and abilities.
When complete, the 40-mile trail will form a link in the Great Lake-to-Lake Trail, an ambitious project to network Michigan’s extensive existing trail infrastructure. The first phase of this project envisions a continuous bike trail from South Haven to Port Huron.
The Ott Preserve trailhead is located at 200 Arlington Avenue, several blocks north of Michigan Avenue. There are two parking lots: on Jameson Road and on Arlington Road.
The Emmett Street trailhead is at 904 Emmett Street E., at the southeast corner of E. Emmett Street and Raymond road.
There is also parking at Kimball Pines, 1153 Michigan Ave E, Battle Creek.
Finally, if you choose to start from the southern end and ride upwards, you can park at the Historic Bridge Park, located at 14930 9 Mile Rd, Battle Creek.
Beautiful areas but the trail is unsafe or nonexistant in some areas. Currently only sutiable for MTB travel.
This was my first time riding this trail and boy am I glad I got the hardier frame and wider tires on the bike I just bought! This trail takes you through some of the most majestic views of Calhoun County/Battle Creek. I was humbled by how remote it all felt, as I know this is a slice between a hustle and bustle of manufacturing and residential areas. But there is so much more unadulterated land in the in-between to make you feel secluded and connected back to nature.
The trail was a bit rough maybe only 7% of the time, but I do caution not to go too fast on this trail as the pebbles and silt can make you wipe out. There are also many blind curves.
Overall, it is an excellent workout and a majestic area of land for scenery, highlighting much of what makes Michigan just so amazing.
I grew up in BC and NEVER went on this trail til now in my mid 30s. I have lived so many other places across the country and now I bring my bike home to explore. Battle Creek and Calhoun County are BLESSED to have the trails they do, and at the great expanse that they are!
I only passed 3 people on my trip today on this trail, but the trail itself looked as though and was heavily evidenced as though it is being taken care of on a regular basis.
Magical! Amazing!
I have ridden it twice and enjoyed the natural setting, many wild flowers and butterflies, and varying terrain of this moderately curvy and hilly path. Mountain bike or at hybrid suggested due to fine gravel surface, so slow down in curves, some mildly washed out sandy areas, and on board walks when damp. The Ott Biological Preserve has separate foot trails and the North Country Trail also separates for a while, which otherwise follows the trailway. Most of the trail is wooded and shady. Historic Bridge Park at the southern end has a nice picnic area, canoe launch, and playground.
I've ridden the trail with my road bike and haven't had any issues, but some riders will prefer a mountain bike because of the stone surface. The scenery is beautiful with great boardwalks and a lovely route through the Ott Preserve,which I had never seen before. The trailhead near Battle Creek is a short bike ride away from the Battle Creek Linear Park trail.
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